The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-03

1WO DoyS HedCy Faghtiag.--Oa tr
hight Withdrawn before an I'm
nnense Attacking Force.-Splendid
Bravery Of oar Troops.
NEW YORK, June 30.
The New York Tribune has issued
an extra, dated Battle field" giving
an account of two days desperate fight.
ing. A company of Bucktails was sur
rounded and captured. Retreat of our
right wing. Over $4,000 men en-
gagged. All civilians ordered away
from Whitehouse. The following is
the account:
GA severe and most determined bat
tie was fought OH the right wing Thurs
day and Friday, which is claimed by
some of our officers as successful strag-
etic movement, into which the enemy
had been unwiltingly drawn, ard which
will soon result in the capture of Rich
mond and the entire rebel army. The
attack was made by the enemy in i'm
mense force, who crossed the Chicka-
hominy near the railroad above Me-
gainesville, on Thursday afternoon,
and fought desperately, but were un-
able to drive our men single rod,
though they were ten to our one. The
only force engaged that day was Nc
Calls Division-the battle lasting from
two till nine p. m, when tho division
was ordered back.
"Genera! Mcclellan was on the field,
J expressing himself satisfied with the
result.
Thursday about noon the enemy
made an attack upon Gen. Stoneman's
force, in the vicinity of Hanover Court
House, probably for the purpose of ac-
! complishing an outfanking movement
on the right, and to engage our atten-
, ton in that direction. Shortly after
wards they commenced vigorously can
nonading from their works on an emf.
nence opposite Mechanicsville, about
one and half miles distant; also from
two batteries-One above and the other
below. They were replied to by Camp
BELLS Pennsylvania batteries, OH picket
duty, on the Mechanicsville road and
another from behind earthworks at the
| right of grove.
About two o'clock in the afternoon,
= the enemy's infantry and squaJrons of
cavalry crossed the Chickahominy in
, immense force, short distance above
the Virginia Central railroad, making
a rapid advance toward Gen. McCall's
division, who were intrenched on a hill
ly woodland across swamp ravine,
about mile in the rear of Mechanics
vile. The LIST. Pennsylvania rifles
(Bucktails) and Campbcll's Pennsylva-
MIA battery were on picket duty behind
the breastworks and rifle pits, where a
line of battle were drawn up. Com.
pany X, of the Bncktails who were on
picket beyond the railroad, were sur
} rounded by the enemy, and the last
that were known of them they were
trying to cut their way through. 1t is
presumed that the greater portion were
taken prisoners.
, The enemy advanced down the rear
, of Mechanicsvillc, on low, marshy
| ground, To where our forces were drawn
mp behind rifle pits and earthworks on
eminence on the north side of the ra-
vine, when the conflict became most
terrible. The rebels, with the most de-
, temIned courage attempted to press
forward over the miry ground, but the
bullets and grapeshot fell among them
like hail, literally moving them down.
. This continued till dark, when they
, withdrew. The cannonading was kept
up OH both sides until about nine O'clock
in the evening, when the battle ceased.
Our forces were covered by earth
works, and suffered but slightly.
Late in the afternoon the enemy
made charge with cavalry. About a
hundred of them came rushing down
aud attempted to cross the rayine,
when the horses became nircd. A
squadron of our cavalry, seeing their
! position, made a charge down the hill,
when. the cavalry men abandoned their
horses and fed. The infantry fight
then renewed, and according to the
statement of my informant, Sturgeon
Humphrey, of the Pennsylvania Buck
tail reginentl continued until about
a. M, when retreat was ordered, very
much against the will of the Pennsyl
vania boys, who begged to be allow ed
to hold their position. The outer force
} then began to fall back. Porter's
corps was some distance below DR..
Gaines residence.
Of the next days battle, a cores
pendent says the cannonading and
musketry was terrific. Dnryee's gall
liant Zouaves were lying upon the
ground for two hours, while our bate
ries were Smelling the woods over them.
Finally, toward night, the enemy at
tempted to break the centre line IN
front of Dnryee's Zouaves. The mus
ket firing became terrific, lasting 20
minutes. Shortly afterward an attempt
was made to break through the right,
which was repulsed, and half IN hour
later another attempt was made on the
, left with the same result.
The battle had been raging for some
!, hours, without any apparent change of
advantage on either sile. Reinforce
ments of artillery and infantry then
: came steadily along the bridge to the
field ofbattle: The enemy then seemed
to make their last desperate, determined
effort, and came, forcing our men back
into the low ground between the hill
and the bridge where they could have
been slaughtered by tens of thousands
before they could have crossed that
long, narrow bridge. Wagons, artille-
~, ambuances and men were hurrying
toward the bridge, and panic was al