The Nevada Democrat., 1862-08-09
The Seven Days Battle - NIcClslIan's :
Present Position.

Present POSltiOns
The New York papers, received by the
St. Louis, give full and graphic details OF
the seven days fighting near Richmond,
commencing about the 26th OF June and
ending on the 1st or I'd Of July. 1t is not
denied that the Federal army met with
serious reverse, and came nearer total
defeat than is comfortable to contemplate.
As to the losses we have no further infOr.
nation than has already been given by tel.
egraph, which are merely the estimates of
correspondents, and of course conflicting.
Judging from the letters of several CORES
pOndents, Mcclellan had no intention Of
changing his base of operations and the pO'
sition of bis army, but bis right wing hav-
ing been attacked by superior numbers,
aud turned, he was compelled TO undertake
flank movement in face Of the enemy, al
ways regarded as hazardous, which was
successfully accomplished.
The correspondent of the New York
Times, thus sums up bis account of the
weeks fighting:
The change Of base was necessitated by the
impossibility of holding our extended lines with
the army which Mr.. Stanton would grant to
Gen. Mcclellan. Our front extended from
Mechanicsvile on the right to White Oak
Swamp on the left, distance of fifteen miles.
Besides defending this against a greatly suPe-
Tior force of the rebels, to say nothing of satis
fying the ambition of the Secretary OF War and
Congress for an immediate advance, we were
Obliged to guard some twenty miles Of railway,
from White House to Fair Oaks. Gen. Nc
Clellan had not enough men to hold this posi-
tion after the reinforcement of the rebels by
Stonewall Jackson and others, and he became
convinced of this after the dash of Gen. Stu
arts Cavalry. Our right was constantly sub.
jeet to the danger of being turned, and our ar
my being sourrounded. The rebels knew that
this was our weak position, and when they
could bring an overwhelming force to bear
against it and were sure OF success, they made
the attempt. Our right wing, held by Gen.
Porter, was turned last Friday, and the army
has only escaped terrible fate by the master
ly accomplishment Of one Of the most difficult
and delicate movements which an army can
undertake, the change Of its base in face of the
enemy, by flank movement. The glorious
success of the movement is the defeat of the
rebels, and the order with which our soldiers
have gone through 1t, proves them to
be of the very best kind, reliable and worthy Of
the worlds applause.
The position which we now occupy is one
which our engineers say we can defend against
anything jeff. Davis or any other monarch can
bring to bear upon us. Our line, instead ofbe-
ing fifteen miles front, with twenty miles OF
railway to defend is scarcely five miles long.
One of our fianks is the James River, not a
railroad to be torn up, nor highway that may
be obstructed but a sure means of conveying
supplies, and easily defended by gunbOats. Our
other line is readily held by the force we can
bring. We occupy the center of a circle which
greatly facilitates CELEBRITY Of movement, and
are so positioned that no artillery can be
brought to bear upon us by the enemy within
effective range. five could only have occu-
pied this same position six weeks ago, instead
of the difficult one we took, your correspondent
would how be dating his letters at Richmond,
instead Of twenty odd miles below there.
Though further from Richmond than We were
last Thursday, in miles and furlongs, in effect
we are nearer that stubborn capital and surer
of its capture. will not venture to name the
exact date when we shall exchange the hard
ships of the camp for such luxuries as Rich
mond will afford, but the day cannot be far dis
tant, If other cooperative movements are prop
erly conducted.
a r.