The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-06-07

for which the plans were not yet ripe Our
proximity 20 the rebels vas evidently annoy
ing 70 them. and oR Thursday. and again on
FRIDAY. they made an attempt. with a force
- few hundred. L. drive in the piekets.
and discover what mischief Was plotting be
hind the belt of woods sheltering Casey from
their view. Their attack was res0lutely met
nv the pickets who fell back on the reserves
and held their ground, defeating the purpose
OF the enemy.
Meanwhiie Gen. Casey was actively az
sork securing his position. largo fore. 0i /
rnen being busy. under the skillful direction /
OF Lieut. +. W West. OF his staff. digging /
tile pits and telling trees for abatlis 4
similar line Of defensive works had been
commenced and partially completed At Gen.
Casey's former position. at the Seven Pines.
three miles further to the rear. and just back
Of these was line Of earthworks, construct
ed by Gen. Couch. and more carefully finish
ell
Failing ia the two attempts to gather in
formation By forcing back Gen Casey's pick
cts. The rebels apparently resolved upon an
adraacs ia force against The lefi ring Of me
army. doubtless determined 20 drive u be
/ yond the Chickahominy, should be the oPpor-
tunity offer. and put themselves in posi-
ton 10 turn Gen. McClelian's left flank.
IHE STORM OF FRIDAY SIGuT.
During the afternoon of Friday. terrific
I thunder storm arose, continuing through
most of the night with uninterrupted severn
. ". deiuging the earth with rain. converting
the spongy soil into nearly impossible bog.
| aud raising tie waters OF the Chickahominy
50 as TO carry away one Of two bridges Gen.
Sumner had prepared for his passage. and
somewhat disturb the foundations OF the
other.
The broad sheet. OF lightning that night
aid the camp fires OF unusual size, cleaning
Il The pitchy darkness, seemed 10 illuminate
our position. and may possibly have assisted
the rebels in getting an idea of the bearing
Of things. just before the sIorm had reach
eed It's fury there was some skirmishng be
tween the artillery on both sides This com.
menced again in the morning, several shots
: flying over our camp. indicating that the reb-
: els bad some way gained more correct idea
. Of our position.
THE ATTACK OK SATURDAY.
Shortly after noon the grand attack com
Nenced. Gen Casey's pickets being driven N
al along the frcnt, after spirited resistance
the rebels advancing in force along the'
' roads-the Williamsburg road. TO our lett
: the railroad in the centre. and the " Nine
mile road, as il is called. on the right
: With his feeble division greatly weakene'
by extension. csca Casey had no backbone
Q 10 opDose 10 this sudden attack. But m
e thought of yielding his ground entered IN
mind of the old soldier, Scared by the wound
of Mexico aud disciplined 10 danger by
: hundred fights. His troops were Instant
a formed into position, the three brigades main
q tainining their relative positions on the right
left and centre. aud as thorough preparation
we're made for resisting the attack as its SUD
q denness would admit OF. Regln New orl
N Battery was stationed Just 20 the right OF IN
!. Williamsburg road. Bates Battery OF Aapo
leon guns furth err 60 the lett across the road
u ard Fitch's Battery three or four hundre
a wards to the rear, the latter sending it, she
=. over the heads OF our troops ut the enem'
The fourth battery WIS Dear the rallroa'
- further to the left.
ri The vigor with which the enemy presse
forward to the attack, indicated the cunl
j. deuce OF superior strength. A battaiior
two regiments pressed against Gen. Nagl
y on the right. another fell on Gen. Wassell
is the centre. and third OH Gen. Palmer
Il the left. pouring in at once FIRE hot AZ
: heavy, and advancing with great resolutic
," in face of the steady fire OF canister al
> grape from the guns in front and shell FRO
e those further % tho rear, moving down the
- ranks in all directions. The rebels had D
little artillery and were evidently disposed
: mike good DC deficiency by pressing
IN close quarters With leir superior force,
on bear down AZ once by weight OF numbers u
:. feeble skeleton regiments of three and 10
. hundred men who composed tho advance
10 division.
1t Most of Gen Casey troops were thros
.ss forward 90 the edge of the woods in front
-. l.. - fs.s
~ ola few regiments being left behind 1
partially completed rife pits. short distan
N % the rear. Thus a division. nearly new
=. warfare. was suddenly exposed in Ell op
field. To the heaviest OF ire from an ener
W. covered TO a considerable extent by {
%. woods through which they were advanein
IN. Terribly the tempest ragged. the air almC
=, growing thick with musket balls; officer
ter officer fell, or was borne from the field
- wounded man: the men dropped by score
and the usual number of weak joined on
were falling TO the rear. But in spite OF
rapid thinning of their ranks. the regimes
|. generally held their ground until the cnef
succeeded in rushing around on the LEFT tiar
and poured in an enflading iire from that
Z rection. against which the rifle pits were
} protection. The sixty rounds OF ammaniti
,ut with which they entered the hght vi
ey nearly exhausted. and no more was at han
en- ARRIVAL oF HEISfoacgsESrs.
% Meantime, one of Gen. COUGHS brigad
y, commanded by Gen. Abercrombie. was
= dered mp 10 the support of Gen. Nagle
-, the right, Gen. Devens. OF the same disssi
- sustaining Gen. Wassell on the center. q
- Gen. Peck, with the remaining brigade. -
- porting Gen. Palmer on the LETT. WI
Gen. Cssey's troops were forced TO give "
the rebels fell on those Brigades of sCouc
~. Division. who disputed every inch OF groui
~ until sustained BY Gen. kearney. press
:" ~ up the Williamsburg road with reinGor
=. uents to meet them. supported by the ID
-, sion of Gen. Hooker In ht- rear. Press
~ RAPIDLY forward. Gen. kearne, advan'
along the williamsburg road ~ within
- short distance Of our original position, VII
-, be bivouacked FOR the night in front OF
49,, | enemy.
.en Il was along shir Williamsburg road
- the main attack vas made, and here
- troops wers forced back for half miie
w. more: before the arrival OF oon. hein'i
g mans corps. the feeble brigade Of Case
m Division. averaging less than 600 fncn.
~. in completely broken up. many tnot N
ene Of the officers killed. wounded. missi
&C and the psisatcs scattered through the " y
'a' and along he road. Bravely and well
Gen. Casey 40 his duty, pressing on TO
-. extreme front. and cheering or his men i,
ea gartlless Of the Storm Of hrn an3 hail
- ragged abost hiua. cutting down his Ole
-. % all sides. but strangely escaping his Q
-, person. Bravely and veil did most of
officers md bx him until. ono alter anf