The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-05
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, JULY s. 1862

40 900 against the enemy's 10000. and our
forces were compelled still to yield ground light
ing desperately, however, and infictins terrible
damage upon the rebels. Early Saturday morn
ing our entire forcc which had been engaged IN
the fight Of the day before crossed to the South
W est side Of the Chckahoniny, and destroyed
the bridges. They were obliged, however, 10
leave their dead and many of their sick and
wounded behind. No attack was made during
Saturday, and there was not much lighting
chat day, except diminishing. On Saturday
night and Sunday morning the movement to-
wards the James river continued, all the troops
that had crossed the ~hickahominy participant
ing in it, taking along as many of the sick and
wounded and as much of the eommissary stores
US could be transported, and destroying the
stores tina, were left behind The rebels hun!
upon the rear of our retiring army, but the re-
treat was conducted throughout Sunday in per-
feet order and with bat little loss. Monday Of
ternoon, and after IL portion Of our troops had
reached the desired position on James river, the
rebels in great force, with troops fresh from Rich
mond, attacked what had boon the left wing of
our army, and there WAS very hard fighting, IN
which, though at first our forces were compelled
to retire, the rebels were disastrouoly repulsed
with terrible loss. Tuesday the battle seems to
have been general, both the right and left flank
OF our army being assaulted by the rebels, and We
have McClellan's assurance that the enemy was
badly beaten ; and we know the rebels claim no
victory Oh that day. Since then there has been
no severe lighting and our troops are reported
as having arrived at = safe position on the James
river. and are in excellent spirits.
Such, in brief, is the story Of the movement
to the James river. That our army has lost
hta,jly, there is no DOUBT, and there viii. be
mourning IN thousands of homes, but that it
has suffered any disastrous defeat we do not be-
lleve. In the light of the present facts, the
battle OF Friday is the only one in which our
army did not defeat tho enemy's purpose. and
repr,e him at last and even ia that battle The
rebels were SO crippled that they suffered our
troops, unmoleSted, to cross the river and move
forward to the new base OF operations ana
they would have done the same if or Friday We
had won victory.
1t is idle, however, to attem pt to blind our
selves to the fact that the fall of Richmond has
been postponed sonewha, by these battles. We
are not 80 near Richmond now as we we're one
week ago. The rebels have tough desperately,
lossterrb]y themselves inflicted serious loss u pom
our army, and gained a short respite for their
belsagusred capital. We believe they have
taxed their strength to its utmost. They have
thrown their massed troops upon the Union
army, and forced it back a few miles But
they have paid terrible price for this
partial success, while the brave and gallant ar
my Of the Union is still with its face toward
Richmond, and resting We believe on the James
river, secure in its position. Already it ia
stronger than before tho fight BY the reinforce
monts which have been sent forward. and i,s
Numbers will be swelsd each day by fresh arri
walls of soldiers burning 20 Nv 'nge the martyrs
of the Republic. While We mourn for the
dead, let US not despond for the cause, but
" renew our trust i. God, and 90 forward with
out fear, and with manly hearts"