Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-03
THURSDAY. JULY 3, 1863.


The reports from the field of military orer-
ations near Richmond have been cohluSeo'
imperfect. and very unsatisfactory. They
have given us n few disconnected facts min
gled with a large amount of conjecture, infer
ehce. and extravagant rumor All that could
be learned from the reports sent to the press
up to yesterday was that the right wing of
McClellan's army was furiously attacked on
Thursday of last week by a large force under
Stonewall jackson. The attack was brayely
resisted; but il was continued on Friday, and
finally our troops retreated across the Chicka-
hominy. According to one report they lost
ten pieces of artillery, but there has been
nothing reliable in regard to the losses Our
baggage wagons and stores went across the
Chickahominy far ahead of the troops, we
have been told, but no account has been Civ
en- of what befel them or where they went to
neither has any report told us what was done
by the center and left of the Union army.
Rebel deserters state that an attack on the
center and left had been planned, and can
nonading has been heard on the left; but no.
body has told us clearly what has happened
there, although defeat on that part of the line
has not seemed possible, and one report states
that the enemy made an attack and were
swiftly repulsed.
The battle on Friday was fought on the
northeast side of the Chickahominy just be-
low New Bridge. Our men, retreatng sue
ceSsfully and in good order, crossed the river
at Bottoms Bridge about six miles below.
Gen. Mcclellan was in that battle, and the
latest reports received yesterday assure us
that this reueating right wing of the army,
10000 strong and having with it 100 pieces
of artillery, went safely through White Oak
Swamp towards James river, and was again
put in connection with the rest of the army.
This march through the swamp appears TO
have taken place on Saturday forenoon. Gen.
Stoneman with a force of cavalry and artillery
was detached to cover the evacuation of White
House. This evacuation was completed be-
tween and o'clock on Saturday afternoon,
and it appears that Gen. Stoneman finding it
unsafe to go to James river by the route taken
by the rest of the right wing, shipped his men
and went by way of fortress Monroe.
In all this we find nothing to support the
supposition that any very serious disaster had
befallen our army. Its position was greatly
improved by the change. The attack on the
right was probably more obstinate and eff
fective than had been anticipated. The
loss in killed and wounded on both sides
was doubtless severe, and there may have
been some other loss; but the retreat to
James river was accomplished without disas-
ter, and the Chickahominy swamps were all
abandoned to the enemy. 1t is our belief
that McClellan's army is now in fine condi-
ton, and that he will soon have possession of
Richmond, if he has not taken it already. At
one time yesterday our feeling was much less
hopeful and a good deal more ''bue' but we
express now the ''sober second thought" that
has been awakened by a careful re-perusual
of all the reports that have reached us. The
latest news received yesterday came from
fortress Monroe, in a special dispatch to the
New York Evening Post, as follows:
FORTRESS MONROE, June 30-P. MA
gunboat has Just returned from City Point
with information from Mcclellan, stating that
communication IS open lctth the army from
that point. The exact nature of the intOrma-
ton is not made public, but it is understood
that ererything as progressing to the entire
satisfaction Of the general. This news has
changed the anxious looks of the long faces
worn in this vicinity this morning into more
cheerful aspect. The boats going up James
river have to pass under convoy at present,
but there is a very large assemblage of gun
boats in the vicinity of City Point, protecting
McClellan's left, now resting upon James
river"
1t is evident that the admirable army of the
Potomac was then in excellent condition for
the work it had on hand. There had been no
such disaster as many have supposed, and we
may reasonably expect soon to hear the very
best news from that quarter. The New York
Evening Post of yesterday says on authority
that makes it confident :-"Gen. Mcclellan is
not left to battle alone. Reinforcements are
pushing forward to him from different direc-
tous, and with that speed which brave men
make when they know that their comrades
look for succor. Burnside and Pope are on
their way-are, perhaps, at this time near the
scene of contest; and other troops must be by
this time within call of our struggling army"
GEN. StOnemRn Not scout OFF,"
A dpsuatch Yesterday stated fhot Con