The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04
ANOTHER BATTLE BEFORE
RICHMOND.
MCLELLAN'S PLANS CARRIED OUT
What the Plans Were
NEW BASE OF OPERATIONS
CHANGE TO JAMES RIVER

New York, June 3O,-The Tribune has
issued an extra dated on the battle field,
giving an account of two days desperate
fight. A company of Bucktails was sur.
rounded and captured. Our right wing re-.
treated. One hundred and twenty FIVE
thousand men were engaged. All civilians
have been ordered away from White
House, &c.
Tribune Extra. "A severe and most
determined battle was fought on the right
wing Thursday and Friday, which is claim
ed by some Of our officers as q successful
strategic movement, into which the enemy
had unwittingIy been drawn, and which
will soon result in the capture of Richmond
and the entire rebel army.
The attack was made by the enemy In
immense force, who crossed the Chickahom.
my near the railroad above Mechancsvile
On Thursday afternoon and fought despe-
rately, but we're unable to drive our men
single rod, though the enemy were ten to
oae.
The only forces engaged that day was
McCah's division. The battle lasting from
two till nine p. n, when The division was
ordered back.
Gen. Mcclellan was Oh the field express
ing himself satisfied with the result.
Thursday afternoon the enemy made an
attack upon Gen. Stoneman' forces in the
vicinity of Hanover Court House, proba-
bly, for the purpose OF accomplishing an
ontfanking movement on the regiment and
to engage our attention 10 that direction.
Sort!y afterwards they commenced q Wig
orous cannonading from their works or an
eminerce opposite MechanicsviIle, about
one ard hall miles distant, also from two
batteries, enc above and the other below.
They were replied to By CampbelI's Penn
sylvania batteries On picket duty, one on
the MechanicsViile road ard the other from
behind earthworks at the right of grove.
About two P. NJ, the enemy's infantry
and squadrons Of cavalry crossed the Chick
ahominy in immense force, short distance
above the Virg' MIA Central Railroad, max.
ing rapid advance towards Gen. McCall's
division, who were entreucbed CD billy
woodland across swamp ravine about a
mile in the rear of Mechanicsville. The
First Pennsylvania rifles, Bucktails and
CampbeIs Pennsylvania battery were on
picket duty, all OF whom except one compa-
ny fell back behind the breastworks and
rife pits, where line of battle was drawn
up.
Company K, of the BucktaiIs. who were
on picket beyond the railroad, were sur
rounded by the e0emy, and the last that was
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 at the rear of
Mecbanicsville, on low marshy ground,
to where Our forces were drawn up behind
rife pits and earth-works, on an eminence
on the northerly side of ravine, when the
conflict becana most terrible.
The rebels with most determined cour,
age, attempted to press forward over miry
ground, but the bullets and grape.shot fell
among them like hail, moving them down.
This continued till dark, when they with
drew.
The cannonadng was kept up on both
sides until about o'clock P. NJ, when the
battle ceased.
Our forces were covered by earth-works,
and suffered but slightly.
Late in the afternoon, the enemy made a
charge with cavalry. About one hundred
OF them came rushing down and attempted
to cross the ravine, when their horses be.
came nired.
A squadron of our cavalry, seeing their
position, made charge down the hill |, when
the cavalry men abandoned their horses and
fed.
The infantry fight was then renewed and
according to the statement of my informant,
Surgeon Humphrey, OF the Pennsylvania
Bucktail regiment, continued until about Z
A. NJ. when retreat was ordered, very
much against the will of the Pennsylvania
boys, who begged to be allowed to hold
their position.
The outer forces then began to fall back.
Porter's corps were some distance below
DR.. Gaines residence.
Of the next days battle the correspond
ent says the cannonadipg and musketry fire
was terrific.
Duryea's gallant Zouaves were lying on
the ground for two hours, while our batter
les were Smelling the woods over them.
Finally, towards night, the enemy at.
tempted to break the centre line in front of
Duryea's Zouaves. The musketry firing
became terrific, lasting twenty or thirty
minutes. Shortly afterwards an attempt
was made to break through the right,
which was repulsed, and half an hour after
another attempt was made on the left with
the same result. The battle had then been
raging for some hours without any appar-
ent change on either side. Reinforcements
OF artillery and infantry then came steadily
along over the bridge to the field.
The enemy then seemed to make their
last desperate and determined effort and
come forcing our men back into the low
ground between the hill and the bridge