Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-07

York Tines we take the lolloWing inter-
esting particulars Of the recent terrible
battles Of the Peninsula. These reports do
not come down later than Monday night;
ARMT or TuE Potomac
or THE JANIS RIVER,
Monday Evening, June 80, 1882.
Acting under the necessity which the
Commanding General has long foreseen,
the widelv-extende5 lines Of the army
with its miles Of weIl-constructed defences,
stretching almost from the James River on
the left, %. and beyond the Chickahominy
on the right, have been abandoned, and the
army before Richmond has fallen back TO a
more practicable lire Of defence and at
tack, upon the James River. The army
has besa gagged IN constant conflict lcifh the
eaemy for az d1gs during which their high
est energies have been taxed 70 the utter
most We have had no moment Of repose
no opportunity scarcely to properly care
for the wounded and to bury the dead.
The enemy have closely watched every
movement, and. with an army more than
double that Of eur own, have had the abil-
ftv 10 constantly launch fresh troops upon
our rear, an advantage which they have
been Quick 10 discover and rem0rseless in
improving. Their perfect knowledge Of
the roads, paths and bridges, and the to-
pography Of the country, which has taken
Us time TO learn, has placed an immense
advantage IN their hands.
Beginning with the 6ght ct Mechanics
vile on Thursday, our advance forces,
while steadily falling back, have had
continuous running fight.
On Friday one Of the severest battles
which was ever fought on this continent
occurred on the right Of the Chickahominy,
near Gaines Hill. On Saturday, after our
forces had retired in good order across the
creek, and destroyed the bridges, we were
attacked in front Of our encampments, but
Gen. Smith repulsed the enemy, leaving
the ground strewn with his dead
On Saturday morning, the arrangements
having been completed, the wagon train
was started on its way TO James River, and
was followed on Sunday morning BY the
nFfIITeE7 -sE71 % IIIIiIlszazE -rrtilI
Meantime the enemy, getting scent OF
our movement, strongly reeonnoitered our
front, and finding that several Of our posi-
tons had been abandoned, pushed in and
attacked us vigorously. Generals Hooker
and Richardson drove them back, and Gen.
Meaeber's Brigade, always on hand at the
right time charged, and captured two Of
their guns. The rebels paid dear price
for the information which they obtained.
The chief struggle was near savsge's Sta
ton.
Anticipating movement on our right
flank, the railroad bridge over the Chicka-
hOminy was destroyed on Saturday morn
lag. The rebels, supposing we had fallen
back on the White House, sent large force
Of infantry, cavalry and artillery in that
direction, but after a long, rapid and
weary march, discovered they had gone on
. Wild goose chase in the wrong direction.
They only found small force Of our in
anfry and cavalry scattered down to
guard the rear, who fell back and escaped
from White House Landing. The rest was
one Of those shoWling wildernesses, which
the rebels intend 70 leave for US. All the
ouartermaster and commissary stores had
been removed two days before, and this
rubbish burned.
Gen. Mcclellan and Staff left the head.
quarters at Savage's Station at daylight OF
Sunday morning, with body guard Of th'
Fourth United States Cavalry, and halte'
some Eve miles out, after crossing the Whit
Oak Greek.
There were, on Saturday, about ont
thousand Of the wounded and sick, chiefly
accumulated from the battle Of Friday
many Of whom it was found impossible 4
remove, owing to the nature and severit!
Of their wounds, and as a matter OF human
ity, as Well as Of necessity, they were lei
behind. A great many, however, VII
could walk slowly followed the track 0
the army, and the ambulances brough
away great many others.
WITHDRAWING FROM THE FRONT
Gen. Hooker's Division broke camp il
the entrenehments ct three o'clock sunda.
morning. and Gen Sickles and Grover.
Brieades proceeded TO the outposts to re
IieTe Gen. Patterson's New Jersey Brig
ade. At FIVE o'clock A. N. the three brig
ades fell back 10 the second line Of redouu
where they formed a line Of battle wit
Richardson's and Kearney's Divisions
and remained until eight O. clock P. N.
sedawieks Division left the front Z
daylight, and were engaged by the enem
half Eav 10 SaTageis Station, which the
reached at FIVE 2. n. Here the enemy
infantry, with a battery, came out Of th
woods On the right, and attacked them.
SedgWick's Division crossed the creek
White Oak Swamp, about four oclOc
A. NJ, Monday. His rear was not annoyf
during the night.
Keves' and PerteFs Divisions had a
ready preceded us on the march, and ha
reached a position on the James Rive
near Turkey Island, which is about ten
twelve miles shove City Point.
DESTRUCTION or The BRIDGES.
As the army resumed its march On Mo-
day morning, information vas receive
through Gen. Richardson, that the enen
were pursuing, and orders were given
destroy the bridges.
BOW rHE RETREATWAs CONDUCTED.
The retreat was conducted in the mo
perfect order. There was no frepidatit
or haste; nc smashing up Of wagons
careless OF fast driving, and not sing
accident Of any consequence is believed
have occurred. A drove 0f $500 fat ca
tie, under the charge Of Colonel Clar
Chief Commissary, and Capt. E. H. B
ehAnan, Commissary Of Subsistence
Gen. McCiellan's Stat, were successful
driven along. They had been brought I
from the White House, and narrowly {
capped stamping By The rebels.
Instead Of the expected sWamps and 4
passabie roads, we found Eell-tFavel
country roads in excellent eonditl
along which The immense artillery q
wagon train passed vita the greatest eel
Afler approaching within ab9ut Eve rail