Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-02


then received from Gen. Mcclellan to con-
tinue his retrogade movement slowly, and
in order. As soon as it became apparent
to the enemy that Il was the purpose of
Gen. Porter to retire, they pushed forward
again boldly and bravely, when they were
checked by the entire reserve force, con-
sisting Of the New York Fifth and Tenth,
and two other regiments, under Colonel
Warren, acting Brigadier General.
This fresh force held the enemy in check
while the force which had previously
borne the brunt Of the battle moved steadi-
ly back and in good order. The enemy
made fierce attack on the reserve, but
cannon were posted at various points Of
the route by which they we're retiring to-
wards the Chiekahominy, which OCCASION
ally poured in shot and shell upon them
and checked their movements, and enabled
the troops to move back in the most adj
mirable order. At one time in this retro
gade movement the reserve force Of Gen.
Sykes charged on the enemy with the bay
onet and drove them back half mile.
In this charge the gallant New York
Fifth and Tenth drew forth the plaudits Of
the army by their steadiness and bravery,
in which they, however, lost about a hun
dred of their members. Cheers went up
along our whole lines at this gallant re-
pulse, which was at P. NJ, and the enemy
did not renew the attack during the balance
of the evening but turned his columns to-
ward the White House. The division of
the enemy dispatched in that direction was
estimated at twenty TO thirty thousand.
From the foregoing, think have con-
elusiyely shown that the object of General
Mcclellan, long before the battle on Fri
day, was to abandon the White House, and
also draw in his right wing across the
Chickahominy. That he has accomplished
this most mastery movement with but lit
tie loss, in comparison with his punish
ment Of the enemy, there can be no doubt,
and that he has strengthened his position
by constructing his lines and changing the
base Of his operations to the James river,
is equally self-evident. There he will have
the cooperation Of the gunboats.
Although hope may be father to the
thought, wager that Gen. Mcclellan is in
possession of Richmond by Sunday next.
LATER.
Itappears that the telegraph communi-
cation between White House and McClel-
Ian was not broken until one o'clock Sat
urday, when the wire was cut at Dispatch
Station, eleven miles out. The last of the
transports was moved by the steam tugs,
and the few articles scattered about on
shore was fired. The whole was Of small
value. And thus of the many millions of
property here few days since, probably
not five thousand dollars was destroyed.
In the midst of this closing scene re-
esasG-ty-l4uTv-rU TO SUITE J1TJIT sUTIg YHnuaI set
fire to the White House, and twas entirely
consumed The cavalry at the White
House guarded the departure Of the last
of the wagons and horses, which moved off
at the final evacuation and joined the force
under Gen. Stoneman, who, after passing
these trains off and securing their safety,
moved off with his entire force, in di-
rection that am not at liberty at present
to state. Gen. Casey reports he lost not a
man, nor did he leave a soul behind, not
even a contraband.
Since a very early hour on Saturday
Major General Mcclellan has been de-
prived of the telegraphic communication
with Washington. he abandoned its use
several hours before the wires were cut
doubtless being fearful that the enemy
might, by placing magnet on the wire,
read his orders. Direct communication is
now being opened with him, however, by
gunboats up the mouth Of the ChickahOm-
my, and soon will be all right in this re-
speet.