Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-09
TEE EIeHF OF KouDAY.


About O'Clock, the enemy opened on oul
troops posted on the left, composed OF Gen
Hooker's Division, and other troops of Gen
HeintEelmans Division. The action in thil
vicinity was very heavy at times. The lOsl
in killed and wounded iB not known, bal
supposed to be considerable on both sides
The enemy was repulsed at all points. Gen
PeeFs Brigade, stationed ct the right Of Gen
Hooler, soon after became engaged. Here
the firing was very heavy for about two
hours, during which they handsomely re.
pulsed the enemy, in making a charge. OuI
loss here was about thirty killed, and seven.
ty.hve wounded. ..#
A brilliant victory was achieved, about :
O'Clock in the afternoon, By Gen. HanCOck'l
Brigade, assisted by Kennedy's and Wheel.
er's Batteries. They had been ordered to the
right TO feel the enemy, and if possible, tc
/ turn their left wing. Here they were mel
by Gen. Barly's Brigade, consisting of the
9th North Carolina and 24th and 3sth Vir.
ginia regiments, with q squadron of cavalry
who advanced Ia line of battle. Our troops
who were quickly prepared to receive them,
opened heavy FIRE upon them, and the enc
my advanced steadily 20 within two hundred
yards, when Gen. Hancock ordered charge
with the baJonet, which was executed with
the greatest courage. The enemy's line
broke-they became panio-stricken, aud fed,
leaving their dead and wounded behind
The rebels left upward Of 80 dead and 40
wounded. We also took nearly two hundred
of them prisoners Among their killed and
wounded was the Colonel and Lieut.. Colonel
80 n--.fg-n Orru las
was II killed and 40 wounded. Among tie
enemy's dead we're the bodies OF the Lieut..
Colonel and Msior of the Gath Virginia reg
iment, together with several other officers.
Their dead we're buried by our troops, and
their wounded cared for. TI
THE DEFIEOEs AT RIoHHoHD.
From the Richmond Examiner, sOth.l
The safety Of Richmond depends upon our
army at Yorktown, and the obstruction
which lies in the channel of the James river
in the form of the MeFrimse. ~
This vessel may be set upon by not only
one Monitor, but by a feet of them, in q
very short time. Il msy be overcome in
regular combat, or It may, by a spark falling
into It's magazine, or by the accident of firs.
be put cut Of the way ct any moment. II
so, Richmond is at once spproachsble by
gunboats, under an attack from which 1t is
perfectly untenable, and indefensible by land
forces.
Is It the part of wisdom to risk the great
interests of such city as ours upon a tenure
90 frail and uncertain as the hull of single
vessel. Not only is the city of Richmond
haEsrded upon such contingency, but With
it also is ha7srded the safety of our armies
on the Peninsula and nOrthside; for if Rich
mond were taken by naval assault, and the
enemy's fleets should bring land force to
occupy and hold the city, our armies north
Of the James river would be penned In and
endangered.
Against these casualties, which every one
must see are Of the gravest character, it Ger
tainly behOoves the authorities to provide
promptly and efectually. Our numerous
batteries on the banks Of the river, experience
has shown, are utterly incapable of beating
of the enemy's boats. II two vessels could
run the gauntlet of two formidable forts on
the lower Mississippi, and entire miles Of
batteries on its banks surely it would be
madness to place any reliance upon similar
and, we have no doubt, inferior defsnces on
the James. Happily there is one eKpedient
practicable for the defence OF the channel of
the James river, which could not we'll be
provided in the case Of the Mississippi. The
flow Of the stream in Our river is slow, and
the depth of the channel comparatively slight.
It admits of easy obstruction, whereas the
Mississippi did not admit of such thing ex-
cept at the sost of immense labor, time and
expense.