Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-30
The Reeenr nntllo Refore RIehmond.

portray"
The Recent Battle Before Richmond.
From the reports of the New York Her
aid we quote the following paragraphs re-
garding the fight of Wednesday last be-
fore Richmond, which was severely con-
tested, and in which tho Union forces were
entirely successful:
In FRONT OF RICHMOND, June 26.
Wednesday, June %, was signalized by
another glorious struggle between the reb-
els and the Union troops, in which the lat
ter were twice victorious. About six thou
sand Of our men on that day encountered
two divisions of the rebel army short dis
tanee beyond Fair Oaks, and drove them
back mile. By remarkable blunder,
we relinquished all the ground gained as
soon as we had obtained possession of it,
and then, when the error was sifted and
understood, our gallant lads went at it
again and corrected the mistake. Upon
our retirement the enemy had once more
swept in over the field like q recurrent
tide wave, and for second time we drove
him back step by step over all the ground
originally won, and maintained our posi-
ton there at night.
But little artillery was employed, and the
casualties are, therefore, not so numerous
as might be supposed from the duration of
the fight. As the artillery that was used
was mostly ours, the enemy's loss is doubt
less considerably heavier than our own.
Ours viii perhaps reach the neighborhood
of eighty killed and less than two hundred
wounded.
OUR OBJECT.
It should be clearly understood what this
particular fight was for. Itwas not an in
terruption of our march to Richmond, in
which, as might be supposed, the rebels
threw themselves in our way and stopped
us at a mile from our original line. 1t was
fight for position determined strug
gle for a piece Of ground which it was
deemed necessary that we should "have
and hold" This piece of ground is barely
a mile beyond our former line, and we have
it, and hold it. for what purpose it is prob
ably contraband to state.
WHO FOUGHT THE BATTLE.
Two brigades of Hooker division-Gro-
ver's and Sickles'-did nearly all the work.
though some other brigades were slightly
engaged before the day was over.
AT A STAND STILL.
At half-past nine our line was brought
to a stand still 1t was evident that the
enemy was in great force along the whole
line. Near that hour the 5th New Jersey
was sent out as a reserve to Sickles, the I'd
New York to reinforce his advance, and
regiment Of Sedgwick's division. The 18th
Massachusetts was pushed in on his right,
,,----.s.-.s1 .la;r. l;-,r 10 y, q nailsand
Still, with occasional intermissi0n Of COM
parative quiet, the fire ragged along the
whole front Of the two devoted brigades,
and seemed even to rage with intenser fury
as it approached the road on which the
Excelsior Brigade had advanced.
STUBBORN AND STEADY.
During this hard-fought hour our men
had not hinched at all Every one toed
the mark resolutely, ready to do what he
came for. There was not a straggler to be
seen, and those even who helped the wound
ed off the field helped them only to where
they could get better help, and then went
back. Gloriously does the conduct of these
two brigades speak the praise of those gal
liant officers who have made them soldiers,
and filed them with the soldiers spirit, and
especially does their good conduct on this
day rebound to the honor Of that noble old
veteran, Gen Hooker l
THE REBELS CAN'T STAND IT.
Steady purpose prevails. When the rebels
found that our boys were not geing to give
way under any circumstances they con-
cluded to give way themselves. Their dis
position to do SO first appeared in front Of
Grover. It was hailed with hearty cheer
by our boys, who pushed ahead, and, now
that the machine was fairly started, went
on with q rush. In q few minutes they
broke out into the open field, and the object
was so far gained at that point. A Abattery
was sent down down to Kearney to play
on the enemy's flank and shell the masses
in retreat.
At this time, when victory seemed GER
tain, unaccountable orders came to fall
back. They reluctantly obeyed, when
Gen. Mcclellan arrived on the ground and,
seeing how matters stood, ordered another
advance, which was made in handsome and
gallant style Steadily the enemy were
forced back until the ground once before
gained had been regained, and the armies
rested for the night after a good days
work.