The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-07
The Situation Before Richmond.

The ominous silence that followed the dis
patches bringing intelligence of the operations
in front of Richmond down to Saturday night
gave rise to the most painful and oppressive
apprehensions in the public mind It was
feared that in advancing his left and center
and turning the White Oak Swamps while
withdrawing his right to the south side of the
Chickahominy, Gen. Mcclellan had been
unable to open communication with his new
base of operations, and would thus be cut off
from his supplies and reinforcements
The first dispatches received yesterday an
nouncing the retreat of the army seventeen
miles, the capture of his siege guns and the
abandonment of many sick and wounded,
while they assured Us of the safety of his
communications, caused general depression
and aroused the gravest apprehension lest the
details should bring intelligence of appalling
disasters and the complete discontinue, rout
and humiliation Of the Federal army Hap
PLY, there is nothing in the later dispatches
bringing intelligence down to 8 o'clock on
Tuesday evening, to confirm our fears but
much that is gratifying in its character. The
retreat appears to have been conducted with
perfect order; but one siege gun was left
behind, and that because it had broken down;
the supply train came safely into camp, and
reinforcements and supplies were rapidly
arriving by river. Gen. Mcclellan has estab-
lshed his headquarters at Berkley's Bar,
or within fifteen miles of Richmond by direct
line, if we do not mistake the locality.
The two principal engagements we're fought
on Friday and Monday, the rebels attacking
in each with overwhelming numbers. They
were repulsed in the engagement of Friday,
and failed in their object of their attack, which
was to cut up and annihilate the right wing
before they could cross q ahominy It
being found impossible the advance
position on tho left and Win the force
- Il a..
Gems. Heintzelman, KEYS and Sumner fell
back along the line of the railroad and Will
liamsburg road, where striking the common
road leading directly south from Meadow
Station, they met the right wing, which lad
crossed the Chickahominy by the military
bridge, (near the mouth of Beaver Dam
creek,) and two and half miles north of
Meadow Station, and turning southwark BY
the road, crossed the White Oak Swamp, leay-
ing it on their right, and debouched on the
New Market or Long Bridge road, and took
up their present position, the left resting upon
the James river, and the right extending
nortbwa-d toward White Oak Swamp, and
holding the road by which the retreat had
been made.
The rebels crossed the Chickahominy on
Sunday in great force on the line of our re-
treat, but not following up till Monday, when
simultaneous attack was made upon the
right and left the attacking force on the left
coming direct from Richmond along the New
Market and Central roads, attacking at four
points, and being repulsed after q terrible
struggle, in which both sides lost heavily. It
was in this battle that the gunboats were first
brought into action.
The enemy finding it impossible to force a
passage between the left and the river-in
which, had they succeeded, they wonld have
inevitably cut off the supplies and communica-
tons of McClellan-retired in confusion. The
battle was renewed on Tuesday, and, though
we are without details it is probable that it was
upon the ground fought over the previous day,
and with the same object in view. In this,
however, they failed completely.
Our losses in the six days fighting is esti-
mated at from twelve to twenty thousand. It
is not improbable that they viii reach the lat
ter figure. That of the enemy is unknown,
but can not be less, and is probably much
greater. A whole rebel brigade, including
manys.rebel officers of distinction, is reported
as captured in the battle of Monday.
The famous Stonewall jackson is reported
among the killed, and General Anderson, of
the Tredegar Iron Works, MORALLY wounded.
On our own side, General Mccall in command
OF the PenLSylvania Reserves, and Gen. Rey-
nolds, are reported among the missing, and be-
lieved to have been taken prisoners.
While il is plain that we have suffered re-
pulse in icing compelled to retreat, it is by no
means CERTAIN that we have not gained i'm.
mensely in the advantage of position, some
compensation for the losses sustained, or that
when the reinforcements now rapidly being
pushed forward shall have arrived the contest
may not be Extensively renewed on our part,
and with the chances of success greatly in our
favor.