The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-30

1HE EREnY In FULL RE1'REA1s
sf0RlIrEo or MHcHANlCsyILLB.
saT1lE OF eElvER Dlm GREEN.
THE FIGHT At GAINES Mills Z
sc. &c. SC.

taken up the line Of march towards Mocha
nicsville and the road, evening had far ad'
vanced, and il was supposed that q halt would
take place. Gen. Ripley, however, with the
44,h and 4Sth Georgia, and I'd and Sd North
Carolina, made an attack upon the Yankee
Notifications at Ellyson's Mills, in which the
44th Georgia and Sd North Carolina suffered
extremely, and did not succeed in taking them,
owing to the impracticable nature Of the
ground Operations were then suspended
on our side, but the enemy kept up a deafenlng
roar of artillery till late in the night Long
streets forces had meanwhile crossed, and
marched parallel with the Chickahominy. The
bripades Of Gems Featherstone and Pryor
were in advance, and proceeding some dis,
lance, halted for the night. About midnight,
Featherstone received orders to change MS
position, and to occupy a skirt of WOODS near
Beaver Dam Greek, and facing the Federal
batteries He did 90, and the men were scarcely
asleep when, twilight approaching, the enemy
discovered the biyouac, and Immediately CON-
menced to shell it vigorously. The men, thus
unceremoniously aroused, seized their muskets
and fell in, and Gen. Featherstone, just ar
rived from headquarters, led tlrem to storm the
position mounting ten guns, and supported oy
two or three brigades Sharp fighting now
commenced OH all sides, when Gen. Pryor sem
for assistance, and Wilcox soon came upon the
ground. To cover the infantry attack, and
draw off the artillery fire, the Sd Richmond
Howitzers, some pieces of the Donaldsonvilie
and Thomas Artillery, moved mp and played
upon the enemy's position magnificently-
Having engaged the enemy for a long time,
and finding it impossible to cross the creek
without bridge, one was constructed by some
ofthe 18th Mississippi and 4th Louisiana, under
fire when the whole force advanced, and closed
up with the enemy, driving them in great
confusion from the field. The difficulties OF
attack at this position were such that
it is'impossible to give a correct idea with
ont naps-the battery being on height,
fianked by rifle pits, a deep creek at the foot
of the hill, and covered with a thick
hedge.
DARING ATTACK.
The attack of our men on tins position
was impetuous and daring, but the loss was
great, for the foe were 30 screened by their
position it was impossible to get at them pro-
perly. Their loss was severe. Gen. Feather
stone Adjutant General, Geo. P. Foote, was
shot while riding far in advance of the 18th
Mississippi, and although hailed to return, he
did not, and was quickly singled ont and NOR
tally wounded. His body was shortly afterwards
found despoiled-watch, money, and sword
gone. The 10Th Mississippi went out IN the
morning with 1877 men, lost in this engagement
IL killed, 68 wounded, and missing; the regi-
-rraent vras commanded by Major w, N LII ~.
who was wounded leading a charge,-the
Colonel being absent and sick, and the Lieu
tensrat- Colonel wounded The 18th MISSISSIPPI
pi went into action with 52l-had 81 killed,
$50 wounded The 2nd Mississippi battalion,
Col TAYLOR, went into action with 234 men, and
Pryor brigade we have not learned; but hear
that the 18th Louisiana and the remnant of
ST. Panl's battalion suffered severely Wilcox,
being in support, did not lose many. The
G. ,nerals speak in high terms Of the execution
of our field pieces in this attack, the Bird Rich
niond Howitzers, some Of the Donaldsonyille,
md Thomas artillery, having caused great
destruction among the enemy, and with slight
loss to themselves. The rapidity of their fire
unite astonished the Yankees, and could be
distinctly heard over all our city, long
before dawn had fairly broken.
FIGHT AT ELLYs0N's MILLS.
While FeatEaerstone, Pryor, and Wilcox were
thus successfully engaging the enemy on the
right of our advance, Gen. Maxcy Gregg and
his brigade were also hard at work, and sue
cessfully stormed the strong position of Ely
sons Mills, and took up the line of march on the
left. They did not advance on the Mills by
the road, as had been done Oh Friday evening
by Ripley, but simply made a feint in that d-
rection, crossed the main body higher mp the
creek. took the redoubts and rifle pits en- flank
carried them with the bayonet, pushed through
the camps, and followed the road towards
Gaines's Mills, whittier the enemy were retir-
inD.
AT GAINES MILLS.
From prisoners captured at both positions
who proved to be of the Valley Army--it was
aset,rtained that we might expect stout resis
tanes at Gaines's Mills, since three or four
whoJ.. divisions were strongly encamped there,
NcCik Ian commanding in person, with Major
Generals Mccall, Porter, Sedgewick, and 9th
ers-thair estimated force being not less than
thirty-odd thousand men, AS onr three col
ulnns mo we'd by parallel lines, we followed and
couyerseG with prisoners, who informed us
that their ,'oss ON Friday at Meadow Bridge,
Arechanics, lille, and Ellsyson's Mills, had been
fearful. and that the whole night had been oc-
cun;ed in bu rial The Federals carry off all
their dead and wounded, AZ fast as shot, and
WE only discover those who fall and are left
at the actual moment of retreat This infor-
formation we believe to be correct.
The heads of our thho columns having
reached Walker Hogan's farm, north bark of
the Chickahoaniny, about 9 miles northeast of
Richmond, all came to halt, and Gems Lee
and Lonestreet took up quarters in the house
and made disposf tons for . further advance to-
wards Gaines's Mills, distant about one mile
through the woods. Festherstones brigade
having suffered m uch in the morning, Wilcox
led, being followed by Pryor, and Fealheratone
in reserve. The composition Of Wilcox 9 com :
mand is mostly Alabamians; Pryor has the
18th Louisa IA, St. Paul's battalion, ID vir-
ginia, and one other regiment; Featherstone
has the 18th and 18th Mississippi, and I'd Mis-.
sissippi battalion.
CHARACTER OF the GROUND.
Emerging from the woods, the road
leads to the leff and then TO the right
ronnd (aa;ness house, when the whole conn
~ for me area.of some two miles. i An open,
en sncceseaon Of andplating l,ills Stand
Inu & Inc north door of Gaiues's house, the
whole country 70 tho tight, for tho distance Of
one nils, 4 gradu d slope towards creek,
fhroucI, which tho main road runs mp m open