The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-10


apparently been chiefly concerned witt
etf"rts against our left wing, there hav,
not been wanting signs and evidence
that their real purpose was directed
against the right, whose exposed situa
tion must have been fully revealed to
them by the bold dash of Stuart's Cav.
airy across our rear.
During the advance of our pickets
in front of IIooker's position on Wed.
nesday, the rebels showed signs of a
lack of inclination or ability to oppose
any very decided opposition TO our
advance, and the new ground was
gained with far less eff,rt than could
be expected. Instead of seeking 10
drive us from our new position, as So
many expected they would on Thurs
day, the rebels turned in another direc-
tion, and crossing in large force at
Meadow Bridge, one of the upper
bridges on the Cbickahominy, near
Meclanicsville, fell upon our troops in
that vicinity in overwhel ning force, in
an effort to pass around our right wing
and sever our line of communication
with the Pamunkey, little thinking that
was precisely what we wished them tn
undertake, if disposed to attack us at
all.
POSITION OF OUR FORCES ON THE RIGHT.
The troops remaining on that side of
the Chickahominy where the corps of
Gen. Porter, consisting of Morell's di.
vision, and the regulars under Sykes,
and the division Of Mccall, with which
the army has been recently reinforced,
consisting in all of some 25, 900 men, a
force entirely inadequate to defend the
country between the Chickahominy
and the Pamunkev against them, but
one as large AZ could wisely be spared
from the main body of the army.
In the advance here was the division
of Gen. Mccall, which has been posted
within about three miles of Meadow
Bridge. Two miles i'm his rear, in the
vicinity of DR.. Gaines house, was the
main body of Gen. Porter's troops,
consisting of the brigades of Morrell,
Martindae and Butterticld, Sykes reg
ulars, the fourteenth U. S. Infantry,
First U. S. Cavalry, Second U. S. Ar
tillerv, Third U. S. Artillery, Fourth
U. S. Infantry, Twelfth U. S. Infantry,
Sixth U. S. Infantry, Fifth U. S. Caval-
ry, Second U. 5. Infantry, and the
Third U. S. Infantry.
MOVEMENT OF THE REBELS.
During last week, the enemy oppo-
site this position, on the other side of
the Chickahominy, have been very
quiet, but it has been apparent to those
skilled in warfare that the quietness
has been the repose of the tiger pre-.
pairing for his spring. Secretly an'l 81
ently the enemy had thrown bridge
across the swamp short distance be
low Mechanicsville, nearly opposite the
the position held by Gen. Mccall, so
hidden by the trees and underground
along the Chickahominy that its exis
tence was not suspected until an adj
venturous scouting party came upon ii
a few nights since.
Across the bridge tho rebels had
thrown up series of intre, oiments
on the commanding heights beyond,
under the cover of which they attempt.
ed on Monday, the o'd inst, to throw
across the stream two new bridges, in
which effort they met with deter.
mined opposition from our forces, and
a heavy thunderstorm coming on tina,
night, compelled them to desist the
work they had strivcn to continue un
der cover of the darkness. These
symptoms of an attack revealing the
purpose of an enemy, Gen. Mccall
was directed to remove mile down
the road To a strong position OH Beaver
Dam Greek. -.
This was TO be the line of battle in
case of an attack, and further opposi.
tion To the rebels attempting TO cross
was stopped, as, for strategic reasons
it was desired that they should effect q
passage. 49,.
THE FIGHT COMMENCED.
On Thursday they came, taking al
vantage apparently of our occupation
with the movement of the day previ
ous on the left. Crossing the river il
strong force, under cover of heavy
fire from their batteries on the opposit,
side, the enemy pressed down the roa'
against the position of Gen. Mccall
first attacking his First Brigade, con
sisting of the Bucktails and the Fifth
Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Pennsylvania
Regiments. These troops We're sooI
reinforced 10y the six regiments from
the other two brigades of the division
and from their strong position behin,
the swampy ravine of Beaver Dan
Greek, held the greatly superior forces
of the enemy at bay from the time o
attack until the going down of th'
sun, at near 8 o'clock.
THE TROOPS FIRST AssATLED.
The troops first assailed were tn
Pennsylvania Bucktails, who wer
doing picket duty and were SD unfortu
, nate as to leave two of their companie
, surrounded, and one of them, Compan,
: X, is male priSoners-the Captain a
Z the Company-Capt. Irving, escapin!
Z to tell the story. From their rifle pit
} and earth works McCalrs brave me-
f held the advancing rebels in check f.
lnear three hours. when they were re