The New York herald., 1862-11-19
rovEuKxr or TllE coSv0v

marching order IL. convoy Of 5000 vehicles. the |
Siege artillery and tfo'p Of zSOO oxen IN ss sns
Gireciiop--an nmensS task, when We reuect snAs
tere WAS bat ono route at their disposal The hrst day
nothing occurred to disturb this grand operation ino
enemy was atigued with the bate OF tno evens p.o
vous he seemed ALSO asst nished anu
not yet to have understood properly what the eoora
right bank Of the Chickanomiuy, while the principal
forces the Confoderates the left bank, WIN 'ho
orases Gu. se'oro .ns IN oruer 70 o'o.s @ Srayes or
ascend far up in the 10 Mechanics Bridge, which, n
either case, would require good deal OF time bu now
time was everything and the army In retreat proneu ~
IT, Il was not until the 29lh that the Southern columns
appeared before the federal guard. They Immediately
joined in combat Savage's Station, on the YORK
River Railroad but they vigorously received, |
and, after having repeed them, the army waited till
night 70 continue the movement The telegraph
ing its operations previous evening, had announced
that the Confederates were masters OF White House
they had found tho place abandoned inc morning o.
everything that could not bo removed Acompee train
locomotives, wagons Nc remaining on the rairoad-was
sent OF tu head OF steam and over the broken
bridge OF tho Chickahominy They do not leave in the
hands the enemy more than three siege guns which
to bury These we're the only ones that fell into their
power although all sides bcen said that they
renamed masters Of the whole park Of the federal siege
guns This park to the contrary with the exception or
those three pieces arrived intact ~ James river Inc
greatest misfortune was IN oeng compeoS " So oa ~
q very considerable number OF wounded not ony az
Gaines Mills and at savages Station out aso along ,ne
whole line which followed in the retreat In TINS
case the mis- ortune inevitable. 1t was only 0y
lighting without cessation that the army could DC pro-
tected in retreat and the transportation OF 90 many
wounded would have demanded means wnich a'0 n0'
General Mcclellan, during tho 2sth and the morning Of
the 3Oth rested near White Oak Expressing on the
passage OF his immense convey. The heat was over
towering lis aids de-cimp compelled TO DO incessant-
~ running from the advance guard TO the rear guard wee
overcome with fatigue Whenever this vast encunbrance
came in contact like fallen log, with toe BODY OF
the army, the danger great but nothing coud DIS
turb the serenity Of the Commander nt hic That very
day he stopped repose for little while In country
the route and he was sitting under the veran
dab when the mistress of the house came - complain to
him that tho soldiers were eating her cherries.
The General got up. laughing and went himself to put
enemy shells from coming the next day and burning
the house Of his fair hostess On the 30h al thc preS
of day Mcclellan hal the satisfaction Of seeing all his
tronps and war ntrf collected tho other side OF the
White Oak swamp which opposed a new barrier 70 the
efforts of pursuit. On the evening Of that day Keyes
and corps having marched TO the James river
put themselves in communication with the guns
Of the notla The convoy had followed the
movement by the dileren. routes indicated by the
negroes whom they had taken for guides Tne heads Of
the column did before them but few dctach-
M pts OF cavalry whom they soon dispersed The great
difficulty was past could not be double ed that the
enemy would again attempt 10 throw tbe rcreat'ng army
into disorder. Therefore the commandng general TOOK
his precautions good time. He left Summer and Frank
n protect tho guard and to deien! the passage
Of The White Oak swamp aud placed Hentzelnan win
The point where was the meeting Of the diff
crcnt coming frcm Richmond Under
the protection OF these troops the convoy com
plstod its march, arrived at the James river at the
precise moment when the transports loaded with pro-
visions a:d nunens, rs w.li as the hospital ships
which with wise foresight had been sent on six days in
advance, had arrived from Fortress Monroe
THE DESPERATE EspoR1s OF TUE ESEaY.
All this time, as to have been expected Frank
lin and Sumner being sharply attacked at White
| Oak swamp, where the Confederate generals had
brought up strong force OF arsry. They retrcated
Step by step Later in the day Heiaizeman also at
aced the crossroads There the com bat took place In
tho woods with varied results The division Of McCa
hal suffered greatly, losing lis commander, who was
made prisoner but Hooker and Keany, coming to their
aid, repused the asssilnn:s iadcng severe loss upon
was couleley repeled by the combined fire Of the field
a-,e aud the guns Of the lctla The position occi
Bend and by the other Malvern li wa. superb It was
OPEN e.evaed plateau, which sopod down gently to-
wards the routes by which the enemy mast approach
ses ls fssfs 81 ,Ss C 's i Y s'ias ~
The fede al army had therefore nothing to fear
e Ms sssy w Il
and abats I'm the evening of the Goth all the divisions
reunited in this strong positioa the whole convoy
The army in short found itso in communication with
the transports. ard having its provisions within lis
% sHasss H guard sas' sscSIsr Ss
one was accomplished but after such an extended effort
the troops were exhausted; for five days they had
never. ceased marchiss and fighting The heat
sss S3sa E le ssm Of their ri fatigue M q
lightning beneath the forviA rays Of the others LETT
the ranks TO join, by such were in their power
the great mess OF sick and wounded who following
the army best they could aid tho sight Of which
offered most amentabie spectacle Certainly there had
been in the coarse OF this difficult retreat moments Of
trouble and OF Disorder but where is the army which
under similar circumstances, could have completely es
caeds This fact must always remantbat assaed in the
ces by fore at least double its own, the Army or the
Potomac succeeded In gaining position where i was
y reinforced If had been able respond the con
ccntraton OF the encmy's by similar concentra
on. it would no, have been long in resuming the Of
fensive.
1nn VIGOROUS DEFENCE or rnE FEEDER Az
As have Just stated each Of these divisions, conf
.yseTy separated, had 10 resist the most determined
attacks for ave days, and did With vigor But whe
the army was thus recollected on the heights
Of Malvern Hill, il might be tha, the Con.
federate army, equally reunited, might make ar
other attempt against IT, General Mcclellan, tbege
fore during tue tue night & Of the so'h OF June and the
proper reception. He placed all his artillery in position
~ least three hundred pieces on the heights, dposng
with the fire Of the infantry along the sort OF giacs which
the assaIanis would have 10 scale 10 ascend To the fire
o. this artillery would he ADDED the balls o hundred
snnDalsi which as oeioc were employed to bank The
position II would have been Molly TO have rushed
upon such obstacles Nevertheless the oonfedcr.
ass attempted ii. After several Efforts, on the
let CT July they made attempt to carry Nal
vern Hill, bd without having FOR single
rcnt the chance OF succe ding This day was for
them only one ot dseless butcher, lheif
very gres; those Of Inc cdersls very Insignificant. This
success due TO tive causesrst. 10 he fortunate
foresight OF the General who Ia despite ef all the Oh
saces opposed by the nature OF the ground his
uerous artillery had neglected no means OF bringing /;
along with him and next 20 the drnness OF the troops
whom be commanded. No army could make a campaig
Ike tha, which they had just made, or have gone
through such series o trials they had experienced
without coming ont less Injured the hardshrs
Of war u their early organization had been better, tho
SURVIVORS OF that rde campaign, fear affirm il
would be able 70 nsreii 10 the rafk with the first
soldiers Of the world.
i, NNAL ENEMY
On the evening o! this last combat the exhausted enc
my retired 10 appear ,hs Army Of po,o
proceeded 10 take ts position and rest at Uar
risons hra place chosen ~ the easneess by the
navy offering the grcatest facilities for defence aud
provisioning. The campaign against Richmond had
minated without success bn' not without honor. Honor
safe but those who had success for the
prompt reconstruction of the grea American Union in
spirit Of generous and patriotic conea,ion doomed
TO see their hopcs dApsed.
stop here. have had IN view, in the Of this
recital 10 define the character of American army 10