Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-07

bluff overlooking the river and commanding the
surrounding country, being our goal. Although
there was but a single road-with slight excep-
tion-it had the advantage Of c0ursing through
White Oak Swamp, upon which We might rely IN
some degree for protection Of our TANKS. There
was greater danger that the enemy might cut us
off by moving columns down the Charles City,
Central, or New Market roads, or all three, but
these chances were necessarily accepted. Gen
Mcclellan acted upon the suppositiOn that the
enemy would not guess his determination until
he was able to defeat their movements At all
events, il was the only hopeful course. because
the enemy was watching for him on the left bank
of the Chickahominy The road was narrow
funnel for such mighty torrent OF trains and
men, but fortunately il was smooth and dry. In
order to make the movement successfully. il was
necessary to fight at the outset, because it was
was morally certain that our line of battle could
not be Withdrawn from the front without sucking
the enemy after them-so that due preparations
were made.
FAIR OAKS.
Surprising the situation as given above to be
correct. and it is by all odds the clear est We have
yet seen, the advance made on the right bank or
from the center was to cover the movement con-
templated. The ground gained was not held and
on Thursday, the 26tb, the ehemy in strong fvrce
attacked the right wing posted on the left bank
of the Chickahominy. This fight is called the
BATTLE OF MEcHASIosvILLE.
The extreme right wing consisted of McCall's
Pennsylvania reserves with four batteries of ar
tillery. Gen. Porter's corps, consisting % Nor
rills division and Sykess regulars, 5000 strong,
with Duryea's Zouaves, were at New Bridge
within supporting distance. General Stevenson
with one regiment of cavalry and two of infantry
stationed as n corps of observation To check
fbt1 far Of
ticable to decoy him to the Pamunky river.
About noon McCalls position was attacked by
heavy force consisting of Hills, Longstreets
and Anderson's divisions under Gen. Lee.
The fight was opened with artillery at long
range. but the enemy finally discovering our su
periority in this arm foreshortened the range and
came into close conflict. He was evidently pro-
voked at his own inetficency, since his shells
were not destructive in intrenchments, while
our gunners played upon his exposed ranks with
fearful effect. The fight seemed to increase in
fury it progressed. and it finally became the
most terrific artillery combat of the war. The
uproar was incessant and deafenng for eours. At
times it seemed as if fifty guns exploded smulta-
neously and then ran off at intervals INTO splendid
file hring-if | may apply Infantry descriptive
terms to cannOnadng But no language can de
scribe its awful grandeur. The enemy at last
essayed combined movement Powerful bodies
of troops plunged into the valley to charge
lines, but our men. securely posted, swept them
away ruthlessy. Again and again the desperate
fellows were pushed at the breastworks, only TO
be more cruelty slaughtered than before. Mem
time our forces had been strengthened by Gritfn's
brigade, which increased the volume of infantry
fire, and Martindale's brigade came up TO be
ready for emergencies. At dark it was evident
the rebels had enough-much more than they
bargained for.
Their infantry fire had entirely subsidized, and
it obvious that they were withdrawing under
cover of their artillery. Our own batteries,
which had opened in full cry at the start had not
sackened an instant. Comprehending the situa-
ton fully now, the cannoniers piled themselves
with tremendous energy to punish the retreating
foe. We have no sure means to determine how
many were slaughtered, but prisoners who were
in the fight, and an intelligent contraband who
escaped from Richmond the next day, and who
was all over the field, are confident that 1000
fell. Our own loss eighty killed and less
than $50 wounded. The conduct of our troops
was admirable. and the gallantry of the officers
conspicuous.
BATTLE OF GAINES MILLS.
1t was ascertained that Jackson had not Joined
Lee on on Thursday, and it presumed that
he was sweeping down the Pamunkey to strike
at the line of supplies. Gen. Stoneman sent
to watch in that direction, and orders were given
to evacuate the White House The trains of the
right wing were withdrawn TO Trent's Bluff, and
the sick and wounded to Savage Station. Bv
daylight Friday morning, the 9th, Mccall had
fallen back to Gaines Mills, his left joining the
right Of Butterfeld's brigade resting in the woods
and near the swamps of the Chickahominy. The
attack made by Lee reinforced by Stonewall
jackson, about l o'clock, with terrible impetu-
10 col bur lal
them on our lines, first on the right, and then
the left, and then on the center. His force was
overwhelming. In addition to Jackson's army,
35 900 strong, he had four divisions 80 900 all
told of our troops. We had fourteen batteries,
eighty four pieces in the field and lost twenty of
them. We lost 1000 men, killed, wounded, and
missing, and the enemys loss, it is said exceeded
onrs. We clip from the New York Herald:
COUNCIL OF WAR.
Headquarter tents were moved from DIR. Trent's
field, on the bank of the Chickahominy, to Say
ages station, mile and half distant, at dusk
on Friday. At night as the several brigades
came over the bridge and clustered On the Dor
ders of the swamp, a single tent dotted the hill
side, and in this sat Gen. Mcclellan. At eleven
o'clock council of war was called in front of
this tent, and the several corps commanders, the
Commander in Chief and his aids. the Prince de
Joinville. the General OF Engineers, with other
trusted and faithful counsellors, congregated.
large fire had been lighted just beyond the
Dor, and the blaze of the lighted knots lit up the
faces of the military men within. They sat in
sort of arpor that had formed pavilion in one
of the tents, and the conference was very long
and earnest. Doubtless at that council-the first
called on the field since the beginning of the
war-General Mcclellan presented his plans of
reaching James river.
The order to fall back was given, and on Sat
urday the long lines of wagons, ambulances and
dusty and tired soldiers took up their sad march.
The sick and wounded were necessarily left be-
hind.
THE BATTLE OF PEACH ORCHARD.
At daylight on Sunday our whole line of
earthworks had been deserted, and our artillery
removed mile to the rear Here il was judici-
ously disposed, the batteries masked, and the in
lantry covered by thicknesses of woods. The
spot was part of the battle ground of Fair
Oaks, but il is designated as Peach Orchard Sta
ton.
At daylight the enemy came eastward on the
Williamsburg road, one column advancing down
the railroad. They opened from two batteries
the leit but their firing was awkward and inef-
fective, as likewise their muskeiry. which was
close and might have been more serious. When
they reached line of march. about three hun
dred yards from our front, the whole terrible fire
OF our cannon buFs. upon them They staggered,
but before the iull effect of our discharge was
discernible the pieces rang again and their col
umns we're feariully thinned For half hour
our FIRE was so close that it seemed the perpetual
echo Of single deafening report-a continuous