Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-11
NO. IS.

viii not only be fruitless, but will leave tn
public to imagine thousand evils which d
not exist.
Beginning with the SIGHT at Mechanicsvill
on Thursday, our advance forces, while stead
/ lily falling back have had a continuous run
ming fight
On Friday one of the severest battles whicl
was ever fought on this continent, occurre,
on the right Of the Chickahominv, nea
Gaines Hill. On Saturday, after our force
had retired ID good order across the creek. anC
destroyed the bridges. we were attacked /:
| front Of our eDcampments, but General Smtl
repulsed the enemy leaving the ground strewr
with his dead
On Saturday morning, the arrangement
having been completed, the wagon train wai
| started on its way 10 James river, and was
followed on Saturday morning by the artillery
and commissary train.
Meantime the enemy getting scent of our
movement, strongly reconnoitered our front
and finding that several of our positions bad
been abandoned, pushed in and attacked US
vigorously Gems. Hooker and Richardson
drove them back, and Ger. Meagher's brigade
always on hand at the right time, charged,
aud captured two Of their guns. The rebels
paid dear price for the information which
they obtained. The chief struggle was near
Savage's Station.
Anticipating q movement on our right flank
the railroad bridge over the Chickahominy
was destroyed on Saturday morning The
rebels, supposing we had failed back on the
White House, sent large force Of infantry,
cavalry and artillery in that direction, but
after long rapid aud weary march, discover
cd they had gone on wild goose chase in the
wrong direction. They only found a small
force Of our infantry and cavalry scattered
down 10 guard the rear, who fell back and
escaped from White House Landing. The
rest was one of those "howliug wildernesses''
which the rebels intend to leave for us. All
the quartermaster and commissary stores had
been removed two days BEFORE and the rubbish
burned.
Gen. Mcclellan and staff left the head-tfua
tiers at Satage's Station at daylight on Sun
day morning, with a body gdurd of the 4th
United States Cavalry, and halted some Eve
miles out, alter crossing the White Oak creek.
There were, on Saturday, about one thou
sand of the wounded and sick, chiefly accumu-
lated from the bsttle of Friday, many of
79hom it was fodnd impossible to remove,
owing to the nature and severity of their
wounds, and, as matter of humanity, as well
as of necessity, they were left behind. A
great many, however, who could walk slowly,
followed the track of the army and the am
balances brerght Gway great many others.
wITH0A3wFva FRox THE fKoEF.
Gen. HOoker's Division broke camp in the
entertainments at o'clock Sunday morning,
and Gems. Sickle's and Growers Brigades pro-
ceesed to the Outposts to relieve Gen. Patter-
sons New Jersey Brigade. At o'clock a. M
the three brigades fell back to the second line
OF rcdOubts, where they formed line of bat
tie with Richardson's and Kearney's divisions,
and remained until 8 o'clock p. nj. On dis
covering that Gen. Hooker had fallen back. the
enemy advanced his scouts with two field
pieces, and opened brisk fire upon his rear
along the line of the railroad. Gen. Meagher's
brigade made a movement on both the encmy's
fianks, while the Ssh New York charged in
front, and captured two of their guns The
enemy then fell back under cover of the wood
None were killed in Hookers Division. In
the 26lh Pennsylvania three were wounded;
the lst Massachusetts lost two prisoners One
man lost both his legs by shell. Kearuey's
ard Richardson divisions were the last off the
field
On the approach Of the rebel forces to Saw
ages Station, where the hospital was estab-
lished, white flag was sent out, end it was
met by Lieut.. Colonel of the Confederates,
who gave assurance the assurance that the
hospital should be respected. There was no
firing purposeAy m that direction and if an oc-
casional shell exploded near the house, it is
believed to hive been accidental
About l20 rebel prisoners who were captur-
ed on Friday, accompanied US under guard
On Sunday foFeRooa an advance body Of our
sz7airy, who @ere reconnoiterihg in front, dis.
covered body Of cavalry near small church,
and after sharp engagement put them to
fight, killing considerable number of horses
and capturing some Is Prisohers, who were
added to the group already ia hand.
Sedwick's Division left she front at daylight
and were engaged by the enemy half way 10
Savage's station, which they reached at p
m. Here the tnemy's infantry, with bat
terry, came q Of the woods on tic right and
attacked them.
The lst Mu;ne was advanced on the left,
with line OF skirmishers iu 'front.' They had
twelve wounded, three lnortally, viz: Smith,
Wren and Taylor. C.. w. Haskell; Company
G, was slightly wounded id the hand by a
she'll
Sedgwick's- division crossed the creek at
White 0hR Swamp about 4 o clock a. M. Mon
day. His rear was not annoyed during the
night.
Keyes and Porter's Divisions had already
preceded ia on the march. and had reached q
position on the James River, near Turkey Is
land, which is about ten or twelve miles above
City Poiht
The Engineer Brigade OF Gen Woodbury.
preceded the army, and constructed corduroy
roads w!rIsI Ihty were necessary At the
Four-milS treek, bridge was built across
the run. At the White Oalc Swamps Greek
two bridges were also constructed by the same
valuable corps. Obe for the passage OF the
main army train, and the other To accommodate
Gen. Hein'z'man MS Division, Who, with
Hooker and Richardson, covered the retreat.
DEsTRucrIoN OF THE BRIDGES.
IAs the army resumed its march on Monday
morning, information was received, through
Gen. Richardson, that the eremy were pur
suing aud ortlGrs were given to destroy the
bridges.
The Engineer Corps was detailed for this
duty, and also to defend the approach TO the
place. A wide space of trees had been fellet
across the creek, and the brigade was depoy,
ed as skirmishers at the right and left Of the
passage. Ayers battery of six guns was al
so left to hold the position, and was stationed
on the hill overlooking tie swamp.
How 1875 RETREAT WAS Conducted.
The retreat was conducted in lhe most per
feot order. There was no trepidation ol