Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-07-03
Abnns Riehmnn.r.

Beginning With Thursday series Of operations
offensive on the side of the Cou have been going
on In the Peninsula near and below Richmond At no
time, with the exception Of single day and short
time OF that day, the combat become genera al even
on one wing; and while, on the occasion referred to-
the enemys right pretty fully engaged with our
left the North of the Chickahominy our right and
his lett towards the james River, were comparatively
quiet In act tie nature CT the ground precuded the
possibility of making one grand field day OF it.
The object OF all the movements of our troops on
Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday, evidently has
been to get into certain position towards the enemy
go as to compel him to fight and OF course enable us to
fight with advantage. This object would appear to
have been attained. The enemy's offensive and de-
fensve works have mostly been taken by Or abandon
ed by himself. His flank has been turned and bis
communication with his fleets and transports on the
York River have been cut off, He must now either
carry out bis original programme of going to Rich
mond," cut bis way beck to West Point on the York
or try to reach his transports the james River
This last alternative would EN- to be the be has
decided upon. His breaking up from his Notifications
on Sunday night destroying stores, and messing to-
wards the james, retreatng through the White Oak
Swamp gives apparent confirmation to this view The
White Oak Swamp, We learn, has its outlet into the
James good way below City Point. So far az we
can learn from those who knOE, retreat through the
Swamp at any point would render inevitable the aban-
donment of artillery, Stores wagons, etc That Nc
Clelan has Destroyed vast quantities of these things
there is abundant evidence also that some OF bis
| troops have reached transports. But Mcclellan had
immense supplies aud could afford to destroy some.
So far then we have turned the enemy IS right flank
and got 10 bis rear in the dr elton Of the York River
We have cut bis telegraph lines and far preven
any direct call for help We have got many of bis finest
batteries and ten thousand prisoners Ia every combat
we have exhibited our superiority The real question
depends upon the precise Typographical position OF Il
respective forces now ard the extent of the demorallza
ton which these events have produced in the Fedora
ranks For we must not conceal from ourselves Il
fact that even supposirg McCellans army to have lost
all the men and more than all that have heard it has
| it is still vast, and, in equipment ard arms, torml
dabe force-hat, as we had TO attack fortified posi-
TONS cur loss in killed AID wounded is probably quite
as great If not greater than that Of the enemy;hat be
can still communicate by way of the James River and
Fortress Monroe and no doubt has done so, already.
The great point determining the value of our victory
for it IS victory, is to be found in the use made and
to be made Of the advantages we have gained and the
positions we have carried We really without de-
finite information of the operations of yesterday
day and must await such and further information with
what patience we may Our Richmond contemporaries
are sangune confident of the total defeat, capture or
humiliation of McCleans forces. They hare been de-
feated driven back dscomfed The extreme results,
which we entertain strong hoE will be secured have
yet to be brought about That many will be, there is
every reason to believe but it is safer ard better to
wait and see rather than count too many chickens be-
fore they are patched. few days must tell the whole
tale and it will be tale Of blood on both sides The
bloodiest fights have not yet been heard from.