The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-06-20

them you have heard devil Of firing.
that many men have been killed, and that
there are no secesh in sight," made a
note ont, as you perceive. 1t was com-
prehensive statement of the case. No man
can frame better.
BATTLE.
At about one o'clock P. NJ. the sun burst
through the clouds, and we were enjoying
the shade of our pleasant orchard camp,
when our attention was suddenly arrested
by volleys of musketry apparently not over
three miles in front. 1t increased in rapid.
ity and volume and seemed approaching.
Soon the conviction flashed upon us that
the enemy were attempting to turn our left
flank. Soon an aidesde.camp, plunging
furiously from headquarters, ordered out the
second corps. At three Sedgwicks divi-
sion was in the road, moving eagerly but
heavily to the field of battle. Above our
camp the old Grape Vine'' road, which
had gone into disuse these many years, had
been reopened, and the First Minnesota had
thrown corduroy bridge, several thousand
feet long, across the Chickahominy and the
deep morasses which hemmed its brink on
either side. On our side the swamp was
several hundred yards wide, but the track
to the bridge traversed marshy grain fed,
and on the rebel side the morass was nearly
a mile in extent. Not half of it had been
repaired, and it was vitality necessary to
adhere to the old eingle track. After vast
toll our artillery was dragged to the river.
As we stepped upon the rude bridge we
comprehended the danger of the freshet.
The design of the enemy was obvious. He
had taken advantage of the wretched roads
and the flood to turn our left flank, and
destroy, if possible, the corps which had
passed the river at Bottoms bridge, and
was posted at Fair Oaks and Seven Pines
some six or seven miles 10 front of the
same, doubtless presuming that it would be
impossible to reinforce from the east side of
the river, or at all events that we could not
move artillery. Such subsequently proved
to be the fact. But the enemy did not sus.
pect the existence OF our "grape vine"
bridge.
sEDGwICK'S DIVISION ENGAGED.
At about six o'clock, the head of Sedg-
wick's column-Gorman's brigade-deploy.
ed into line of battle in the rear of Fair
Oaks, upon the crest of hill which was in
the center of en- open field, farm house
(Adams) bisecting his line, which stretched
from the northwest on line which, if pro.
longed in southeasterly direction, would
have cut the railroad at an acute angle on
his left. The hill sloped gently towards the
station. Col. Sully's lst Minnesota, and
the I'd New York, Lt..Col. Hudson, come
posed the right wing on one side of the
house, the 34th New York, Col. Seuter,
constituting the left; the 18th Massachu-
setts, 1t. Col. Kimball commanding, sup-
porting Kirby's battery, which was posted
at the right of the line, and trained at a
point of woods little to the left of the
railway station, this being the field to which
the enemy had driven Gen. Abercrombie
Two of his regiments were still stubbornly
contestipg the field. Col. Cochrane's LIST
U. s. Chasseurs, IN. w. and Col. Neill's
Pennsylvania regiments, and Pennsylvania
battery were in line OF battle at Germans
right, forming an obtuse angle projecting
towards the battery, and facing in north-
westerly direction. Gen. Burns formed his
brigade in line of battalious in mass, form.
ing the second line in support of German.
But one of the regiments had not formed
when the enemy opened furious enflading
fire of musketry on our right, in a direction
from which fire was not expected, indicat-
ing an effort to turn cur right flank
General Sedgwick Immediately directed
General Burns to depoy to the right, per-
pendicular to the line of battle, with the
God and I'D Pennsylvania, to protect our
flank and prevent the enemy from getting
into our rear, while the list and 106th
Pennsylvania were held by Sedgwick in
support of German. The moment, however,
was most critical. The fury of the attack,
the dangerous proximity Of the enemy, his
| great force and perfect knowledge of the
ground startled our gallant fellows. Gen.
| Sumner and his staff were directly in front
of the battery looking for the enemy, rather
to the left, when the balls few around them
like hail. Several of their horses and two
or three battery teams stampeded, and fer
moment the line of battle seemed to wayer.
At that instant General Burns, with quick
Judgment comprehendipg the critical situa
ti0n, shouted in cool determined tone,
"Steady men, steady" It operated like
magic. The Zouaves burst into loud,
long series of hearty yells, which possibly
were heard at Richmond. One after another
the regiments were injected with enthusiasm,
and before there was time to think of dan.
ger again, Gorman's gallant line had dressed
up compact!y, and were delivering rapid and
murderous discharges at the approaching
fee. The enemy advanced firmly, and were
charging upon Kirby's battery. when lie
poured into them fearful discharge of can>
mister. Unable to support such q fire, the
enemy gave way and retired precipitately to
cover. Prisoners captured during the fight,
assert that JEFF. Davis was in the rear, urg-
ing his myrmdon's forward, and Magruder,
who was with him, swore fearful oath,
"Tbat's my old battery, and I'm going to
have it," al.ading to kirby's, which be
(Magruder) formally commanded.
Meantime part of Dana's brigade had
come up. His 10Th Massachusetts, and
42d New York had been detached for pick
ct duty ard artillery guards. His 7th
Michiganand Goth Massachusetts deployed
into line on Germans left, and the line of