The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-18
Correspondence Of the y. Y. Times
Particulars OF the Late Fight Before Rtch-
mOssd.
FIELD OF BArrLr s1ro.r RICHMOND

nood.
FIKLo OF BATTLE BkFoRr RICHMOND,
Sunday A. NJ, June l, o.
A battle before Richmond has q, la.t put 70
the test The rebel boast AZ TO ~hat they would
do with Gen. McClelisns army when they should
get il bey ond the prot, cIion OF gunboa,s. Though
the advantage OF . sudden movement, against
the weakest point in our lines, gave the enemy
q temporary success. the hnal result has not been
such ss to sfor'i encouragement to their dis
peartened and oeuoralized troops, or occasion
any fears as to OR ultimate Possession Of tue
rebel capital
The attack commenced shortly before one
o'clock on Saturday, on the left wing OF the ar.
nv. on the further or south eide of the Chicka-
honny. where the advance poeition vas held bs
the division OF Gen. Casey, much the weakest in
the army, composed almost entirely Of ra~ -egi-
nents, and reduced by disease TO an effective
force of some 8 200 men.
TIE POSITION HID BY GIN cAsrr
Was on the Wilismsburgh Stage Road, with.
in siX or seven miles OF Richmond, and on line
50 extended AT the front that the troops we're
required TO maintain picket guards ot sufficient
strength, made 10 slight draft on his weakened
forces. The right of the line was held bv his
rlfst Dugsoe, unvcs ocu. .'sgcc,
brave aud vigi!ant an officer ss is to be found in
the aray Of the Potomac. Gen. Nsglee's pick
els extended across the railroad (runnng psral
lei with tie Williamsburg road, about a nile to
The ught) to near the SIKH mile post from Rich
mond. aid SO on further TO the right aid ltle
The rear until within Q shoit distance of
point Oh the Chokahomiuy, where Gen. Sumner
had thrown bridge across the stream, aud ~ss
hourly expected to cross TO complete the line oi
licsets ~ the river
The centre of zen. Casey's position, held by
the Second Brigade, Geu. Wassei's, (,ormeil,
Gen. Keimso extended from Gen. Nagee's lines
to the LETT short distance across the Williams
burg Road, where II joined the Third Brigade,
oeu. PAmers, stretching some distance further
to the lett, and joined the lines Of Gen. Couch,
~ho guarded the left faux, the usin portion OF
his force being shOrt distance to the rear OF
Casey On the " illismsburg Road.
THk NATURE OF IHE GROUND.
The position occupied by the main body OF
these two divisions q clearing Of about one
mile square, surrounded on the lett and the front
oy a belt OF forest, in which Gen. Casey's pick
cts were stationed. On the right 4 wooded
swamp divided the clearing rom a similar ope.
min; in the forest, along the railroad. which was
occupied BY Gen NAgee With HE brigade. Just
by ond the woods to the front we're similar clear.
ing of WOODS on their further side, where the
iebcls lay concealed their pickets occupying III,
edge Of the forest, and separated from our pick
cts by the width of the fields, forming q sort o
neutral ground between the armies, over which
each kept close watch lest his neighbor should
take possession.
THE ENEMY RECONSOITERING.
Step by step Gen. Casey bad pressed on ts
him, until il became evident that shs rebels had
| reach, d the limit OF their retreat, and further
advance could not be ventured without the ris /
OF general engagement, for which the plan,
we're not Yet ripe. Our proximity 10 the rebels
~as evidently annoying to them, and again OF
| Friday they made an unsuccessful attempt, Will
| a force Of few hundred to drive in the pic xei
and discover hat mischief was plotting bebin,
the belt Of woods sheitering General Casey iron
their view. Their attack WAS resolutely met b,
the pickets, who fell back on the reserves art
held their ground, defeating the purpose of tn.
enemy.
Meanwhile Gen. Casey was actively at worl
securing his position, 4 large force Of men bein.
| kept under the skiiliui direction Of Lieut.. f. "
Nest, Of his staff, digging riae-pits and feni
trees for sbattis. A similar line of deiensiv
works had beer commenced and partially com
penced and partially completed at Gen Casey
former position. and the Seven Pines, thre
miles further TO the rear, and jIst back OF thss
WAS line of earth orks, constructed by Gen
Couch, and more carefully flushed.
Failing in the two attempts to gather inform.
ton by forcing back Gen. Casey's pickets, tn
rebels apparently resolved upon an advance il
force against the left wing Of the srmy, doubles
determined to drive it beyond the Chickahotniuy y
should the opportunity offer, and put them in
position TO turn Gen. AcCieTlan's flank.
THE sroRx on FRIDAY NIGHT.
During the afternoon Of Friday, a terri6
thunderstorm arose, continuing through mos; g
the night with uninterrupted severity, deIugin
the earth with rain, Converting the spongy so
into nearly mpas,ibie bog. and rising the water
Of the Chlckahoniny SO AS to carry away che
Two bridges Gen. Sumner had prepared for b
passage. aud somewhat disturb the foundation
| of the other.
THE ATTACK on SATURDAY.
Soon after noon, the grand attack commenced
Gen. Casey's pickets being driven in all alon
the front, after a spirited resistance, the rebe
advancing along three rOa ts-the w lila nsbur
iOad, to our left, the railroad, in the Center, an
the "Niuc mile road, as it is called. on tt
right. With bis feeble division greatly veal
.ned by extension, Gen. Casey had 10 back bon
to oppose TO this sudden attack Bst no thou Il
of yielding his ground entered the mind of III
old soldier, SCARED With the wounds OF Me1c,
and disciplined to danger by q huodred 6ghu
His troops were Immediately formed Ito po-
tlon, the three brigades maintained their rela,iv
positions on the right, left and center, aud a
thorough preparations we're made for res.tip
The attack rs its suddenness would admit Of =
Regsu's New York battery was stationed lust
the right of the Williamsburg road, Bates bstt,
~ Of Napoleon guns further TO the left aero
the road. aud Fitch's battery three or four hu,
dred yards o the rear, the last sending its she
over the heads of our troops to the enemy b
, yond Tho fnnrth h.tss.y .e the all, os,
further to the right
The vigor with which the enemy presse
, forward to the attack Indicated the con nddept
of superior strength. A battalion OF two reg
ments pressed against Gen. Nsglee on the righ
another fell on Gen. Wsssell at the center, az
third or Gen. Palmer to the left. pouring
at once fire hot and heavy, and advancing sit
grea, resolution in the face of steady FIRE
canister and grape f,om the guns in front, al
shell in the rear. moving down their ranks in g
directions. The rebels had but little art,iier
2 aud we're evidently disposed to make good Il
; d, 6ciency by pressing to close quar- ers vi,
their superior force, to bear down at once :
seight of numbers the skeleton re gimen,s Of thr,
and four hundred men who composed the .
E vance division.
, Most OF Gen. Cs.ey's troops we're thrown 70
ward to the edge Of the woods in front Of
] position to meet the advance Of the rebels, (.
regiment. being lef, behind the partially CO..
I pleted rife pits. short distance to the rear
!, Thus division. nearly new 70 saifsre. vas su
{ denly exposed, in an open field. TO the heavie