Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-07-04
On Thursday they came, taking advan-

On Thursday they CAME, taking advan-
tace apparently of our occupation, with
tbe movement of the day previous on the
left. Crossing the river in strong force
under cover of heavy fire from their
batteries on the opposite side, the enemy
messed down the road against the position
IF Mccall, first attacking his LIST brigade,
consisting of the bucktails, and the 9th,
eth 9th and 10th Pennsylvania regiments.
These troops were soon reinforced by six
regiments forming the other two brigades
Of the division, and from their strong po-
sition behind the swampy ravine of Bea-
yer Dam Greek, held there superior force
Of the enemy at bay from the time of at
tack until the going down of the sun, at
near o'clock. From their rife-pits and
earth works, McCall's brave men held the
advancing rebels in check for nearly four
hours, when they were reinforced by the
brieades of Porter's corps, and the fight
continued three hours longer, the rebels
being rcpulsed with heavy loss our troops
under the protection of earthworks suffer-
ING less. The loss of this days fight be-
ing summed up at some 800.
That night an order came from Gen. Mcclellan
for Gen. Porter to withdraw his forces gradually
10 point near Meadows Bridge. After few
hour's sleep upon their arms, our troops were
aroused and in accordance with the plan of OPP
entiens, Gen. Mccall, at 8 o'clock, opened fire
of artillery on the enemy, who vigorously re-
al no DIN ll,, r.,
before them, as if retreating, but maintaining
their ranks in good order, crossing bridge over
aGreek on the way, destroying it behind Them
compelling the enemy to wait the slow construc-
ton of a new passage-way in the fire of our OPP
posing artillery and heavy musketry fire from the
9Th Massachusetts,. Dividing here, our troops
continued their retreat over two separate roads,
burning behind them such commissary stores as
they could not carry, which, fortunately, were of
small account, as the removal of all portable
property across the Chickahominy had previously
been ordered. Following close after Porter's
men, the rebels continued to advance until they
came upon q piece of woods, in which they
seemed to hesitate to follow, hating some time
before showing themselves again. But, without
waiting for them, our troops still fell back, until
near the Chickahominy at Woodbury's Bridge,
where they halted in the open country, which
there spreads out into broad fields and fertile pas
lures
First commencing with the usual picket Skin
mishing, and then swelling into the roar of the
artillery duel, the struggle opened between the
advanced guard of the two armies, until by 3 or
4 o'clock, the battle ragged fiercely all along the
lines, until within an hour or two of sunset, when
the storm lulled for a time, and then the rebels,
who had been meanwhile reinforced, came on
with fresh vigOr to the assault. They were soon
met with equal determination by POrter's men,
aided now by the reintorcements that had come
to them from the corps of Franklin, Sumner and
Keyes,-from the former, Slocum's division
from Sumner the brigades of French and the
Irish boys under Meagher; and from the further
reserved corps of Reyes, the brigade of Pal mel
which had done good service in the fight of
Wednesday, on the left Desperately and deter
minedly did the rebels press forward, but as des
perately and determnedly were they met and
driven, gaining nothing further that night of the
promise of their morning advance. Not until
after nine O'Clock did the men find rest which
we may be sure came not unwelc0me to such o.
the men as had passed through the struggle com
mencing early in the afternoon OF the previous
day. Most opportune was the arrival of rein
forcements that evening, for our troops hare
pressed by superior numbers, were in danger o
being driven further back than was intended
and the first symptoms of disorder were showing
themselves in the hasty fight of Transfers ant
lookers-on, the struggling soldiers in the crowt
being turned back from Woodbury's bridge by
the strong guard who kept watch over it witt
their bayonets.
Early in the mogning, at 2 o'clock. all were
disturbed by the sound of sharp firing coming
from the direction of the left, where the enemy
were amusing themselves with fight on the pc
sitions of Sumner, Hooker and Kearney, will
no result that learn Of Smiths division, di
rectly oppisite Woodbury's bridge, on the further
side of the Chicahominy. were also attacked dur
ing the day of Friday, his brave Vermont boy
and the SD New York, with the help of Ayer'
and other batteries, repelling the assault with
great slaughter.