The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-10
The Battles Before RicEmOnd.
rom the Special Correspondents N. Y. Times.

! ARMY OF THE POToMAC, ON JAMES RIVER
Monday Eveaing, June 30, 1862.
Events OF the gravest character have trans
pired within the last five days, touching the
coalition and prospects of the army on the Pc
ninsula. Acting under the necessity which the
commanding General has long foleSeen, the
| widely extended lines of the army, with its
Well constructed defenses, stretching almost
from the James River on the left. to and be-
yond the Chickahominy on the right, have been
abandoned, and the army before Richmond has
| fallen back to more practicable line ofdefense
4 and attack, upon the james River. Hither the
grand army, with its immense artillery
and wagon trein ; its commissary and quarter
masters stores; its ammunition its cattle,
drove, of2.540 head in fact, its entire n,ateri-
Ell, horse, foot and dragons, bag and baggage.
have been transferred
The army has been engaged in constant con-
fiict with the enemy for six days, during which
their highest energies have been taxed to the
uttermost. The enemy have closely watched
| every movement, and, with an army double
that of our own, have had the ability to con-
staEtly launch fresh troops upon our rear, an
advantage which they have been quick 70 dis
! cover and remorseless in improving. hTeir
perfect knowledge of the roads, paths and
bridges, and the topography of the country,
which has taken US time to learn, has placed an
immense advantage in their hands.
Beginning with the fight at Mechaniesville
OH Thursday, our advance forces, while steadi-
ly falling back, have had continuous running
fight
On Friday one of the severest battles which
was ever fought on this continent occurred on
the right of the ChickahominY, near Gaines
Hill. On Saturday, after our forces had retir-
ed in good order across the creek and destroy
ed the brdges,we were attacked in front of our
Int ~,
envy, leaving the ground ytrewn with his dead.
On Saturday morning, the arrangements
having been completed, the wagon train was
starred on its way to James River. and was
followed on Sunday morning by the artillery
and commissarys train.
Meantime the enemy, getting scent of our
movement, strongly reconnoitered our front,
aud finding that several of our positions had
been abandoned pushed in and Attacked us
vigorously. Gems. Hooker and Richardson
drove them back, and Gen. Meagher's bngads,
always on hand at the right time, charged, and
captured two of their guns, The rebels paid
dear price for the information they Obtained
The chief struggle was near Sayage's Station.
Anticipating movement on our right flank,
the railroad bridge over the Chickahominy as
destroyed on Saturday morning. I he rebels, |
we had fallen back on the White !
house, sent large force of infantry, cavalry |
and artillery in that direction, but after long |
rapid and weary march, discovered they lad |
gone on wild goose chase in the wrong direc-
ton. They only found a small force of our in
iantry and cavalry scatteSed down to guard the
rear, who fell back and escaped from White.
house Landing. The rest was one of those
Wing wIldernesses" which the rebels in.
END to leave for us. All the quartermaster and
,ommissafy stores had been removed two davs
before, ard the rubbish burned.
Gen. Mcclellan and staff left the headouar-
ers at SaVage's Station at daylight on SUNDAY
morning, with g body guard Of the 4th United