The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-01
Army OF the Potomac.

The following extracts from a private
letter of Brigadier General Truman Sey-
mour, (McCall's Diyision) to a friend in
New York-recently published in Harper's
Weekly-contains some items of intelligence
respecting the desperate condition of the
army of the Potomac at Malvern Hills,
which will interest the public. 1t will be
seen that the Union cause seemed ''hope-
less" to him on the night of July LIST, viz. {:
BELOW RICHMOND, Night of July l, 1862.
MY DEAR You will be glad to
get even this line from me, though I
don't know how you will get it. We
are on the james River, and a gun
boat can carry a mail. TIE evening is
clear and the distant sound of heavy
cannonading has just ceased in pursuit
of flying foe, and after magnificent
battle scene. The Union cause is not hope
less now, although it seemed so last night.
We have had the hardest kind of fighting
This of tonight is the fourth battle. In
three of them my brigade played not in
ferior part. A Mechanicsville, on our right
flank, our division alone held 10000 men
at bay for twelve hours, and when compel.
ed to withdraw, did so in such manner as
to have elected the high praise of the army.
Reynolds and myself can claim all the glo-
ry of the fight, for We alone commanded. l
had two horses shot under me. The next
day, in the afternoon, the battle of Gains
vile was fought-25, 900 against nearly
9O,000-De Hart wounded, Easton kill
ed, Reynolds prisoner. etc Ny escapes
were wonderful and will form the theme
of much future story. l led five re.
giments into the heavy fight besides
my own brigade, and on these two days
| lost four hundred men in my command.
Well, two days afterward yesterday, while
folding up our right wing to fall back on the
james River, we had great fight along the
whole line, where we barely held our own.
My horse was shot in five places and my
clothes have six musket holes in them, but
the skin is not broken. By the mercy OF
God alone have l escaped while many others
were killed. was reported to have been
killed Meade was wounded and Mccall
either killed or captured. The division was
nearly destroyed. One regiment of 800
men have last all but SO; and it is reduced
now from 5000 to about 5000 men, OF
which [ am in command.
Well, we cannot go to Richmond just
noW-the rebels have been much too strong
for US. The skill with which the last move
ment has been made will be admired by the
world for ages, and must place Mcclellan
very high as an able man,
ALI this while we have had nothing to
eat but hard bread and a little pork we
destroyed much of our baggage; we carried
nothing but our eatables in our pockets; Tor
five nights have scarcely closed my eyes
but tonight, after grand victory and
good cup of coffee, and with everything
seeming to promise well if the country will
only support US, shall sleep enough to
make it all up and be ready for fight to-
morrow.
WEDNESDAY, July 2, 1864 NJ.
Arrived this morning early at Robin
sons Landing, marching seventeen miles
by dark, starting at IL o'cIack. 1t has
rained all day--the ground is very soft
in this field, plantation, the whole army
is concentrated the river is full of trans
ports; troops are arriving; few days
rest, and we shall start again Tor Rich
mond, After being wet and hungry all
day l feel glad that my wagons have come
up, and that my nights rest is secure, if
the enemy does not attack US, as he should
do if be means to annihilate US. Bot
who can tell what is in store for US
trust shall be able to do my duty at least
as we'll as l have done. TO day have eat
en- nothing but wheat from the field, and
am wet and worn with watching and care,
and you will kbow when you see this how
much man may suffer and live. Nothing
10 all my lite has met the suffering of these
days, my Fort Sumter trials included. May
God bless our cause, and give US yet more
strength to endure! The army is full Of
heart, and only asks fair field and that
God will be with US.