Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-06-05
THE STORM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

Durlng tne altefnOOh OF Eillas a tSl Inv
thunder storm arose, continuing through
most Of the night with uninterrupted Sc
verify, deluging the earth with rain, con-
verting the Spongy soil into a nearly i'm
passable bog, and raisipg the waters Of the
Chickahominy 50 as TO carry away one OF
two bridges Gen. Sumner had prepared for
his passage, and somewhat disturb the
foundations Of the other
The broad sheets Of lightning that night
and the camp fires of unusual size, gleam-
ing in the pitohy darkness seemed To illu-
inmate our position, and may possibly have
assisted the rebels in getting an idea Of the
bearings Of things. Just before the storm
had reached its fury there was some skir-
mishing between the artillery on both sides.
This commenced again in the mcrning,
several shots flying over our camp, indi-
eating that the rebels had in some way
gained a more correct idea of our position.
THE ATTACK ON SATURDAY. aa
Shortly after noon the grand attack COM
menced. Gen. Casey's piekets being driven
in All along the front, after a spirited re-
sistanee, the rebels advancing in force
.along three roads-the williamsburg road,
to our left, the railroad, in the centre, and
the UNine-mile Road, as it is called, on
the fight. With his feeble division greatly
weakened by extension, Gen. Casey had no
backbone to oppose to this sudden attack.
But no thought Of yielding his ground en-
lteued the mind of the old soldier, SCARED
with the wounds of Mexico and disciplined
to danger by q hundred fights. His troops
were immediately formed inte position, the
three brigades maintaining their relative
positions on the right, left and centre, and
as thorough prephrations were made for
resisting the attack as its suddenness
would admit Of Regan's New York Bat
terry was stationed justto the right Of the
WilHamsburgh road, Bates Battery Of Ma
poleon guns further to the left across the
road, and Fitch Battery three or four hun
SnaangoEds % the rear, the last sending its
near the railroad, further to the right
The vigOr with which the. enemy pressed
! forward to the attack indicated the conf
denee Of superior strength. A battalion
I Of two regiments pressed against Gen.
Naglee on the right, another fell on Gen.
4 Wassel at the center, and aithird on Gen
Palmer to the left, pouring in at once fire
hot and heavy, and advancing with great
resolution in face of the steady fire Of can
mister and grape from the guns IN front,
and shell from those further to the rear;
moving down their ranks mall directions
The rebels had but little artillery, and were
evidently disposed to make good the de-
feienGy by pressing to close quarters with
their superior force, to bear down at once
by weight Of numbers the feeble skeleton
regiments Of three and four hundred men
who composed the advance division.
Most Of Gen. Casey's troops were thrown
forward to the edge of the woods in front
HOf his position to meet the advance Of the
rebels, a few regiments being left behind
the partially completed rife pits, short
distance to the rear Thus a division,
nearly new TO warfare, was suddenly ex-
posed, in an open field, to the heaviest of
fire from an enemy covered TO o considera-
BILE extent by the woods through which
they we're advancing. Terribly the tenn
pest ragged, the air almost growing thick
with musket balls; officer after officer fell,
OF was borne from the field a wounded
man the men dropped by scores, and the
usual nl14iber Of weak jpinfed ones were
falling to the rear. But in spite of the
rapid thinning Of their ranks the regi-
ments generally held their ground until
the enemy succeeded in rushing around on
the left flank and poured in an enflading
fire from that direction, against which the
rifle pits were no protection. The sixty
rounds Of ammunition With which they
entered the fight were nearly exhausted,
and no more was at hand.