The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-10
DELAWARE.
Second Delaware.
rnoM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.

Second Delaware.
From ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.
GAINES Hill, Friday, June %, 1867.
The army of the Potomac is having week
of work, and the promise the preVaiiihg Signs
is that the closing day Of the last week III June
is to witness hard fighting. yesterday after
nam at about 2 O'Clock, the rebels, who had
crossed the ChickahOnliny at Meadow Bridge,
two miles below Mechanicsville, attacked with
artillery from across the river, and with a strong
infantry force, the regiments composing the first
brioade of McCall's division. After holding the
enemy 10 check for four hours, XcCa's divis-
ion was reinforced by two brigades from Gen.
Fitz John Porter, and the rebels were again
driven back, they making further attack, with
heavy loss. Dnring the action a severe can
nonadipg was kept up by both parties. the
rebels, however. falling to do much damage
with their shells. They advanced upon us III
great force. 1t is estimated that at least, 30,
600 men were brought by them into the fight
! to make desperate effort to flank our right
Cur far inferior force, however, held them
effectually in check and eventually drove them
out.
| Gen. Mcclellan himself arrived on the ground
towards evening, and Immediately sent dis
patch to be read to the troops on the other side
| of the Chick ahominy, TO the effect that Gen.
Mccall had repulsed the enemy and driven
them back upon their entertainments, this DIS
patch was read to the troops just at DUSK ana
! from that hour till late in the night, cheer al
ter cheer went up.
The fight was renewed early in the morning,
when the enemy were repulsed out ABOUT SIX
o'clock, in accordance with strategic plans OF
Gen. Mcclellan, our troops fell back two or three
| miles, the rebels following,
hnhf hos Drocpdbd today batter
ground and satisfactorily, The movements Of
the army are important, but am forbid to state
| them in detail.
| All along the lines to-day there has been
vigorous firing, rhe enemy attempted 10 shell
| our camp.
! A preoipisGte retreat was out of the question.
| 1t would have resulted in the sacrifice of the
entire right wing With our retreating forces
massed in front of the Woodbury. and Grape
vine bridges, along the river bottoms, pur-
suing force commanding the eminence at DR..
Williams house, would be able to cut them to
pieces, or compel surrender. From the at
lacking party we hear, for the first time, took
position of defense and accepted the battle
which was offered.
ADVANCE OF THE FIRST BRIGADE.
The first brigade( Gen. Martindale) proceeded
through fell at the extreme right of the line
rebels that might be made in that quarter
They had not advanced far before the rebe
skirmishers were discovered providing in the
woods directly in front, and soon after the en-
env began to appear in considerable force al
along the right of the line. Gen. Martindal
quickly disposed his force, and prepared TO Civ
the rebels a most severe drubbng should the,
, attempt to turn the right. The artillery wa
4 then brought into action, and did good servic
} in Smelling the woads. No attempt was mad
nv the enemy at the time to push forward, ant
: Gen Msrtindae having become convinced Q
3 the much superior force Of the enemy, did ne
consider it prudent to do anything more thar
hold his position.
F., 1t was nearly dark before our line was form
: ed and the battle had commenced in earnest
2 The battle was principally between the artil
lerists, although late in the evening the rebel
2 attempted to turn our right, and were repulSet
+ Nth a severe loss. The pieces used ON bot
: sides were of 10 and 12-pound calibre, the Tang
being too short for guns carrying heavier meta
l When the engagement had really commenced
and all the guns were IN practice, 1t seemed a
5 though both armies were destined to immediat
. annihilation, SO dcafening and terrific was tn
sound. The very earth seemed to quiver an
= at times the whole heavens would be lighte
4 up with red glare.
( This was the first night engagement of an
consequence that had taken place since the a.
t my arrived on the penins ula. The firing COZ
t tinu rapidly and earnestly until about o
D clock, without any apparent advantage boin
: gained by either side. The rebels for the mo.
q part, fired over, consequently our men suffer
4 ed but little from their shells. The shells fire
+ from our guns appeared to explode directly ov
4 er the heads of the rebels, aud we have reaso
b to believe that they did not escape without
t heavy loss from that canse slAne.
: At about seven clock the enemy attempt e
0 10 break our center. To accomplish this h
d made most vigorous efforts, but was boldly an
n successfully met by Gen Griffin, who arrange
b his men in excellent order, and encourage
;. them by his presence and daring. The At
:, Michigan, Col. Woodbury., and the 18th Ne
II York, Col. McQuade, especially distinguish
J., themselves for the many brilliant and promI
s movements they made The 9th Massachusett
It and 62d Pennsylvania are also deserving
t much credit for the successful manner in whc
= they repealed the enemys charge.
!, While the rebels were endeavoring to fore
d back our center, the left of our column was
so busily engaged in keeping the enemy frol
f crossing the bridge over the stream On the Low
Ler road. The Pennsylvania Reserves fougE
bravely, and their unhinching perseverance
d was the only thing that prevented the rebe
# from gasnlng ground in that quarter. The Ell
|, envy seemed 10 concentrate his whole strengt
= hLst at the centre, and then at the left of OF
S line, but in each attempt he failed TO cross IL
6 stream. Our batteries did not spare the CAM
S ter and grape, and whenever an opportunity c
h fered a most terrible fire was poured into tt
rebel ranks. The Pennsylvania Reserves, WI
: were in the rifle pits, kept up an unceasing fl
d upon the the rebeAs on the other side Of Il
t stream, and finally compelled them to abando
= their original position at the end of the iine.-
2 AT $3.50 p M. the firing had entirely cease
d the rebels had been repused, and we held eI
e ground. Our loss was comparatively ANAL, N
# exceeding $50 killed and wounded.