The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-07-10

EXPECT an attempt upon his right,
had been received during Wednes-
day night, and we were as we'll
prepared for resistance al our Init
ell force would admit. Gen. FitE
John Porter's corps, consisting Of
.Morell's division of Volunteers,
and Sykes Regulars, some 5000
strong, Increased by Duryea's Zou-
ayes, was posted near New Bridge,
within supporting distance. Gen.
Stoneman had also been semitic Old
Church, with a regiment ofcavalry
and two of infantry, as a corps OF
observation and to check fanking
movements.
The fight seemed to increase in
fury as II progressed, and it finally
became the most terrific artillery
combat of the war. 1 had been
accustomed for months to the in
cessant roar of heavy guns, but UNI
til that period / had failed to COM
prehend the terrible sublimity of a
great battle with feld.pieces. The
uproar was incessant and ~deafening
for hours. At times it seemed as
if fifty guns exploded Simultaneous
ly, and then ran off at intervals
into spIendid file fring-if | may
apply infantry descriptive terms to
cannonading. But no language
can describe its awful grandeur.
The enemy at last essayed a COM
bined movement. Powerful bodies
of troops plunged into the valley
to charge our lines, but our men,
securely posted, swept them away
ruthlessly. Again and again the
desperate fellows were pushed at
the breastworks, only to be more
cruelty slaughtered than before.
Meantime our force had been
strengthened b,y Grifin's brigade,
which increased the volume of in
fantry fire, and Martindale's brig
AIDE came up to be ready for ext
gencies. AT dark it was evident
that the rebels had enough-much
more than they bargainHd for.
PREPARATIONS FOR RENEWED CONFLICT.
By daylight, Friday morning.
Gen. Mccall had fallen back in
the rear of Gaines Mill, and in
front of Woodbury's bridge, where
he was posted his left joining the
right of Butterield's brigade, rest
ing 10 the woods and near the
swamps of Chickahominy.
BATTLE OF GAINES MILLS, Friday, q,
The battle opened about one
o'clock by skirmishing, particularly
IN front of Grifiu's brigade, near
the mill, and by an artillery attack
from the battery planted in the or.
chard near the Gaines House. The
enemy felt our position rapidly,
and along the whole line at the
same time, showing that he was il
full force. a.
ON THE RIGHT.
The action immediately begal
with vigor on the extreme right
held by General Sykes division
composed of General Warmers
Colonel Buchanan's and Colone
Chapman's brigades. These brig
AIDES supported Weeds, Edwards
and Tidball's batteries, all regulars
The enemy attacked very tiercely
charging repeatedly, but were a
often repulsed.
A FIERCE ATTACK.
Suddenly the everlasting roar o
musketry increased in volume to
ward the extreme left, and the C IN
fict seemed to grow fercer thai
at any previous time. This wa
about six o'clock, and as 1 gallopet
over the field, 1 looked back all
. around upon the most sublim
scene that the fierce grandeur an
terrible reality of war ever portray
ed. The thousand continuous vol
legs OF musketry seemed mingle
into the grand roar of a great catal
act, while the louder and deepe
discharges of artillery bounde
forth over those hills, and dow
that valley, with u volume tina
seemed to shake the earth beneat
us. The canopy of smoke was s
thick that the sun was gloomil
red in the heavens, whilst tn
clouds of dust in the rear, cause
by the commotion of advancin
and retreating squadrons ofcavalr.
were sitting and binding to a di'
t"essing degree. That memorabI
scene will never be efaced fror
my recollection.
OUR LEFT LINE BROKEN.
For one hour and a half our lei
line withstood this terrible ehoc
of battle. Brigade after brigad
of the enemy was hurled again'
our devoted, daring, dying heroes
The gallant Col McLane and Ma.
Maggie, of the SD Pennsylvania
fell death stricken, while line off
GERS were stricken down by score!
and men by the hundred ; but the
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