Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-04
FROM REFnRE R1cuMnNn

teau WIN interest, as having an important
bearing upon the late strategic movement.
"Mechanicsyile, the extremity Of the right wing Of
our army, is point TO which always look with the
greatest anxiety The strong force the enemy has oppo-
site TO IT, the heavy guns mounted their earthworks
all commanding it, and the bridges and easy-pass.
ed swamps all render it dangerous post Federal
pokets there arc always in fear Of the enemy
shells, and the utmost Of our cannoners il
sometimes Of no avail to guard against cowardy attacks
from rebel guns, perched high up the hills or masked
behind tho universal woods which fringe the Of
iroyod town.
week not single rebel dared to cross the Chick
ahomny In all that ncghbofhood and our scouts VA
rollee the river bank il perfect safety few shells
now and then, doing damage, hut from their notoh-
ousy bad aim only excited defision the utmost to
witch the rebels ever yentnrod Muskct firing upon
was unknown, and from the utter silence and lasstude
OF Their whole force, unmiay judge might have
jectured that but handful Of artillery men held their
position, all the rest having gone away
such was the extent 0f this quieness that story Of
the evacuation Of the place brought by contrabauds
and diligently circulated, was generally believed
But gray-headcd military officers knew otherwise 80
The less they could discern the enemy the more and
more precautions were taken to guard against his at
tempts Fioketers were made more watohful Reserves
were posted closer Battery upon battery, brought from
the eAhaustess supply, were placed in every spot which
commanded rebel hill crossing place Everything
in the science Of which learned and experienced men
could devise employed 10 resist any movement fr
whatever purpose made which might be Indicated by the
enemy
A DISCOVERY
Inc usefulness Of all this extreme caution soon
uetnnnHrated a fnrOTn hope from the Federal
directed by high officer started on dark night on an
expedition Of the greatest secrecy and danger Through
he wet grass Of the swamp sometimes waist deep in the
wafer, they craWled Tor nearly mtle--nnw back
Forward doubling upon and retraclng their path an the
way To the rivers edge There all the trouble taken
amply repaid snug log way had been built across the
stream aud through the gloom it could be traced until il
lost itself in the distance This had been one quiet per
ormance Of the rebels, made right under batteries
and IN 'front.' Of our pckets but cfectuay concealed
by the rank luxutianco Of the swamp that until the
brave party discovered it, from Mcclellan down,
In entire Ignorance its existence.
over this structure rebel scouts had come in numbers
spreading about the Federal side Of the river and
correctly viewing many Of our most important
menls The newshoy crossed there with his copies Of
the Richmond Dnpatch, and many a spy and dcsertcr
mad itod that timber hrmiu Of the information he could
give the Richmond consprators This bridge So on.
Fortunately discovered built the about
| a halt mile below Mechancsviic.
The enemy were found to be equally busy in other
ways solid line Of ntrcnchmcnis had been built all
along the hill tops their side NJ the steam aud nu-
merous guns had been mounted there. Their pickets
had been strengthened and balloon view exposed hsr
camps behind the hill tops, grand landscape ofhe
camp OF thousands OF men. Their quieness only
rse and under its they had prepared on an ex
tensiye scale for the movement which Monday last
brought forth
AN ADVANCE.
On Monday afternoon the rebels in strong force COM
menced throwing two bridges across the stream and
we're met BY determined resistance the part n our
troops When darkness our forces were still there
throwing she'll and the pickeers firing on the enc
my During the night the enemy renewed their exec.
uons upon the bridges but terrific thunder Storm pre-
tiuihUnk perfect dClugp them. pspdc
PEELED them to leave the work
Az our troops for some strategic reason were ordered
TO withdraw, and rereatcd eNstwardy about a mile the
advance being posted on Beaver Dam creek which in A
previous letter informed your readers was the tuc ~
battle IN case OF an attack the maid body resting ON
the Hano"I road short distance to the rear All the
orders Tor these movements were made by Mcclellan
himself evidently with view Of cntcng the enemy over
therye and then capturing large part NJ his force as
overwhelmed by the superior numbers which could be-
brought against him, he would vany attempt to return
over the narrow crossing places, which fankinp Union
batteries could easily destroy.
In view of the situation of affairs on the
right, change Of position had been planned
by Gen. Mcclellan and was successfully and
trinmphantly accomplished, in spite of the
tremendous opposition of the rebels. We
copy extracts from the New York HeralTs re-
port of the battle on Thursday and Friday,as
given in letter dated 10 o'clock, Friday eve
To-day another battle has been fought by our gallant
Union roops-an9ther glorious victory to be added
The brilliant records Of Wednesday and Thursday. call
to-days battle victory. for 50 1t set down by those
claiming to understand the purpose o the movement
Giving up ground that We had held and burning com
mlssaIy and ammunition while fleeing pursuing
enemy looks like defeat But was not defeat-it vas
part and partial Of stragetc plan We gave up ground
that was deemed inexpedent with the force al com
mand' to hold any longer Our retrogiadne column
leu back TO specific point-fough hold the point a.
hey had been told to-fOught firmly. brayey furiousy
as 1t was known they woud-held the position against
greatly superior numbers, and hold il now The enemy
fought desperately Our loss in o-days fighting is est
mated at twelve hundred-klled wounded aud missing:
that Of the enemy is deemed much larger There il no
trusting estimates now, however
OBJECT or RATTLE.
How this battle occurred, and the particular object Of
It, should he distinctly stated in the outset II was a
part Of the grand march Richmond For some time
past, as is well known, Gen. FiM John Portcrs eprns
comprising Gems. McCAlls, Morells aud Sykes diys.
IONS and the reserve batteries has been stationed this
side of the Chokahominy that is on the opposite from
iuchmond' while the other divisions Of the army have
been across the river, close upon the rebel capital This
alsposiu9n OF our forces has compelled us 70 keep up
lengthy line Of denses from Mechauosye for several
miles this side Of the river to Cold A1bor Old Church
and beyond Although held in reserve this corps OK.
perienee has shown, Of engagement across the
Tiyercould not be brought into action without eopsrd
ing more than the advantage be gained from their sud
den withdrawal in an emergency.
Our tents, ammunition and stores could not he Icf he
hind without sacrifice too great to be thought Of IL
was seen that all our troops must be pushed across the
river and the line Of defense this side abandoned In
the meantime II was deemed desirable open an en-
gigement with the rebel forces facing our RIGHT draw
them in pursuit, and II impossible to bag them through
helr coming upon us in too strong force our
len wing with corresponding yiRor upon Richmond it.
self the great citadel OF the enemy strength.
IL is certain that the enemy have followed in l.rner
force than anticipated but it is equally certain that
they have not been allowed follow farther than it was
designed 10 allow them. The latter part Of the pro.
sramme-the pressure upon Richmond with our center
and lrf,-it is said will he entered upon to morrow
There another part Of the programme which am not
at liberty To unfold, change the base Of our army's
operations Our troops once across the Chickahominy,
and the rebel army cannot follow after us Like the
bHdge OF LODI, small force the ssage Of the
bridges against vastly superior numbers This accom-
pished aud the enemy shut oil from molesng us in the
rear all that remains for army do TO press for
ward with united aud nvncibe streng h upon Richmond
ana make her ours, as she sooner or later must be
coNNESCEARSr OF THB pays WORK
Shortly after the close Of Thursday came An or
der from Gen Mcclellan Gen. Fitz John Porter. d.
recting the withdrawal OF his corps 10 position two
miles this side Of Gaines MILL the ground We now oco
py AZ three o'clock the moving back Of the CORPS
who were sleeping on their all night began Con
McCa IN accordance with instructions opened with his
artillery upon the enemy. The latter thought This tho
renewal Of the preceding days fight and returned Wig
orous response from their guns, Shot and shell few IN
aniAgonisiic directions with dangerous liyeliness
Gradually Gen. MoCas troops withdrew which the |
enemy naturally mistakng Tor victory on their side
caused them 10 follow in hot haste. or course our
rear column yielded the ground slowly the more 20 make
the enemy believe that they being beaten Mean
time Gen Sykes division led the fetreating column fol
lowed by Gen. Morell's division Along the advance
there were but little indications Of retreat The men
moved slowly and all, ignorant Of this backward move
ment, were anxious to know the cause Of IT,
huRNING ooaaIssARY sroRBs AND AMMUNITION
do not know whether IL happened from an unaccount-
able hundeT, and have not yet found any one able or
willing to explain IT, but huge column Of smoke
arose from the late adquarters Of Gen sykes and
on the ground occupied by the I'd brigade Of Gen Mo
rels division AT the former place large quAntty of
commssary stores fire. and at the latter pi,ce
eommissary stores and ammunition.
The rolling up Of the huge smoky wreaths increased
no Doubt the belief Of the enemy that retreat was
neoessiious one certainly added the eageness Of
their pefsnit should here state that Gen McClellan
had previously ordered the removal Of all tents and com
mt