Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-07-10
FIGHTING BEFORE RICHMOND.
WHrrE House, Saturday. June %.

anu Al iut army OtiOFt nlcHulOnu uurln8 y
the past four days. have been of such va
ried character and thrilling interest. that
scarcely know where to commeces or end
the record in order to make them under
standable 70 the general reader. Many
who were eye-witnesses to these move
ments have fled off panic-stricken. fully
convinced that the whole army before
Richmond has been destroyed. and that
Gen. Mcclellan had been out-witted. out
generated. out-haDkea. and "driyen to the
wall" where he promised to place the en-
emy. The evacuation Of White House
was to them an inexplicatle mystery un-
der any other condition of facts; but had
they kept their eyes open early in the week.
they would have discovered that the work
of evacuation was silently and surely pro-
crossing before any Of the fighting on the
right wing, as carly as Tuesday, and that
large numbers ef-vessels had left the York
ard Pamunky rivers, and were moving
rapidly around to new basis Of operations
on the James river. They might also have
observed that all civilians were forbidden
to approach the front as early as Tuesday.
under any pretense whatever. and that the
immense stores Of supplies at Dispatch
Station had been steadily reduced for a
week. until the last box Of crackers. bar
rel Of beef and bale Of hay had disappear
ed. before the great contest on Friday.
which left the way oper for the enemy to
approach that point, which have every
reason to believe was designedly intended
by General Mcclellan to be the mouth OF
an empty trap into which they were being
led. and, as hope and believe. to their en-
tire rout and discontinue.
Before proceeding to the narrative OF
events as they have occurred in the vicin-
ity OF the White House during the past
few days, will briefly state that the whole
movement of Gen. Mcclellan, so far as the
changing of his lines are concerned. and in
reality the making of his left wing his
right wing. and withdrawing his right
wing to rest near Savage Station, at the
railroad bridge across the Chickahominy.
has been accomplished, throwing the way
open for the enemy to rush to his coveted
feast at the White House. where he found
nothing bat an empty platter. Whether
this movement is good or bad, or what
may be intended by General Mcclellan to
be accomplished by it further than throw
ing his left on to James river. and sup
porting a land attack on Fort Darling. it
is impossible o: present TO say. A day or
an hour may decide this point. I will
merely proceed to narrative of events as
they occurred at the White House up to
Saturday at noon. embracing such state
ments as reached MS from the battle field
off Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and
Saturday.
WEDNESDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
At the White House. on Wednesday
matters were progressing as usual with the
exception that there had been check in
the landing of stores of all descriptions.
whilst those on the landings were being
rapidly loaded in wagons and moved of
toward the left flank. Several steamers
with large strings of vessels laden with for
age and subsistence had also been started
down the river. with orders to proceed to
City Point on the James river. This re-
versal in the course Of transportation oc-
casioned considerable comment and specu-
lation. but was ascertained to he the ful-
fillment Of al order direct from Gen. Nc
Clellan. Some supposed it to be intended
for the supply Of a portion of Gen. Burn
sides army. which rumor said had reached
the James river to cooperate with him.
An order was also received from head
quarters early on Wednesday TO prohibit
any one from coming forward to the lines
on any consideration whatever. unless the
parties belonged to the army. This order
was so. percmrtory that even those con-
nected with the press. some Of whom had
come down to forward their report by the
mailbosts. were prevented from returning,
and others who had smuggled themselves
through were promptly sent back.
On the same day Gen. Casey came down
and took command of the small land force,
not exceeding 600 men. and in the even
ing was notified to prepare at any moment
tor the entire evacuation of the post, and
the preservation, as far as practicable, of
the public property. Similar orders were
also sent to Col. ingalls,. Heimmediately
communicated withthe fleet, and division
of men armed with axes proceeded during
the night and cut down the trees around
White House. and subsequently, all the
way along, above and below Pamunky
bridge, so as to give them free play for
the use Of their guns. On the same even
ing we had q report from headquarters
that q division of the rebels. the forces Of
Stonewsll jackson and Gen. Ewell, we're
approaching and threatening to open the
way by the right flank for raid on the
White House. In the meantime the trains
on the railroad were kept running night
and day, carrying nothing hut ammunition
and munitions of war with siege and rock
ct trains and field pieces.
The down train of cars, due at Z o'clock
on Wednesday evening. had not arrived,
which added to the excitement among the
suffers and camp followers. At half-past
10 O'Clock in the evening however. the
train arrived, bringing down about ninety
wounded men. il having been delayed for
their accommodation. They were nearly
ell Of Gen. Hooker's division, and had
participated in ihe gallant advance on the
left Of the center on Wednesday morning,
driving the enemy from their rifle pits. and
reporting tbststhey had secured and held
what is ssknowhss TavegD Hill. and impor-
tant position. ,coppading the city of
alluded to in the dispatched Of Gcn.. a.. Nc