Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-04

envy for six days, during which its energies
had been taxed to its utmost.
THE MOVEMENTS ON SUNDAY.
Gen. Mcclellan and staff left headquarters
at Savage's station at daylight on Sunday
morning with bodyguard of the 4th United
States cavalry, and halted some five miles out
after crossing the white oak swamp. Gen.
Hooker's division broke camp in the entrench-
mentS at an earlier hour and General Sickles'
and Growers brigades proceeded to the out
post to relieve Gen. Pattersons New Jersey
brigade. At o'clock, A. H., the three brig
AIDES fell back to the second line of redoubts
where they formed a line Of battle with Rich
ardSons and kearney's divisions, and remain
ed until eight o'clock, p. NJ. On the discov-
ering that Hooker had fallen back, the enemy
| advanced his scouts with two field pieces
and opened brisk fire upon his rear, along
! the line Of the railroad. Gen. Meaghers
| brigade made movement on both the enc
mys tanks. while the SSth New Y ork charged
| i'll front, and captured two Of their guns. The
| enemy then fell back under cover Of the wood.
| None were killed in HoOkcr'S division. In
the twenty-siXth Pennsylvania three were
wounded; the first Massachusetts lost two
prisoners. One man lost both legs by a shell.
| kearney's and Richardson's divisions were the
last on the field Some l20 rebel prisoners
accompanied us under guard During the
forenoon an advance body of our cavalry, who
were accommodating in front, discovered a
body OF rebel cavalry near a small church,
and, after sharp engagement, put them to
flight, killing considerable number of hor1
SEES, and capturing some twenty-five prisoners,
who were added to the group already in hand.
Gen. Sedgewicks division left the front at
daylight, and were engaged by the enemy
half way to Savages Station, which they
/ reached at p NJ. Here the enemy'S lnfan-
try, with battery, came out of the woods on
the right, and attacked them. The LIST Maine
were advanced on the left, with a line of
skirmishers in front. They had twelve wound
ed, three mortally, viz: Smith, Wren and
| Taylor c. W. Haskell, company c, was
slightly wounded in the hand by shell.
| Sedgwick's division crossed the creek at
| White Oak Swamp about o'clock A. NJ. Mon
day. Hisrearwas notannOyed during the night
Kcyes and Porter's divisions had already pre-
coded us on the march, and had reached a
position on the James river, near Turkey
island, which Is about ten or twelve miles
above City Point. The engineer brigade of
Gen. Woodbury. preceded the army, and con-
structed corduroy roads where they were nee
essary. At the Four-mile Greek Il bridge
was built across the run. At the White Oak
Swamp Creek two bridges were also con-
structed by the same valuable corps-one tor
the passage Of the main army tram, and the
other to accommodate Gen. Heintzelman's di-
vision, who, with Hooker and Richardson,
covered the retreat.
THE MARCH ON MONDAY.
The army resumed its March Monday
morning, and as Information was received that
the enemy were pursuing the bridges were de-
stroyed. The retreat was conducted in per-
feet order, without trepidation or haste. The
sick and wounded followed slowly in the rear.
When Gen. Mcclellan rode back and report
ed that the rag 3caS all open to James 1ire1, a
thrill ofrelief ran through the whole line, and
the sight of the green fields skirting its banks
was indeed an oasis in the terrible desert of
suspense and apprehension through which
they had passed The teams were now put
upon lively trot in order to relieve the
pressure upon that portion still in the rear.
Gen. Mcclellan and staff rode ahead and took
possession Of the old estate known as NAL
yern Hills, owned by B. f. Dew, one mile
back from Turkey Island Bend. 1t is ii large
old fashioned estate, originally built by the
French, and has near it IN front an old earth
work constructed by Gen. Washington during
the revolutionary war. 1t has Il spacious
yard shaded by venerable elms and other
trees. A fine view OF the river can be had
from this elevated position. Gen. Mcclellan
expressed the opinion that NTH q G,'ief time
TO prepare, the position could be held against
GHg force the enemy can bring against as.
Exhausted by long watching and fatigue, and
covered thickly with the dust Of the road over
which we had passed. many of the officers
threw themselves upon the shady and grassy
lawn to rest. The soldiers also attracted by
the shady trees, surrounded the house, or b. |
vouaced in the fields near by. Gen. McClel- |
Ian Immediately addressed himself to the task
OF preparing dispatches for the government.
FIRE IN THE REAR-THE BATTLE.
At two clock p. NJ. firing was heard in the
direction Of White Oak Swamp, where it was
supposed Ayres was holding in check the
rebel force who were attempting to cross
This continued for nearly two hours, when
sudden and heavy firing began further to the
left, in the direction Of Charles City Cross
Roads. At this point an immense body of
| fresh troops. with artillery and cavay, had
made their appearance direct from Richmond
| and were engaging our batteries still left to
| guard the road. Orders were sent immedi-
ately to put the troops in line of battle; and
Gems. Porter's and Reyes commands were
soon on the way up the hill, returning from
their comfortable encampment beyond NAL
vern Hills. BY l-2 o'clock P. NJ. the road
| was lhrOngeu WIN tnese troops, with artillery
and cavalry, fastening to resist the advance
of the enemy. The firing now became more
and more rapid, and was evidently approach
| ing our line. The roar of cannon was inces-
SAINT, and the dust Of the contest swept up
ward and whirled in eddying clouds above
the forest trees, which concealed friend and
foe from view. Members of the staff and
messengers hurriedly mounted and rode to
and fro with important orders to the COM
handing officers. The wagons were drawn
up on the right Of the field as a kind of tenn
porary breastwork, and the troops were dis
posed III line of battle at the westward, from
which direction the enemy were advancing.
THE GUNBOATs BROUGHT INTO ACTION
The firing now became incesSant, the ex-
ploson Of shells constant and most terrific
from both lines, and the roar of musketry,
mingled with the shouts and cheers of the
contending forces. If we could have seen
them, and estimated their strength or number
it would have been some relief but they
were advancing, apparently, to within less
than mile of our position, under cover of
woods. 1t was very evident that our men we1e
being drjgen IN, and that too, By an ouey-
WheimiHg force. AT this juncture two of our
gunboats, the Galena and ArostOok moved for
ward some half mile and opened fire upon
the left with their 34-pounders, the shells ex-
plodng in the edge OF the woods along the
line of hills where it was supposed the enemy
would attempt to turn our left No doubt