Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-20
THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.
SOUTHERN ACCOUNT.

Csming up on the Williamsburg road, they
threw up intrenchments near Barkers farm,
and posted themselves beh nd fallen trees clum %
Of bushes and breastworks. Saturday morning
Il was determined TO attack them, and two divf-
sIons were sent down the Williamsburg road.
Gen. Hills Divisions led the advance, supported
by Gen Longstreet. AS soon an the eneuiy's DO
sitiou was reached, Gen. Hin prepared for Wig
Peatherstone's Brigade led the advance. II
vas commanded on this occasion by Col. Ander-
son, the General being III In the city; Garland's
In few minutes the engagement became general.
After two hours fighting, our men drove the
enemy from his camps. This brigade then, In
snd ie Of + the enemy. @oli. 6Si srYgsIy gn
then commenced to play on them. In the Fourth
North Carolina, out Of twenty-eight officers, four
were killed instantly and nineteen wounded
Captain Baker, ofthe Twenty-seventh Georgia,
while acting as aid to Col. Anderson, was killed.
Later in the day General Longstreets Division
came up and Gus, rushed eagerly into the battle
and did excellent service, as has been already
said. Although heavily reinforced, the enemy
were charged by Longstreet's and Hill's men and
driven OF the field, our men taking possession Of
their camps and fortihcations. The Yankees
very closely contested the ground - they fell
back, while our force steadily pushed upon their
lines.
This battle occurred upon the Williamsburg
road, or near IL, close by the railroad Making
quite detour to the lefI, the nine-miIe road
runs through the country few miles above, and
enters the Williamsburg road just beyo,d the
battle field.
The plan OF the battle was this: Generals
Hill and Lon gstreet were to attack in front, and
when the enemy were repulsed General Whiting
was to march down the nine-mile road, but came
Unexpectedly upon large BODY Of the enemy
who had crossed the Chickahominy and en-
trenched themselves. This was on the left of the
railroad, and east Of the New Bridge or Nine
mile road, as IL Is known In country parlance :
Colonel jenkins commanded a brigade, com.
posed Of the 5th South carolina sgiment, Colonel
Bratton, and the Palmetto Sharpshooters, Lieut.
Colonel Walker. The former commander, Brig
adler General II. A. Anderson, commanded di-
vision In the fght. He has net resigned. The
General Anderson who resigned is from Tennes-
see and his place Al commander Of the Tennessee
Brigade was assigned TO Brigadier General X OBJ
ert ii alton, who was killed
W bile proceeding down the New Bridge road
endeavorfng to get to the rear Of the enemy, who.
were falling back before Gen. Longstreet, Gen
Writings division was attacked by the enemy
on the left nank in overwhelming force causing
him TO change front, and for two hours engaged
in contest which. considering the short space of
time was perhaps the severest OF the war. Some
idea Of its character may be formed from the fact
that Hampton's Legion lost in killed and wound
ed slight fraction over half its members
The charge Of this body of men was gallant and
daring beyond all desert ption. The other regi-
ments did not suffer 80 heavily, but all show
long list Of casualties. Night found the com
batsnts in precise position az when the Aght began
two hours before, neither side having yielded an
inch. The enemy, Of course, foug ht with great
bravery. In this light we have given but few
Of the Casualties Col. Wade Hampton was
slightly wounded In the foot; DR.. T.. 8. Gallard,
Medical Director 10 Gen Smiths Corps, was
severely wounded In the arm
To return TO the right. During the night
Generals Hnl and Longstreet were reinforced by
HuReTs division. The enc nv also were largely
reinforced. Early In the morning the 1zht was
renewed. Gen PryOr's brigade, stationed on the
right Of our line were cred on by daylight, End
had one man killed and several wounded by this
Ere. Then came the general attack, very hot on
the center and right Gen. Picket was on Pryor's
left, Wilcox on the right. PrYors brigade stood
well up to the enemy, and did rot retire until
ordered, when IL was held TO cover retrogade
movement Of our troops. IL then retired dslib-
srately and In order, having los, ten per cent of
Its streAgth-lterally declmaied, principally In
the 6Ih snd I4th Alabama.
Gen Pickst's bri2ad sustained the shot Of the
ensny's attack up to near IL O'Clock, when Ma
hone came on the field. Picket's brigade fthe Cd
Of Longstreet's division, composed OF the 18TH
18th, and 18th Virginia regiments, was early in
the nzht Of Saturday, and did some excellent
fighting.
msrn:ng. Itwas ordered 70 proceed to line Of
woods I'D take position. They fell into an am
buscade VI siIe marching IN column, and sus-
tanned q CALLING FIRE. Hastily throwing them into
line the enemy wese pursued and driven beyond
The field. One regiuiest alone, the Sd Aiabarna,
cost one hundred and nl2e-six In killed aud
wounded. .a-
Since the fierce combats Of Saturday and Sun
day Lille has transPired worthy Of more than
On Sunday evening our forces down the VII
Iiamsbutg read fell back TO the original position
OF ESaturdsy morning, viz: the town side Of Bar
kers farrn and early yesterday morning the enc
my took possession Of the vacated position; but
where their camps, stores, field works and can
non had stood, all was tanged. Tents, baggage.
found naugbt bot "a deserted scene, wildly adorn-
ed with desolatiOn and waste. Early In the
morning the enemy threw out strong pickets to-
wards our front, had cannon pointing on the
road, vet bstook themselves 10 burying their
dad scattered far aud wide In al directions; and
although heavy details were made FOR the pur-
pose, the work had not eeased late IN the after-
we are sorry to say that our ofisers sufesed
severely in the two days operations, and among
horses shot under him, and was severely hurt
before relinq nishIng his c)mmand In the field.
GeH Pettigfew was killed, CO. Lomax. Sixth
Alabama, Col Hatton, Seventh Tennessee, and
others and as 10 the numbsr Of subordllate
o2cers, the list Is a fearful one. =
The Third Alabama lost Col Lomax and Ad-
iaEant johnson, while the Tenth Virginia and
RicbmOad Crews, particularly, lost many yalu.
able men. The Nfath Virginia did not act so
well The enemy were particularly active With
Col d. G. Good win, Of the Ninth Virginia.
was severely wounded. The Petersburg Corps
wa badly used up.
fele but s al portion Of the casualties and Incl.
dent. We 9tvc such we have been able to ob.
tain. The i2th Virginia and the ID Alabama be-
Tbs Rjehmond Grew lost two Killed snS Nv,
wounded and missing. Probably no regiment
suffered more than the ID Alabama Besides Col |
LomaI, Adjgtaa. J9hn'ons Cap. Maze csp.sis
Capt Ready, Capt. Rob- binson, Lieut.. Wither. /
spcon, Lieut. Gardner, and Lieut. Pstridge were
vounded. These casualties were among the Of |
L Neers alone. The slaughter among tie priyates |
y ae Eynchburg ARTILLERY, formerly known as
Lain m's Battery, nov commanded by Captain /
J.-s. Dearing, did good service In the faht /
cot N caring entered with "a cannoniers, and Il
bad IL W. ,unded. He also had between % and 20 |
hor,ss diss 'bled 5s Ea /
The FORCES ENGAsKp. o.. J
[Ffom the D,sp ifchl
The whig ys that only twenty thousand Of
tos,.- ~ A. y tse usand aRainst us. From other l.
source We are INF, vmed that we had thirty thou
and msu, while the ,'uemy had my hve thousahd
our ioss was heavy, 81 eourse where we had to
storm Intrenchments 50 sta ong and 20 situated.
I'D two thous,nd aye hu adred, killed and