, 1862-07-03
THURSDAY. JULY 8, 1862.

s!ue, LIZ eAtmy pressed doTn the rO3d against
the position Of Gen. Mccall, first attacking
his first brigade, consisting Of the Backtails,
5th, 8th. 9th and 10th Penns y1vania regiments.
Ihese Epops were soon reinforced BY the six
REGIMENTS forming the other two brigatles Of
the division, and from their strong position
behind the sWampy ra7ine Of Beaver Dam
Creek, held the greatly superior force Of the
theny ut bay from the time OF attack until
the gong COVE OF the sun, at near 9 O'Clock.
TIE TROOPS FIRST AssAuED.
The troops first assailed we're the }Pennsyl-
Sanla BucEtalls. who we're doing picket duty
and Wer1 so unfortunate as to leaye two Of
their companies surrounded, and one of them
company k-ls made pris soners, the captain
OF the company, Capt. Irving, escaping to tell
the story. From their rihs-pits and earth
"o1ks McCall'6 brave men held the adyanc-
1ng rebels In check for near four hours, when
they were reinforced by the brigades Of Por-
ters corps, and the fight continued three hours
loss, our troops under the protection Of earth
FORKS suffering less The loss of this DAYS
tight being summed up at some 500.
OUR MEN RETIRE BEFoE TILE ESEsET.
Ttat nis sht an order came from Gen. Nc
C1alan For Gep. Por'er to Withdraw his forces
gradually to pointn sarafe sBridge Alter
few hours s1eepupon their a1ms, our troops
OPERATORS, Gen. Mccall, at :, o'c1oea, opened
fire OF artillery On the enemy who vigorously
Responded, until :puE forces began gradually
to retire before taem as if rstroatlns, but
maintainlnf their ranks in good order, cross
. bridge over reak On the way, destroying
1t oehlnd them, compelling the enemy to wait
the sloW construction Of q new passage-way
IN the fire Of our opposing artillery and heavy
musket fire from the 9th Massachusetts.
Dividing here, our troops continue their re-
treat ever two separate roads, burning be-
hlHd them such conmIssary stores as they
Htref ~
small account, as the removal Of portable
property across the .ChiCkahominY had pre-
yiou=ly Elen ordered. Following close after
Poricrs men, the rebels continued to advance
until they came upon piece Of woods, in
which they seemed 10 hesitate to follow, halt
iEg for some time before showing themselves
| again. But, without waiting for them, our
| troops still fell back, until nelr the Chlcka-
| lomlry, at WoodbuTy's Bridge, where they
| halted in the open country, which Their:
| spreads out into broad fields and fertile pas
tIres
| HEIGHT OF TIE ENGAGEMENT.
Quickly the dispositions for battle were
made, the division being drawn up in line OF
battle, the batteries planted in the most eligi-
nsss positions, and every preparation for hold
lug lie ground Ut any cost, in accordance With
| the orders received frcn1 the conomander-in-
ctlef. It vas now Eear noon, and our troops
hid taken fresh courage for effort from the
I uUAl Q4 LAA 1OI lEoG Auu lElIEeEulEuL 1uEy QnQ
| enjoyed. Then the enemy were reported TO be
again advancing; they opened fire on our
| men from the woods skirting the plain In
Which the latter we're posted.
First commencing with the usual picket
sk!ru,ishing, and then swelling to the roar ot
the artillery duel, the struggle opened be-
| tween the advanced guard Of the two armies
until By three or four O'Clock in the Afternoon
the battle ragged tlercely all along the lines
| until within an hour or two Of sunset, Eher
the storm lulled fora time, and then the rebels
who had been meanwhile reinforced, came OF
| with fresh 1igor to the assault. They vert
soon met with equal determination by Porter
men, aided now By the relnforcc,nents tha
had come to them from the corps Of Frank
lin, Sumner and Kcyes; from the former, slo
Gums division, from Sumner, the brig4de5 0
French and the Irish boys under MeaGher, an,
! from the further reserved eeE:'s cf Keyes, tn
brigade Of Palmer, which had done good SCI
vice in the fight Of Wednesday on the left, Des
| perately and determinedly did the rebels pres
forward, but as desperately and determined
Hers they met and driven. gaining nothing fn1
tier that night OF the promise Of their morn
ing auyart5. Not until nine o'clock did til
| men find rest, which, We may be sure, cam
not urWelcomed to such of the men as 1iu
passtd through the struggle, cOmmencin
| early in the afternoon Of the previous day.
Most opportunely was the arrival Of the re
lnforcements that evening, Tor our troops, har
pressed BY superior numbers, were in DANCE
OF being er1ven further back than was intend
ed, and'the first symptoms Of disorder ver
showing themselves in the hasty Hight q
tea1nsters and 1ooker6-on, the struggling sol
| dlers in the. e.croWd being turned back fron
Woodbury's Bridge by the strong guard VII
kept watch over It with their bayonets.
AFTER TIE BATTLE.
Ard SO the SUI went down upon the battle
field strewn ~ith the bruised and Inangled form
| n h01-a f,6ar rf
men- though shorn of their full proportions
and blddcn to 60 manned and halting throug
life. But though the night had settled do nj
upon the earth, and Weafied men were sleep
ing 20 peacefully, even inthe midst Of death
rest did not come to all, for there was still
yigilant watch to be kept npon the movemen
OF the enemy, and the nearby work OF remoy
ing the dead and providing for the wounded
and carly in the morning, at two O'Clock, al
were disturbed by the sound of sharp ftin:
coming from tile direction of the 1eft, where TIL
enemy we're amusing themselves with niga
aud Keafney, with no result that I learn OF
Smiths division, directly opposite Wood
hury's Bridge, Oh the further side of th
Chickahominy, we're also attacked during tn
the Gay OF Friday, his brave Vermont boy
and the 33d New York, with the help OF Ayres
and other batteries. repeling the assault viii
great slaughter.
And who can estimate our loss, when non
but an Omnipotcnt eye can, In tte confusion
Of the first hours that follow the engagement
search cut the fate OF all who appear not witt
their comrades as they gather with their regi
ments at night? It will surely exceed
thousand, and hope not pass the 1.5o0; bu
few days more will tell, while, meanwhile
the list must swell greatly, for the battle i
not yet fully ended. Strategy Or no strategy
there must still be desperate fighting, eve,
though the rebels should play into our hand
to the end, as they arc reported to have don
to-day in seeking to possess themselves c
the communications with the Whitehouse
little thinking probably, how far advance
were the preparations for changing to d nei
and better base on the james River, whcr
our gunboats can afford US full protection
and shall hare but single flank to guard.
+ TROOPS ENGAGED.
The following list includes most of th
regiments principally engaged in the battle {
| tie regulars mentioned in our account of th
battle, we're the following troops from th
| different States:
NEW YoRE.
1st n + rayalry. 1st n. z Artillery.
Is S4sesfs HSS ~: Artillery fs Ssw NV 7s TSf
| 14th New York. 2ath New York.
18th New York. 25th New York.
10th New York. 18th New York.
| SD New York. 9Th New York.
| 10th New York. G9th New York.
| 57th New York Ssth New York.
| SGD New York, esd New York.
| 6ast New 1otk. Tth New York
PENNSYLVANIA.
9h Pennsylvania. 7th Pennsylvania.
] sth Pennsylvania 1st Pennsylvania.
| I'd P -nnsglyania. Sd Pennsylvania.
| 10th PennSTlvan1a. 62d Pennsylvania.
9Th Pennsylvania. 9Sth Pennsyivaais.