The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-10

was exchanged but neither side wavered. At
last the rebels poured Tremendous volley in
to our ranks, which thinned them out to an larm-
ing extent. After awhile the superior numbers
OF the rebels also began to tell, and it became
evident that our troops would soon be obliged
to give way. The troops under command of
Gen. Mccall were nearly exhausted, having
been in the battle of the preceding day, and hav-
ing passed the night without sleep. Our men
fought well, but they could moi do impossible
ties. Que man could oteontend against three.
and come out the winner. The left wing began
to fall back. The centre and right of the column
were necessarily forced to do the same, and our
entire line commenced retreatag toward the riv-
err The enemy seized upon the suspicious mo-
ment and with furious yells, rushed forward
upon our broken ranks The horses attached
to the batteries the left were nearly all shot,
consequently many of the pieces had to be aban-
doned. Teamsters and ambulance dryers began
10 whip up their horses, and try to get up anoth-
er Bull Run. Some portions of cavalry were
galoping heller SHELTER, and confusion among
the infantry would have taken place, had not
the officers levelled their pistols an threatened
to shoot the first Ran that ran.
But to contend longer was useless. We had
lost our position, and all attempts 10 rally the
men for the time were vain. The command for
the troops to retire in order across the CLcka-
hoaiDy was gwen, q the regiments commenced
moving in that direction. 1t was nearly dark.
The fight had beeA desperate, and the enemy
did not seem inclined to press hard.
With the assistance of the achievements pre- !
viously mentioned, an other line of battle was
formed about half mile in rear of the first po-
sitioH. The object, however, was more for the
purpose of covering the retreat than for renew
ing the contest. The battle was ended
Throughout the day Gen. Porter was upon the
field, land gave his commands in manner as cool
and definite as if the spectacle before him was
nothing buta game of football. The disaster can
not be attributed to inefficient officers or cow
ardly men, bat SIMPLY to the fact of our being
overpowered in numbers.
AS soon as the enemy discerned the movement,
he began to clesein but did not press hard until
later in the day,
BY noon, ak our artillery, except that which
was required to protect the rear of the retiring
column, also all our wagons, had arrived at
Charles City. Gen. McCall's division came next
Then followed other divisions in regular order,
Gems. Hooker and Kearney bringing up the rear
and covering the retreat.
On two or three occasions the rebels made at
tempts TO flank Hooker and Kearney, .but they
were unsuccessful each time. The retreat was
conducted in perfect order
The main body of the army was now at Charles
City, distant from james River, by cue road six
miles, and by another ftesn miles,
McClellans object was to reach James River at
point opposite Turkey Bend.
During the day the Sth Illinois cavalry had been
sent over the road, fifteen miles in length, and
(which ran through dense woods in a circuitous
manner, TO ascertain if it was clear
They reported favorably, and at about dark a
train of transportation wagons, preceded by the
9Th Illinois Cavalry, commenced moving toward
james River. Reyes corps brought up the rear
of this column. The column reached a point two
miles west Oh Carriers Landing at an early hour
Monday morning without accident and without
meeting the enemy.
| The other road WHICH was nearer to Richmond,
was not &ee from the rebels. In the morning
squad of cavalry waS sent out to recennoire, and
found the onsmy in possession of the road art a
point We miles from james River. lie did not
know their strength, but concluded it was not
great.
At seven o'clock in the morning, the pick cts
brought word that squsl lron Of rebel cavalry
was coming down this road towards the Charles
City road. We sent up two pieces ofartillery and
planted them i'll aconcealed position, SO to com
mand the range of the road upon which the
cavalry was approaching When they had come
sufficiently near, q volley of canister was poured
into their column, which caused them to retreat in
a precipiiate manner. number were killed and
several wounded.
Gen. Martndale's brigade then marched up and
occupied the ground at the point " here TIE two
roEds met
HEADQUARTERS OF PIE ARMY OF THE
4POTOMAC5 TURKEY ISLAND sJuly2, 1862.
The following is one account Of the battles
fought III front of Richmond On Sunday, Mon
day and Tuesday, being the 5th, 9th and 9TH
days of the engagement:
On Sunday morning the corps of Gen. Sum-
ner and Gen. Franklin were lett in the works at
Fair Oaks, with instructions to eyacuate and
protect the baggage and supply trains on their
way to James River. They had hardly left
their position, and were falling back on the
railroad 4ad Williamsburg turnpike, when the
rebels discovered the movement and immed-
ately started in pursuit with their whole force.
So rapidly did the rebels approach that our
officers had barely time to place their men in
position TO receive them before they were upon
them.
The enemy advanced to the attack about
two O'Clock, which was promptly met by our
men. The battle lasted until dark, during which
the enemy suffered terribly. Advancing in u
solid mass to within short distance Of our ar
tillery, the effect Of our guns upon their ranks
was fearful killing and woundipg them by hun
tdredS.
| Al dark the enemy was repulsed and forced
to abandon their position. This battle took
place about one and a half miles from Savage's
Station.
Il While this battle was in progress ether i'm
portant events were stanpiriHg. The railroad
bridge across the Chickahomlny was burned,
and train of twelve cars under a full head of
steam was run overheard. All the commissary
and quartermasters stores, unable to be moved
were committed to the flames, together with a
large amount of ordnance stores. Fhe large
house at the station and the adjoining grounds,
which were filled with sick and wounded, when
it was impossible to get away, were left under
the care OF our surgeons, with all necessaries at
hand for their comfort. They numbered about
700, and are now in the enemy's hands
d The troops which had fought the battle OF
4 Sunday retired under cover of the night to
White Oak swamp bridge, distance of about
twelve miles, there to await the advance of the
enemy. The disposition of the troops on Mon
day, the sixth day of battle was as follows
Gen. Smiths division, supported by Gen.
Naglees brigade, occupied the right of the
bridge, while Gen. Summers and Gen. Frank
Inns corps occupied the left, Gen. Heintzel-
mans corps, with Gen. McCall's DIVISION was
on the road to meet the enemy, who was ap-
preaching from Richmond. The enemy came
up boldly early in the morning, having been
heavily reinforced by the troops who had fought
the battle of Friday on the opposite side of the
Chickahominy.
About three o'clock it was evident that some
portion of our line must give away as the reb-
els were constantly throwing fresh troops into
action. Oar troops in front of the bridge now
feH back to within three and half miles of
Turkey Island, where the fight was shortly
afterwards renewed and continued with the
greatest determination on both sides.
The less on Monday was very heavy on both
sides.
During the day all the cattle and the great
er portion ofthe transportation had safely eros