The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-06-19
New York Times Correspondence
BATTLE FIELD BEFORE RICHMOND,
C..l. 1910

BATTLE FIELD BEFORE RICHMOND, !
Sunday A, NJ, June l, 1862.
A battle before Richmond has nj
last put to test the rebel boast as tC
what they would do with Gen. McClel
lan's army when they should get il
from beyond the protection Of the gun
boats. Though the advantage of q
sudden movement against the weakest
point in our lines gave the enemy q
temporary success, the dnal result has
not been such as to afford encourage
ment to their disheartened and demor.
allied troops, or occasion any fears as
to our ultimate possession of the rebeI
capital.
The attack commenced shortly after
l o'clock on Saturday, on the left wing
of the army. on the farther or south
side Of the Chickahominy, where the
advance position was held by the di.
vision of Gen. Casey, much the weak.
est in the army, composed almost en-,
tirey Of ra,o regiments, and reduced b.
disease to an c6 ctiUe free Of some 6,OOO
men.
THE POSITION HELD BY CASEY
Was on the Williamsburg stage road
within six or seven miles of Richmond
and on line so extended at the front
that the troops required to maintain
picket guards Of sufficient strength
made no light draft on his weakened
forces. The right of the line was held
by his First Brigade, under Gen. Fl
N. Nagel, as brave and Vigilant an off
Ger as is to be found in the army of the
Potomac. Nagel's Dickets extended
across the railroad Crunning about q
mile to the right,) to near the sixth
mile post to Richmond, and 70 on far.
ther to the right and q little to the
rear until within a short distance of a
point on the Chickahominy. where Gen,
Sumner had thrown bridge across
the stream, and was hourly expecting
to cross to complete the line of pick.
tes to the river.
The center of Gen. Casey's position,
held by the Second Brigade, Gen. Was.
sells, Formerly Gen. KeimsD extended
from Gen. Nage's line to the left a
short Distance across the williamsburg
road, where it joined the Third Brigade,
Gen. Palmer's, stretching some distance
farther to the left. and joined the lines
of Ger. Couch, who u rded the |, #
flank, the main portion of his forces be-
ing short distance to the rear of Casey
on the Williamsburg road.
THE NATURE OF THE GROUND.
The position occupied by the main
bodv of these two divisions was a clear.
ing of about one mile square surround
ed by belt of forest, in which Casev's
pickets we're stationed Onfhe right n
wooded swamp divided the clearing
from similar opening in the forest.
along the railroad, which was occupied
by Gen. Nagel with his brigade. Just
beyond the woods to the front wero
similar clearings. with woods on their
further side, where the rebels lay con:
cealed, their pickets occupying the edge
of the forest, and separated from our
p cI Is by the width of the fsld, form.
ing sort Of neutral ground between
the two armies, over which both kept
close watch lest his ueighbor should
take possession. The position of Gen.
Casey and other Generals, the nature
of the ground, etc., will be made clear
by reference to the map accompanying
this account.
THE ENEMY RECoNNoITERING.
Step hv step Gen. Casey had pressed