Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-28
IRON BEFORE RICHMOND.
The Fisht en- Wednesday.

RI rom Correspondence Of Philadelphia Inquirer I
SAVAGE STATION, June 95.-The fact that 10
WIS impossible to move any distance over the
swampy land without the greatest danger Of be-
templated advance upon the rebel troops nj Rich
mond, to- day was the one specially set apart bv
Gen. Mcclellan as the one when the brave trooph
composing the left wing Of the army, in the i'm
TO force an entrance to the cleared land beyond,
no matter how great the loss Incurred This
duty virtually devolved upon Gen. Hooker, whose
division was encamped on this side Of that point
The honor Of the advance on the left front was
given TO Gen. Sickles' Excelsior Brigade, and at
eight O'Clock the regiments composing this bril-
gade moved forward. The I'd and 9Th Regiments
were placed behind the woods, on the right Of
the road, In advance Of our Notifications, while
the LIST, Sd and 5th Regiments were similarly dis.
posed OF on the left.
skirmi.he., from the FIRST named regiments
were then advanced through the woods, for the
purpose Of discovering the whereabouts Of the
enemy. An hour previous to the time named,
the troops Of Gen. Growers Brigade were placed
The left Of Growers then connected with the
right Of Gen. Kearnev, who was stationed on the
extreme left, while an unbroken line from the
right hand side Of the railroad to the Charles
Richardson, djoiaing Sickles on the right The
line Of Sickles formed crescent, that OF Grover
was considerably thrown out In advance upon the
left, while Kearney's men fanked the left aide Of
road.
Thus prepared, the order was given to move
forward. But few steps were taken before II
was discovered that the movement Of our troops
would be attended with considerable DELAY, ana
not without some contamination, from the
character OF tbs soil. The rain Of the previous
dav had greatly extended the swamp, az well an
more thoroughly penetrated The soil OF the swamp,
thereby rendering lis pissage the more dlMcult
Not In the least manner daunted, however. and
thirstng for sight OF the rascally foe, our line
Of skirmishers pushed forward a hundred yards
or so, when they were met by the enemy's pickles
Hardly, however, had the Arst bullet from the
enemy's musket cut Its way through the leaves
OF the woods, before the sklrm shers of Sickles,
Brigade were greeted by few shots from the
rebel pickets, who upon so doing, immediately
fed TO the reserve In the rear Of them.
Company after com pany speedily came to the
aid of our skirmishers, until finally the two bril-
gades were by degrees merged In the swamp, and
a long line OF troops extending nearly half a mile
distant, rapidly trod in the footsteps OF the re.
treating foe, who was concentrating his forces a
short distance beyond, near the old chimney on
the right OF the road.
Now tbs firing on the left Of the road, where
Growers brig ade was posted, was quite heavy,
and then the rattle Of musketry leaped along the
line until perfect storm Of bullets descended
upon sickles' brigade, threatening to XIII or
wound every one Of them
Accompanying this there was crash of mus
kerry that In Its fall among and upon the Rebels
can only be likened to the rain drops Of brisk
summer shower 30 great was the shock, that
q.
In few moments after the first Hse, they were on
rapid retreat y
Swiftly pressing upon them, our men took .d.
vantage Of their fright and drove them as far in
perceived, however, that the attack upon the
Rebel line had had the II ct OF alarming the
troops In the rear, and reinforcements SEQ. came
pouring In upon US. These IS sFsedfly supplied
fresh attack WIS again commenced. VoiI.v
after volley was fred by the Rebels upon the
troops OF Sickles' as well a. Growers Brigads
which was a. generously returned by our own
the Hght had now been raging for sever,
hours. Grover. on the right, had by diut OF
haid lighting, succeeded In driving the Rebels
gu, OF the swamp, and stood at the skirts Of the
from this point, and obliged to retreat the Rebels
had fallen back upon their ria. pits, and stfIl en-.
deavored TO impede bis progress.
AIouna tne onck chimney, which 10 the only
remains OF a house formerly standing to the night
OF the road, our men clustered In small num berS'
and from behind IL they poured out volieys oh
destruction. Thrice had The iebels rallied, and
g many times had they been driven back, until
finally our soldiers had forced them out of their
ride pits into the country beyond, and were about
taking possession Of them, when an order came
from Gen Heintzelman to Gen. Hooker to imme.
diately withdraw his troops. The order, we az.
certainsd, proceeded from Cen Mcclellan. ana
was based upon the fact that there was every EVIL,
asaee OF threatened danger ahead did our troops
proceed further Much to the chagrin OF the sol.
lions they had left but few hours before. and
the reinforcements followed their example, vet
the rebels did not attempt to follow US; and the
swamp, winch buta few moments ago reverbe-
rated with the rattle Of musketry, now was stIlI
and silent
A few moments after Gen. Mcclellan appeared
and was received with loud cheers BY the sol.
disrs. Riding UP to where Generals heintzle-
man, Hooker and other ofacers are conprepated
INF ia
then enters into short conversation with them
hut few moments having elapsed before the
fofces Withdrawn but half hour be fore again
sasance, and In the same order move through the
Hardly five minutes have elapsed before the
sound OF musketry is again heard along the line
preceding as 1t opes from the Rebels, who,
taxing advantage Of the absence Of our troops,
nave cautiously stolen through the swamps to
espY our position. They have also been rein
iiorcef, and q sccond fight again takes place
~. nls time small Rebel tedoubt. mounting sew
nond road, beyond the rife pits on the outskrts
OF the woods, opens upon our men, the shot
however; a.sing over the heads Of Growers sol.
diers. Upon this FIRE, Battery X, Capt Devarey
of the Fourth Regular Artillery, Numbering 81
pieces, NaPoleons, Is brought to bear, which
soon has the effect Of silencing the guns: the
Rebels retreating and carrying them or with
them.
The firing yet continues, principally, however,
upon the center and In Sickles' brigade. Firing
or artillery has also been opened from Richard.
sons lines, on the right Of the railroad and there
10 every prospect Of more serious Aght than that
OF the curing. Finally, after an hour or more
has elapsed, sickles and Grover succeed In again
rsgainlng their old grouId, driving the rebels
from their riae-pits, and In taking possession Of
them Out Of the swamp at last, and Ia posses
sion Of the eneIny's works, with an open cpautfy
ahead, and three quarters Of mile distant from
our last parallel In front Of Hookers bripadev
so much Tor "trust In Providence and dry pow!
derD - ~
The enemy have now had grand askedad.
Ole, and the camping ground head loo s tenn pt-
lng. 10 hold this ground, and to not again be
driven to the other AIDE OF the swamp Il was easily
seen would require large forcs OF men ard
hence at about half psst three O'clock I'm the al
!eInoon, Gen. Hooker commenced to establish his
Our loss in killed and wounded on this coca.
sion was tr'ting in comparison with the natural
advantages OF p sition gained by u 10 day stu
II s nrge enough to cause us to wish that II
might D much smaller, and that the hearts of
scores OF brave parents might be the less severely
panied when the tdings Of the loved onesl death
ana ayrictions comes 70 their eaEs.
SOFT FINISH WIDE sKI8TIN9 DAM
duced pr oes.