The Portland daily press., 1862-07-08

Through Sunday and Sunday night, the head
of the column pushes its way A body of reb-
els which had been down toward the White
House, finding they were on the wrong scent,
turned back, rebuilt Bottoms bridge and
crossed to the south side, but were not in suf-
ficent force to make an attack.
FIGHT ON sUNDAY-THE ENEMY REFUSED.
The enemy suddenly became elated. His
successes stimulated him to press us hard. He
thought he would have us. Smiths division
and Sedgwick's fell back via Savage Station
on the York River Railroad. 1t was necessary
that they should halt and hold the position,
that the long winding train might move away.
They took positions in the woods north and
east of large field. All of their artillery, with
the exception of two pieces, was masked in the
front, bearing upon the road down which they
had retreated.
They had not long to wait First the enc
my's skirmishers came in sight, carefully SMELL
ing their way like venturesome mice toward
roasted cheese, They saw the guns glittering
like gold in the sunshine. They looked, talked.
pointed. One or two officers went back. 9th
er officers came up. Soon the dark masses of
infantry followed. The two guns gave them
salute, but everywhere else there was silence
Flushed with victory, the rebels started ON the
double quick across tho field to capture the
coveted prize. Suddenly, quick as a flash of
and canister upon them, followed by the roll of
ten thousand muskets. No longer thought
of getting the pieces, but how to get out of the
place. After few frantic efforts, the ranks
became confused, broken, dis;ointed, and not
outstanding the endeavors of officers to rally
the wavering columns, they fled precipitately,
leaving multitude upon the plain dead and
dying. 1t was trap most successfully set and
sprung upon a flushed foe. In this affair Gen.
Burns was slightly wounded
FIGHT ON MONDAY
But the enemy was pertinacious. He was
determined to push Gen. Mcclellan to the wall.
instead of being pushed Heintzelman had
charge of the rear He determined not to be
outflanked, and also determined to give the
Transportation time to reach the new base on
James river.
Reyes, as has been stated, was in the advance.
or rather opened the way for the retreat Four
or five miles below Bottoms bridge, on the
Chickahominy, is Long bridge. To preyent
the rebels from crossing there and attacking
our left flank, Smith was instructed to take po-
sition on the Long Bridge road. Next to him,
looking south toward James river was Sum
ner's corps of Richardson's and Sedgwick's
Still beyond was Heintzelman's corps. Kear-
ney, Rockers, Slocum and McCall-the last
two in reserve. The line was almost three
miles long-sutficiently extended to cover all
the roads running east from Richmond, south
OF the swamp.
To get comprehensive view, select point
on James river, about ten miles below CITY
Point-Hardin's landing. Three roads from
Richmond partially converge at the place
1t is Monday afternoon, and the head of Keyes'
division has reached the locality, and YOU see
the interlninable trains reaching up toward
Richmond and beyond all the divisions mem
toned, spread out like a fan. The enemy come
dom ALL fI.s.r. ~. e.
two O'Clock in the afternoon. Placing his ar
tillery in effective positions, the enemy opened
first upon Sumner, but occasionally sending
shell over the heads of the division at the wag-
on trains, to create stampede among the
transfers. But the guards kept cool and pre-
vented any disorder After an hours cannon
ade, conducted with great spirit on both sides.
the enemy adopted new kind of tactics-an
attack on both TANKS at once. 1t was made
against Sedgwick and Richardson. and was
pressed SO hard that Slocnm was ordered
up from the reserve. The infantry action last
ed from half-past three to six. Ii was a brave
fight on the part of our exhausted troops
They held the ground and repulsed the enemy
IL was an obstinate, bloody fight. These
divisions have been so often in action that they
know what it is to fight. More-they know
how to fight. The enemy were not in sufii-
Gent force to attack Smith. They made a
demonstration, but the Green Mountain BOYS
were called upon and qnickly settled the mat
ter by driving the enemy out of sight in that
quarter.
BLOODY BATTLE.
Heintzelman. as have said was on the road
furthest over toward James river Early in
the afternoon the enemy, in strong force, APP
peared, opening with artillery, and advancing
division after division of infantry in solid mas
ses. He resisted brayely, but was compelled
IN fall hant m
followed, employing his old tactics of hurting
masses Of men, now upon the right, now upon
the left. and now suddenly in the centre He
held his ground unaided till o'clock His
ranks were terrible thinned. and he was COM
PEELED to bring up Mccall once more His d.
vision had been in nearly all the fights. 1t was
worn out. But with hearts as true as steel
they responded to the order. simultaneously
upon their advance came fresh troops from
Richmond and loud and terrific as at any time
during the six days fighting roared the contest.
But the masses of the enemy rolled along the
road. Their leaders had no care for saving
life. This was war-a strife for mastery Ii
was their determination to win no matter
what it cost. They rushed on impetuously.
charged upon our batteries, captured Rendalls
and took large number of prisoners Here
the brave and efficient commander of the corps
General Mccall, went down at the head of his
troops. supposed to be badly wounded A
score of officers fell. The lines gave way II
was critical moment. Now or never was
brave work TO be DONE Now or never was the
army TO be saved. All hearts felt it. All
hands were ready. Men lived ages in those
moments.
THE GUNBoATs.
The rebels had thrown a body of men close
down upon the river. The gunboats, when
the fight began, moved up and opened with
ten-inch shells upon the table land. Ii was
timely assistance. otherwise the rebels could
have crept along the bank, flanked Heintzel-
man and reached his rear What narrow mar
gins there have been in this war. | enumerat-
ed some of them in a former letter. This NAV
be added to the list.
1t closed the fighting. On Tuesday the pick
cts of the enemy lowered around, but not in
force.
REBEL Loss.
have lost two to our one. They have suffered
would do us no good neither would il hurt
them. There is but little doubt that Stonewall
jackson was killed by a canister shot from
Martins battery.
Gen. Barnwell Rhett of South Carolina. was
probably killed in the attack made upon Smith
and Sedwck on Sunday. Gen Longstreet is
reported wounded
Sedgwick came. Hooker and Kearney came
Hooker with the I'd New Hampshire and LIST
and 1lth Massachusetts; Kearney with the life
blood of New Jersey-brave men all of them
They rallied for a desperate charge-one which
has determination in it, when every man feels
that he stands at the gateway of centuries, as
Leonidas stood at Thermopyla. Twenty -four