Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-04
ssEsra RIehtinE At Riehmend.

we're entfenche0 on a billy woodland across f,
swamp raFinei about mile in the rear of Me
chanicsville. The First Pennsylvania Rifles
(Bucktails) and Campbells Pennsylvania Bat
terry were on picket duty, all of whom, except
one company, fell back behind the breast
works and rife pits, where a line of battle
was drawn up.
Company K Of the Bncktails. who were on
picket duty beyond the railroad bridge, were
surrounded by The enemy. and the last that
was known Of them they we're trying to cut
tbei: way through 1t is presumed the great
er portion we're taken prisoners.
The enemy advanced down at the rear of
MechanicsVille, on low, marshy ground, to
where our forces were drawn up behind rife
pits and earthwOrks, on an eminence on the
uortherly side of the ravine, where the con-
aiet became most terrible.
The rebels, with mos: determined courage,
attempted 10 press forward ever miry ground,
but the bullets and grapeshot fell among them
like hail, moving them down.
This continued till dark, when they with
drew. The cannonadng was kept up on both
sides until about 9 o'clock p. m, when the bat
tie ceased.
suHrred but slightly. Late in the afternoon
the enemy made charge with cavalry. About
loo Of them came rushing down and attempt
ed TO cross the ravine, when the horses became
mired- A squadron of our cavalry seeing
their position, made charge down the hill,
when The cavalry men abandoned their horses
and fed.
The infantry fight was then renewed and
according TO the statement of my informant,
Surgeon Humphreys of the Pennsylvania
Bucktail Regiment, continued until about
a. M., when retreat was ordered, very much
against the will of the Pennsylvania boys,
tion. The outer forces then began TO fall
back.
PorIcr's corps we're some distance below
DR.. Gaines residence. or the mex. days bat
tie the correspondent says the cannonading
and musketry was terrific.
Duryee's gallant Z1uayes were lying zl.<5'i the
ground for two hours. while our batteries
were shell;ng the woods over them.
Finally, towards night, the enemy attempt
ed TO break the centre line in front ofDuryee's
Zouayes.
The muske,ry firing became terrific, lasting
20 or 30 minutes.
Shortly afterwarl an attempt was made TO
break through the right, which was repalsed
and in half an hoHr another attempt was made
on the left with the same result. The battle
had then been raging for some hours without
any apparant change or advantage on either
side. Reiniforcements OF artillery and infant
/, ry then came steadily along over the bridge
to the field of battle. The enemy then seemed
10 make their last desperate and determined
! effort, and then came, forcing our men back
10 the ground, between the hill and the bridge
, where they could have been slaughtered by
tens OF thousands before they could have
crossed that long narrow bridge. Wagons,
artillery, ambulances and men were hurried
towards tie bridge. a pane was almost inev-
table, when strong guard was placed across
the bridge at the same lin. when the enemy
had almost reached the main hospital, half
mile from the river. Thomas Francis Mea-
ghcrs Irishnen came over the hill stripped to
the bare arms, aud were ordered 10 go in; they
gave yell aud went to work. and the result
was that the enemy fell back 10 the woods,
and thus matters STOOD up to IL o'clock yes
terday Sunday morning.
At dark an attack was made along the front
OF the entire line, and was renewed at two in
the morning in front ofGenerals Hooker kear-
ney and Sumner without material result.
Another correspond says of Fridays
battle, that twice all aloag the front did the
rebels attack oRr lines. Oar rife pits ard re-
doubts. Porter, with City cannon, and Sum-
rer's Hookers and Ayers guns moved
them with q athharvest Their loss
in killed and wounded was terrible. I'm
der date Of Friday midnight. the same CORES
poLdent says ten gnns were taken from US by
a sudden flank attack covered by q thick
smoke which hung around.
Count De Pnris captured rebel Major who
belonged to Jackson's army. He said he had
been in the valley of the Shenandoah all win
ter, and easae here yesterday with part of
Jacksons army. The rest OF it arrived this
morBing. Pie whole OF it was hcre
lie said that in fhe attack on our right the
rebels had from 10000 to $4,000 troops; this
will explain the enormous fire under which
our mon were borne down and swept away,
precisely as some of our regiments were swept
away at the Seven Pines
Yesterday ia Pennsylvania Reserve drove
the attacking regiments Of Jackson's con-
mand; to-day they were overpowered by the
same troops after being reinforced. Sykes
regulars were called up but proved unequal
TO the task of stopping them, and Slocum S
command had 10 be added to them.
The Count de Paris testified to the remark
ably good conduct Of all the regiments that
sustained this unequal attack on Porter
They gave way indeed. but none of them ran.
Their losses are enormous.
The Regular lLlh infantry is about ami
hilatcd. Nearly every officer in it is killed or
wounded.
The I4th also suffered severely. Muior
Raselle of the Regulars. and a Kinsman. Of
Gen. McClellan's staff, are killed.
Col. Pratt, ofa New York regiment, and |
Lieut. Coils. Black and Switzer, are killed.
Our loss in officers is very marked: indeed |
the disproportion in numbers was so extraor- |
d;nary, that our losses were inevitably large. |
The artillery in both Porter and Smiths d. |
visions piled the rebels in heaps. The fire |
was terribly effective.
NEW YoRE, June 30.-The New York |
Herald's report dated 9th, states our killed,
wounded and missing that day reached 200. |
The object of the movement was to bring |
Por ter's and other divisions into more close |
connection with the rest of the army, in fact
changing the front of the whole of our forces,
with our center and left pressing Immediately
on Richmond ITSELF which would be done, it |
was expected, on Saturday
1t was a virtual surrender or vacating of a
long line of defense, heretofors kept up to
Meehanicsville, in order to have the whole
force within rore effective distance; also to
allow the rebels to follow up and if possible
to bag them.
Mcclellan ordered Porter to Withdraw to
two miles this side of Gaines Mills, early on