The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-09
MEMPHIS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. 1862 53o88O

GeneFai hOOerL L. Lee, crOSse1 tne river at
Mechanicsyille Bridge, Meadow Bridge, and /
at Atlee's, and between one and two clock +
attacked our flank. Two regiments Of Heads /
brigade, McCalPs division,) We're in reserve, 4
and one on picket duty. They did not at any
time fully engage the enemy. Gen. Reynolds /
brigade held the right, and Seymour's the /
left. The fight was opened with artillery, NJ I
long range, but the enemy finally discovering /
our saperioFityi7 this arm, foreshortened the /
range, and came into close conflict He was |
evidently provoked at his own ineffciency, 4
since his'shell were not destructive in our en- /
treachments, while our gunners played upon I
his exposed ranks with fearful effect.
The fight seemed to increase in fury as il /
progressed, and it finally became the most {
terrific artillery combat of the war. | had |
been accustomed for months to tie incessant
roar of heavy guns, but until that period
had failed to comprehend the terrible slblim-
ity of q great battle with field pieces. The /
uproar was ineessant and deafening for hours /
At times it seemed as if fifty guns exploded
simultaneously, and then off at intervals
into splendid file fring-if l may apply in
/ fantry descriptive terms to cannonading. But
| no language can describe its awful grandeur
The enemy at last essayed a combined move
ment. Powerful bodies of troops plunged into
! the valley to charge our lines, bat our men,
| securely posted, swept them away ruthlessy
Again and again the desperate fellows were
pushed al the breastworks, only To be more
| cruelty slaughtered than before. Meantime
our force had been strengthened by Griffin
/ brigade which increased the volume of in
| fantry fire, and Martindale brigade came up
| to be ready for emergencies. At dark it was
| evident that the rebels had enough-much
more than they bargained for.
Their infantry fire had entirely subsided, and
! it was obvious that they were withdrawing
under cover of their artillery Our own bat
! teries which had opened ia full ,.ry at the
/ start bad not sackened an instant Compre-
bending the situation fully now, the cannon
| iers piled themselves with tremendous energy
to punish the retreating foe. We have
| sure means to determine how many were
I slaughtered, but prisoners who were in the
| fight, and an intelligent contraband who es-
| capped from Richmond the next day and who
was over the battle field, are confident that three
| thousand fell Our own loss eighty killed
| and less than one hundred and fifty wounded.
! The conduct Of our troops was admirable, and
| the galantry of the officers conspicuous. Gen.
! Mcclellan was not in the battle, but was at
! Gen. Porters headquarters until it terminated.
| 1t WAS now ascertained from prisoners that
| Stonewall jackson had not Joined L ,e. Hence
| it was iaferred that he was sweeping down the
| banks of the Pamunkey to sieze the public
| property, and cut of our retreat in that direc-
| tion. Gen. Stonemans command was moved
I
orders were Issued for the removal or destruc-
/ ton of all public stores at White House. The
situation, apparently placed on the surface de
veloped troublod undercnrPent. Gen. Nc
| Cellan directed Gen. Mccall to fall back and
take position in front Of our military
bridges to resist attack which was antci-
pated next day Friday. 1t was thought if
! the enemy was not successfully repulsed he
| could be drawn across cur bridges upon our
own terms, where he could be roughly handled.
4 The command was given to Gen. Fitz. John
! Porter, who controlled the troops already rnen-
] tioaed-supported by powerful train of
1 tillery, regular and volunteer.
Meantime all the trains and equipage of the
right wing were Withdrawn TO Crent's Bluff,
on the right bank of the river, during the
/ night, ard our wounded were conveyed to the
/ hospital at Savage Ssation-to be deserted,
alas, to the enemy they had beaten. All these
facts indicated danger. But other evidences
of it were not wanting.
Preparations for Renewed Conflict.
By daylight, Friday morning, Gen. Mccall
had fallen back in the of Gaines Mill, and
in front Of Woodburry's Bridge, where he was
posted, his left joining the right of Butterfeld's
brigade resting in the woods and near the
swamps of Chiekahominy. Morell was on his
right, in the center, and Gen. Sykes, com
mahding 5000 regulars and Duryea's Zouaves
/ crests of hills near the New Kent road, some
distance east by south of Gaines Mills. A
portion of the position was good, but iudicious
generalship might have found better, and
! especially it might have been amended by
1 posting the left flank upon a swamp which
was inpassable beyond petaiveuture. BE
sides, the line was SO disposed that it WAS next
| to impossible TO use our artillery advantage
ously-the very arm in which we enjoyed un-
doubted superiority. Nothing definite had
yct been heard OF the enemy, but it was as
surned that he would appear stronger than
yesterday. Accordingly, Gen. Slocum's divi-
sion fabout 5000 strong) was moved across the
river to support Porter, although it was
deemed hazardous in consequence of an inn
pending attack along our whole front But
there was no alternatIve; Gen. Mcclellan had
only so much material, and it was imperative
that he should use 1t according TO unavoidable
necessity. Thus far l carry The reader in this
history. The story of the battle is narrated by
a friend, to whom / had intrusted the right
wing to secure the benefits Of division OF
labor. He writes The
Battle OF GaiRes' mile, Jane a7th.
The battle opened about one o'clock by
J, skirmishing particularly in front of Griffin s
brigade, near the mill, and By an artillery at
tack from the battery planted in the orchard
, near the Gaines House. The enemy felt our
position rapl1ly, ana along the WBoIe line al
l / the same time showing that he was in full
. | force. By two o'clock there had been several
!, conflicts between opposing regiments, without
any particular result, save that cur men stead
fastlv maintained their line About this time
Gen. Griffin's brigade, whose front was COW
, cred by Berdan's sharpshooters, advanced
!. through to the edge of the woods toward
: Gaines mill, and made the first important
opening of the battle. The enemy at once
] ts -
!. | strong and brave regiment, with the 4th Mich
J. igan and 18th New York, had the principa
: position. The 62d Pennsylvania took position
! on the extreme right, where the enemy ap
: peared very strong. Weeden's Rhode lslant
|. Battery, from position in rear of the woods