The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1862-08-01

RiAfn CARTER A nAta HlQASAA t9R
ome time 81 writing you an account Of
matters and things here. but The constant
ezeitement end the continued succession
If battlss which aFe even npN not over
have prevented me nor Sit down to
write son q letter, hat DO not know that
may not % prevented by 3 battle from
ah'ne it The portion 81 the army to
ehlah We ere Stiat embracing the p
sIons os Ewell and stonewall sssos.,
aser going through the fatigue Of march
ing between four end Ave hundred miles
n the aee of Two months were ordered
70 JON the main army at Richmond, and
in doing this our Regiment passed through
Gordonsville exactly two months from the
time we left it to 60 TO the valley. From
Gordonsville, which is 76 miles from Rich
mond, we took the cars for Louisa c. H.,
and from there to Beaver Dam, which last
place is distant from Richmond about S5
miles. From this place the Regiment
and all the army which had been in The
valley, marched to place called Ashland
Is miles from Richmond. It left this last
place on Thursday, the Goth Of. June
jackson directing his march on.the north
Of the Chickahominy river, so as to get on
the rear Of the right Of the army Of Gen.
Mcclellan, which was posted ON both
sides Of the river-the left being on the
south side Of the Chiclxahominy and with
in or miles Of Richmond, the right oc.
cupying the north Of that river and vary
ing.in distance from to l2 miles Of Rich
mond-both wings strongly fortified 1.-THE
right was beginning to cut Off all commu
nication with Richmond from the north,
and had already interrupted the rail road
to Gordonsville. This part Of their army
was in communication with the Pamunky
and York rivers, while the left was sup.
Piled through the James.
The first effort Of our forces was to drive
them from north of the Chickahominy
river, and this was effected in the fight Of
Friday the 9th June. This was most
bloody and desperate fight, and resulted
in q complete victory to the Confederate
arms. The enemy were driven across the
river in great confusion, large numbers Of
guns and artillery were captured. With
many stores Of every kind. But the loss
of life was heavy on both sides. The
Yankee loss was the greatest, but ours
was considerable Their artillery was well
served, and the scene Of the battlefield
for the next several days vas awful be.
yond description--men and horses were
lying dead in heaps, But will not dwell
on the horrors Of the scenes-the grand
schemes Of Mcclellan, for the present at
least, are completely frustrated, and bis
great effort since that time has been to
save his army BY aFetrept to his gunboats.
There have been heavy battles since, but
these have been made by Mcclellan III
order to cover his retreat. It is to be re.
gretted on our side that, from the nature
Of the ground, and the long extent Of Nc
cleIlan's line, no general engagement in
open field could take place. Such al
one, there can be no room to doubt.
would have resulted in a complete Water
loo to the boasted young Napoleon. The
fight Of Friday, was, however, on grand
er scale than any that has ever taken
place before on this continent, approach
ing in magnitude the great conflicts Of
Faropean nations About fifty thousand
men on each side were engaged, and the
fight was as desperate as any recorded in
the annals Of war. The superiority IN
number and use Of the Yankee artillery
were manifest, while their positions be.
hind breastworks and abattis gave them
greatly the advantage Of US also in the
use Of musketry Iffring alone had been
depended on, Mcclellan would today be
in Richmond. But the 6ght was decided
BY the bayonet The Yankees were not.
50 far as I have learned, driven from
single point, except by bayonet charges,
and when it came to this there was no
use in talxing-they stedad1ledeyery time
couldn't stand il.
For an account Of the part borne BY the
Sixteenth Regiment, inclose you a copy
ofa communication published in the Rich
mond Dispatch Your readers viii recop-
rize the initial Of the writer, and they
may rely upon is correctness. The Regi-
ment BY its conduct in the two engage |
ment in which it has figured. has won |
for valor second to none in thel
service, and which must be gratifying 10 |
the pride Of all Mississippians. But alas
the libation to glory and to victory must
ever be the blood Of the brave ana true. |
Our loss has been severe Cur ranlza
lhinned BY long marches and fatiguine /
service in the Valley, counted only about
400 muskets on the day Of battle. Out OF
this number we lost nearly one hundred
b killed and wounded. regret to say
that the jasper Greys lost more than their
portion in killed. SIX Of our brave boys
ne among the slain-to-wit, Thomas ]
0yestreei. Uriah h Mounger. w. W.
Bruce, Clement james. Geo. ". Keeton,
md VIM. Davis Capt Walton received
.wc severe and painful wounds one ID
he face the other in the shoulder, and