The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-04

met theirs and disputed lis possession
with chem. On the further side of this
wood, in front Of Hooker's position. is
swamp extending a short distance, until
ii joins on TO a peach orchard, ON the
iirmer ground beyond. Next to the peach
orchard is an open space, bounded on the
further side by a patch Of forest by
which the rebel works are screened from
observation. In front Of the wood the
rebels have rille-pits, in the further edge
of the clearing, protecting their advance
guard in the woods beyond on the side
toward us.
GEN. HooKER's ADVANCE.
Pressing forward through the woods in
front of their line, and so on through the
peach orchard, General Hooker's men
drove therebol pickets before them, until
they came upon the main body of the
enemy at their rifle pits on the further
side Of the clearing, beyond the trees
Here the battle ragged fiercely for some
time, the rebels stiffly maintaining their
ground, until finding themselves sorely
pressed by our men, and in danger Of be-
ing Aanked by General Kearney's troops
on the right, they were forced to give
way before the fierce charge of Hooker's
veterans, which drove them from their
riile-piis and into the woods at their
rear
Here our men held their ground, and
in spite of the enemy's resistance, would
have made good their position, had not
an order come from headquarters direct
ing them to fall back This they did,
the enemy showing no disposition 10 fol-
low them, suffering them TO withdraw to
the shelter of the woods back of them.
ARRIVAL OF GEN. MCCLELLAN.
For some time matters remained in
statU quo, a desultory firing being kept
up however, between the skirmishers ON
both sides. At about IL o'clock General
Mcclellan arrived upon the ground, and
assumed the general direction of the af-
fair which had thus far been left entirely
in the hands of the Corps commanders,
as it was, indeed, to a great extent, until
the close of the action. AS the Com
mander-in-C rode along the lines of
our troops in reserve, he was greeted
with, the enthusiastic cheers, which
everywhere welcome his appearance
raising his hat, as he passed on, with all
the air of Napoleon. Taking his posi-
ton near a well, TO the left of where
General Casey had his headquarters on
the 3lst, he listened to the statement of
his Generals, received the report Of Aids
coming from the scene of conflict, and
guided the action until near its close.
sHEIL1NG THE ENEMY.
Soon after the Generals arrival, one Of
the batteries in front of General Richard
sons position, on the railroad, opened
fire on the enemy over the heads of our
men, in the woods and swamps between
it and the enemy. This wood, hiding
the rebels from sight, the fire Of the bat
terry was guided by the observations Of
an officer stationed in tree az a look out
After the enemy had been sufficiently
stirred up by our shells, which were
thrown somewhat in the dark, another
advance was ordered to drive the enemy
again from their riile-pits, and secure the
position which had been once taken in
the morning.
ARRIVAL OF IMPROVEMENTS.
Meanwhile, the Second Brigade Of Gen.
COUGHS Division, Keye's Corps, under
command of General Palmer, had adj
vanced TO the support Of General Hooker
aud two Napoleon guns, of Captain De
Russey's Battery, were tearing down the
Williamsburg road to take part, if possi-
bic, ia the action which had thus far been
conducted without the help Of the aTtil-
lery, except such as had been derived
from the somewhat uncertain loDg-range
firing from the guns of Richardson's bat
teries. With much exertion, Captain
De Russey succeeded in getting his guns
through the swamp, and TO the front,
where they rendered efficient service in
the second assault on the enemy's posi-
ton. Great efforts were made by the
enemy TO secure these guns, but they
failed before the determined defense of
our troops placed to support them.
Supported by the fresh troops Of Gen.
Palmer, Hooker's men again pressed for
ward, and drove the enemy before
them with a much less effort than before,
barely a quarter of an hour sunicing to
drive them, for the second time, from
their rife pits, which were occupied by
our troops in force, who advanced still
further on, however to the woods beyond,
where they held the enemy In check.
GEN. KEARNY's DIVISION.
While Hooker was thus occupied, Cen
Kearney had been busy with the rebels
in front of him. Early in the day his
troops were drawn up in line Of battle 10
secure General HoOkers advance, and
push forward our pickels on his left
where kearney's Division held the ground
near the Charles City Road, toward the
White Oak Swamp. The Charles City
Road, which is not indicated on our map,
runs out Of the williamsburg 81 tage Road,
TO the left, at nearly a right angle TO IL
and about 2miles beyond The Seven Pines.
Rhe White Oak Swamp Is about two
miles 10 the left Of the WILLIAMSBURG
Road running nearly parallel with IL nm
Ill il empties into the white oak swamps
a short distance below Bottoms Bridge.
These positions are indicated facing TO-
ward Richmond, asyOu 60 up the VIII
liamsburg Stage Road.-H Tines
AZ first Gen. Keamey met with little
opposition, and easily drove the rebels
before him, 30 as 10 enable him TO adj
vance about mile forward on the Charles
City Road, where ne held his ground
occupying the rebeliiis pits from which
the enemy had been driven, and rendorihs
effective service 30 Gen Hooker By gei-
ting into a position 90 flank the rebels
Here he held his ground without difficult
ty until late in the afternoon, when about
3 o'clock the enemy eudeayored 20 reiakc
the rifle pits, which they had been forced
TO yacaie earlier ia the day. The brunt
OF their assault was borne BY lho Third
Maine regiment on ne loft and Twentieth
Indiana which acted as ~ support
Our TH00rs GIVE WAY.