Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-08
THE GREAT BATTLE BEFORE
RICHMOND.
THE GREAT VICTORY OF OUR
FORCES ON SUNDAY.
F1r1.p OF BArr1.E BEroRE RIcHMoNp.

FORCES ON SUNDAY.
FIELD OF BATTLE BEFoRE RICHMOND,
Sunday A. NJ, June I, 1852.
A battle before Richmond has at last put
to the test the rebel boast as to what they
would DO with General McClellan's army
when they should get It beyond the protec-
ton Of the gunboats. Though the advantage
Of q sudden movement against the weakest
point 10 our lines gave the enemy tempo
rary success, the final result has not been
such as to afford encouragement to their dis
heariened and demoralized troops, OF 0eca-
sion any fears az Go our ultimate possession
Of the rebel capital
The attack commenced shortly before one
O'Clock on Saturday, on the left wing Of the
army, on the further or south side Of the
Chickahominy, where the advance position
was held by the division Of Gen. Casey, much
the weakest in the army, composed almost
entirely of raw regiments, and reduced by
disease to an effective force OF some 5000
men.
THE POSITION HELD BY GEN. CASEY
Was on the Williamsburg stage road, within
six or seven miles Of Richmond, and on
line so extended at the front that the troops
required TO maintain picket guards of su6i-
Client strength, making no slight draft on his
weakened forces. The right OF the line was
held by bis first brigade, under Gen. H. M.
Naglee, as brave ana vlgllaut an 0H1cer ms is
to be found in the army of the Potomac
Gen Naglee's pickets extended across the
railroad running parallel to the Williams
burg road, about mile to the right to near
the ixth mile post from Richmond, and so
on further to The right and a little to the
rear until within short distance of point
on the Chickahominy, where Gen. Simmer
had thrown a bridge across the stream, and
was hourly expected TO cross to complete the
line Of pickets to the river.
The centre of Gen. Casey's position, held
by the Second Brigade (Gen. Wassell's,
formerly Gen. Keims'), extended from Gen.
Naglee's lines to the left short distance
across the Williamsburg road, where It joined
the Third Brigade (Gen. Palmer's,) stretch
ing some distance further to the left, and
joining the lines of Gen. Couch, who guard.
ed the left faux, the main portion of bis force
being a short distance to the rear of Casey,
on the Williamsburg road.
THE NATURE OF THE GROUND.
The position occupied by the main body Of
these two divisions was q clearing of about
one mile square, surrounded on the left aud
front by belt of forest, in which Gen. Ca
sey's pickets were stationed. On the right
wooded swamp divided the clearing from
similar opening in the forest along the rail
road, which was occupied by Gen. Naglee
with his brigade. just beyond the woods to
| the front were similar cleRrings with woods
on their further side, where the rebels lay
concealed, their pickets occupying the edge
of the forests, and separated from our pickets
by the width of the fields, forming sort of
| hot tho
which each kept close watch lest his neigh
bor should take possession. The position of
| General Casey and other Generals, the ma
ture of the ground, etc, will be made cleer
by reference to the map.
| THE ENEMY REooNNoITEIuNG.
Step by step Gen. Casey has pressed on to
this point, overcoming such opposition as
met him, until it became evident that the
rebels had reached the limit of their retreat,
aud further advance could not be ventured
without the risk of general engagement,
for which the plans were not yet ripe. Oar
proximity TO the rebels was evidently an
nOyiAg to them, and on Thursday, and again
| on Friday, they made an unsuccessful at
| tempt, with force OF few hundred, to drive
| ia the pickets and discover what mischief
was plotting behind the belt of woods shell
| tering Gen. Casey from their view. Their
attack was resolutey met by the pickets
| who fell back on the reserves aud held their
ground, defeating the purpose of the enemy.
Meanwhile Gen. Casey was actively at
work securing his position, large force of
men being busy under the skillful direction
| Of Lieutenant D. w. West, of his staff, dig
| ging rife pits and telling trees Tor abattis
| A similar line of defensive works had been
commenced and partially completed at Gen.
Casey's former position, at the Seven Pines,
| three miles frrther to the rear, and just back
of these was line of earthworks construed
| by Gen. Couch, and more carefully finished.
Failing in the two attempts to gather in.
formation by forcing back General Casey's
pickles, the rebels apparently resolved upon
an advance in force against the left wing Of
The army doubtless determined to drive it
beyond the Chickahominy, should the op
portunity offer, add put themselves in pO-
sition to turn General McClellan's leit flank,
THE STORM on FRIDAY NIGHT.
During the afternoon of Friday, terrific
thunder storm arose, continuing through
most Of the night with uninterrupted severi
ty, deuging The earth with rain, converting
the epongy soil into a nearly impossible
bog, and raising she waters Of the Chcka
hominy 30 as TO carry away one Of two
bridges General Sumner bad prepared for bis
passage, and somewhat disturb the founda
datiOns of the other.
The broad sheets of lightning that night
aud the camp fires Of unusual size. cleaning
10 the pitehy darkness, seemed to illuminate
our position, aud may possibly have assisted
The r. bells 10 getting an idea Of the bearing
OF things. Just before the storm had reach.
ed It's fury there was some diminishing by
the artillery on both sides. This commenced
again in the morning, several shots flying
over our camp, indicating that The rebels
OF our position.
THE ATTACK on SATURDAY.
Shortly after BOON the grand attack com
menced, Gen. Caseys piokets being driven
10 all along the front after spirited resist
III In a