The New York herald., 1862-05-30


thor back into the woods the Indifferent response
of the gallant director Of the days work. "Go toll
Captain Griffin to advance his pieces"
Lieutenant Seymour, of General Morells staff, had the
heel Of OF his spurs shot off, He insisted that the
whofr the shot must have taken him for vul-
nerapie hseled descendant Of Vulcan. y
Vim. Halpn private in Company F, Fifth cavalry, was
taken prisoner. captain removed his sword and or
dsred him disInoun. He drew revolver, shot the
captain dead put spurs to his horse and with
his comrades again. s-
CAPTURE OF TIE REBEL MAIL.
One of the os important arrests Of the day was ar
resting the progress OF the rebel mail its way from
Richmond to Fredericksburg. Thefc were about FIVE
hundred papers in the bag and the Richmond Dispatch
OF this General Porter gave it in charge OF Captain
Carter OF General McCellans staff, who at took IL
TO headquarters 1t will doubtless furnish good material
for post prandal reading by the Commanding General
AFTER TIE BATTLE.
As sit tonight drawing this letter to close every
thing around is quiet contrasting strongly with the
din and deafening of tho afternoon Some Of
wearied have been sent picket; sleep rest
for them yet others sleeping their arms, with
possibility of being called at any moment to again march
forth battle Generals and privaos have to make the
ground their common sleeping place tonight Some
have blankets, but most are without.
looked through Tho sights wero horrible. Bodies OF
dead and dying and wounded rebels strewed the
ground In every direction. My estimate Of the
rebel less in killed and wounded is prsdicated
not only my observation, but the statement Of
those looking through these woods and those Of the latest
prisoners captured. I saw Acting Brigadier General
McQuade and other officers giving whiskey from their
own TASKS TO the wounded-sacrdces soldiers appre
ciate. No longer shall my song be-
Alasl tho rarity
Uf human charity.
And to-morrow-what shall be its story? expect 1t
will be- Of further battles, further lives lost,
have written. It may long in view Of the
comparative smallness Of our loss but the in
porance Of battles Is TO be measured by the length
of tho list Of slain The dash OF the men bodness and
brancy Of the conflict vaor incident add Importance
TO the story, and give vitality to the recital. The
c.s of to-day the first this corps has boen engaged
in Most Of the have boen under FIRE for the first
time. Who shall say that officers and men have not
acquitted themselves gasntly that they have up
10 the expectations formed OF them that they have given
proof OF nvincibilty in the future9
CAMP Ten AILEs FROM RICHMOND May "a, 1862.
A Reconnoissance-A Stirmish-The Cross Road Taken
Possession Of-The Killed and Wopnded dc.
To-day there false alarm OF battlc-though, in
deed the alarm not altogether false TO Of
brave follows Our General had been ordered to
reconnoltre the Richmond road beyond yesterdays
reconnaissance, and 10 20 as far as the crossroad
which leads Off toward Meadow Bridge, and to hold
the point at the junction. But the article
reconnaissance" has been carried 30 far to be
rather 'payed OUT with the special correspondent. lie
not be In advance Of General Headquarter. Recon
noissancss arc seldom made to the Of that point
has thoe e-~n
tillery-Hrst few guns fred intervals and at
siderable distance ahead. This went on, IL increased,
and became hard, persistent nre; and sti raincd.
and still the wind blow hard. On we went over deep
and slippery roads, picking the way carefully through
trains OF baggage wagons, forage wagons, ammunition
wagons, ofcers wagons, suffers wagons. and every
other species OF wagons that anybody at all waited
for or won't BY and the nre went in 'front.' harder
quicker aercsr-a FIRE warm and persistent and with
more "sound and furry" II at the distance than the
Gro at the battle Of williamsburg had. Now we
began TO meet horsemen on the fun run
back, orderiss with messages or intelligence
from the hsld and 70 overtako less rapid runners on
tn cir way ththsr &c. After nearly hours ride we
overlook the Generals each with his san their way
the field Generals Of corps and divisions asswel
nrs ana 90 out into The rain 70 SEQ whs,p The me,.r
We foil in behind this group and went An
ull In the fire only made its sudden revival the
your correspondent clear impression that battle
In progress, though no battle had been intended We
| wore In the Richmond road running somewhat
north Of west and about three miles beyond tho point
at which II passes the Chickahomny. Az this point
me 70 body Of troops drawn up in line Of battle TO
the right Of the road A little further on we met a
wounded man going 70 the stretcher. Half q
mile TO the frsn to another body OF SOL
dsrs posted in strong defensive position near hut to
tho left OF the road and In his place. at Its head its
quiet and reliable colonel We wore now fairly the
dcld and there lul in the 6rs Apparently there
was now enemy before us. None answered us
/ from the woods, could any be in
/ the open plain, and nre was suspended. The
enemy had been found by skirmishers mile back
Of the present position Of artillery, and had fired
upon them with musketry, and upon regiment in line
with two sIx.pounders. We had lost several men and
on. Of the batteries had bad horse killed; the enomy
had retired az we advanced, and was now in unknown
force no one know where and the regiments OF our force
| were drawn mp the woods round about, except that
porton which was considerably further ahead and wo
had been TO the junction Of the roads and now held H.
Such the adtha. battery was now sent ahead TO
hold what we had, and infantry regiment went 10
support IL. u posted IN wheat field TO the right
Of the road and In It's sheed the woods beyond
4 sH.wr