The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11
FROM M'CLELLAN'S ARMY
GLORIOUS VIG10R|Esl.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
REBELS DEFEATED EACH DAY
Splendid Fighting of
Our Soldiers.
ADVANCING TOWARDS RICHMOND.
REBEL LOSS 10000 MEN.
ReiMfOrcemeNtS Arriving
SHARP SRIRMISH ON LEFT WING.
1000 PRISONERS AND Bat
ReiMfOrcementS Arriving
SHARP SRIRM1SH ON LEFT WING.
1000 PRISONERS AND BAT
TERIES CAPTURED.
Rebels South Side of James
River.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoTOMAC,l
TURKEY ISLAND, July 2.

TURKEY ISLAND, July 2.
The following is an account of the battles
fought in front of Richmond on Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday, being the 9Th, 9Th
and 7th days of the engagement.
On Sunday morning the corps of General
Sumner and Franklin were left on the
works at Fair Oaks with instructions to
evacuate and protect the baggage and sup
ply trains then on their way to James
river.
They had hardly left their position and
were falling back on the Railroad, and
Williamsburgh turnpike, when the rebels
discovered the movement and Immediately
started in pursuit with their whole force.
So rapidly did the rebels approach, that
our officers had barely time to place their
men in position to receive them before they
were upon them.
The enemy advanced to the attack about
2 o'clock which battle lasted until dark,
during which the enemy suffered terribly,
advancing in solid mass to within q short
distance of our artillery.
The eject OF our guns upon the ranks
was fearful, killing and wounding them
by hundreds.
At dark the enemy was repulsed, and
forced to abandon their position. This
battle took place about one and half miles
above Savage station.
Whilst this battle was in progress other
important events were transporting. The
railroad bridge across the Chickahominy
was burnt, and train of twelve cars under
full head of steam were sent overheard.
All the commissary and quartermaster'
stores unable to be moved were committed
to the flames, together with large amount
of ordnance stores.
The large house at the station and the
adjoining grounds, which were filled with
our sick and wounded, whom it was impos-
sible to get away, we're left, with the neces.
sary means tor their comfort. They num-
bered about 700, and are in the enemy's
hands.
The troops which had fought the battle
of Sunday went under cover of night to
White Oak swamp bridge, distance Of
about twelve miles, there to await the ap.
proach of the enemy.
The disposition of troops on Sunday, the
sixth day of the battle, was as follows:
Brigadier General Smith occupied the right
of the bridge, while General Summers and
General Frankin's corps occupied the left.
General Heintzelman's corps with Gene.
raj McCall's division, was sent out on the
road to meet the enemy who were approach.
ing from Richmond. The enemy came up
boldly in the morning, having been heavily
reinforced by the troops who had fought the
battle of Friday on the opposite side of the
Chickahominy.
About three o'clock it became evident
that some portion of our lines must give
away. The rebels were constantly throw
ing fresh troops into action, and our troops
in front of the bridge now fell back to with
in three and half miles of Turkey Island
where the fight was shortly afterwards re-
newed, and continued with the greatest de
termination on both sides.
The loss on Monday was very heavy on
both sides. During the day the cattle and
the greater portion of the transportation
had safely crossed Turkey Island bridge.
Some of the rear wagons had to be aban-
doned and fired, to make room for the pas
sage of artillery.
The fight was renewed early on Tuesday
morning by the rebels, they evidently in-
tending to crush our army.
1t lasted about three hours, resulting in
considerable loss to both sides.
The enemy then retired, leaving the field
to our troops.
The rebels again advanced about three
O'Clock P. N. in considerable numbers, but
retired after beiog shelled by the gunboats
and artillery for about two hours, without
coming near enough for the musketry to
become engaged.
The loss of our army during these severe
engagements is not known, but 10000 is