Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-07
MONDAY EVENING, JULY z, 1862.

sToRMING INTRENCIIMENTs.
It now being P. NJ, and the head Of our CO
umn in view of the Federal camps Gen. Pry,
was sent forward with his brigade to drive ava
the heavy mass of skirmisheTs posted to OF
rear to annoy the advance. This being accom-
pliShed with great success, and with little los
to us, Pryor returned and awaited orders. Near
while the Federals, from their camps and sevC
raj positions on high grounds swept the Who'll
face OF the country with their numerous artills
ry, which would have annihilated our entir
force if not screened in the dips Of land and i
gullies to our left Advancing cautiously bu
rapidly in the skirt of woods and in the dips to th
left, Wilcox and Pryor deplOyed theiy men int
line of battle-Featherston being in lhe rear
and suddenly appearing on the plateau facinl
| the timber covered hill, rushed down into th
wide gulley, crossed it, clambered over all tn
| felled timber, stOrmed the timber breastwork
beyond it, and began the ascent of the hill, un
der terrific fire of sharp shooters and an il
| eessant discharge OF grape and canister, from
pieces posted on the brow of the hill, and from
their camps to the right on the high fiat lands
Such position was never stOrmed before. Ii
descending into the deep creek, the infantry anC
artillery fire that assailed the three brigades was
the most terrific en- record. Twenty-six pieces
were laundering at them, and a perfect hail
bOlAn VI icAu tCll talGh anu Adob ALCunQ Llblu
One of Wilcox's regiments wavered-down
the general rushed, furiously, sword in hand
and threatened to behead the first man that hes
itated. Pryor steadily advanced, but slowly
and by the time that the three brigades had
stormed the position, passed up the hill through
timber, and over felled trees Featherstone was
far in advance. Quickly the Federals Withdrew
their pieces and took up fresh position to as
sail the three brigades advancing in perfect line
of battle from the woods and upon the plateau.
Officers had no horses, al were shot-brgadiers
marched on foot, sword in hand-Iegiments
were commanded by captains, and companies by
and coloTs flying, and backward, still backward
fell the Federals, their mon tumbling every mo
ment III SeeIes. But what sight met the eyes
of these gallant brigsdasl In front stood Fed
eral camps, stretching to the northeast for miles
Drawn up IN line Of battle were more than three
full divisions, commanded by Mccall, Porter,
Sedgwieke, etc,-banners darkened the air
artillery vomited forth incessant vOlleys of
grape canister and sheil-heavy masses were
moving on our left through the woods to flank
US! Yet onward came Wilcox to the right,
Pryor TO the left, and FeatheIstone in the cen
ter-one grand matchless line of bsttle-slmost
by exploits of the day-yet onward
they advanced to the heart Of the Federal pc
sition, and when the enemy had fairly succeeded
IN almost danking Us on the left, gTea! commO-
ton is heard in the woodsl--Yolleys upon vol
leys are heard in rapid succession, which is re-
c0gnized and cheered by our men-''It is jack
son p they shout ON their right and rear -
Yes, two or three brigades of Jackson's army
flanked the enemy, and are getting in the rear
Now, the fighting was bitter and terrific
Worked TO madness, Wilcox, Featherstone and
Pryor dashed forward at run, and drove the en-
emy with irresistible fury-tO left emerge
Hoods Texan brigade, Writings comes after,
aud Pender follows
The line is. now complete, and Z" forward"
rings from one end Of the line to the other, and
the Yankees-over $4,000 strong-begin to
retreat Wheeling their artillery from the front,
the Federals turn part of it to break our left
and save their retreat. The very earth shakes
at the rear Not one piece Of ours has yet
opened all has been done with bullet and
bayonet, and onward press our troops through
camps upon camps, capturing guns, stores,
arms, clothing etc Yet, like blOodhOunds on
the trail. the six brigades sweep every thing
before them, presenting an unbroken, solid front,
aud closing IN upon the enemy, keeping up an
succession of volleys upon their con-
fused masses, and unerringly slaughtering them
by hundreds and thousands
sToNEwALL AT WORK.
But where is jackson 2" ask all He has
travelled fast and as night closes in, all is anx-
iety for intelligence from him. 'Tis now about
O'Clock P. NJ, and just as the rout of the
enemy is eomplete-iust as the last volleys are
sounding in the enemy's rear, the distant and
rapid discharges of cannon tell that Jackson has
fallen upon the retreating column, broken it,
and captured 5000 prisoners Far in the night
his Unsuitable troops hang upon the enemy, and
for miles upon miles are dead, wounded, prison
ers, wagons, cannon, ETC., scattered in inextrica
ble confusion upon the road. Thus, for four
hours, did our inferior force, uAaided by single
piece of artillery, Withstand over thirty thousand
of the enemy, assisted by twenty-six pieces of
artillery.
In total, We captured many prisoners and
thirty pieces of artillery up to P. n. Friday,
and in the battle of Gaines Mills, captured
twenfy-six field pieces, $1,000 stand of arms,
six stand CT coloTs, three generals, (Reynolds,
Sanders and Rankin and over 1000 prisoners,
lnclading dozens of officers Of every grade
from colonels TO heutenants of the line.
THE FEDERAL FORCE.
Every arm Of the service was well represent
ed in the Federal line-cavslry were there in
force, and when our men emerged from the
woods, attempted to charge, but the teree brig
AIDES on Tie right, and Jackson's three bTigades
on the left, closed up ranks and poured such
deadly volleys upon The horsemen, that they left
the ground in confusion and entirely for their
infantry TO decide the day. McCalIs, Porter's
and Ssdgewickes crack divisions melted
away before our advance, however; and had
the fight lasted one-half hour longer, not one
whole regiment would have survived It. Nc
Ciellan, prisoners say, repeatedly was present,
and directed movements, but when the three
brigades to our left emerged from the woods,
such confusion and havoc ensusd that he gave
orders to retreat, slipped of his horse, and
escaped as best he could. Some say that he
was severely wounded, and many officers (pris-
oners) believe the report that he was on the field
is undoubtedly true; for everything had been
previously prepared for grand fight at Gaines
Mills. Mcclellan even promising to capture our
whole force should we attempt to storm his
CAMPS. Results were different, and so the fatss
reward the greatest liar Of his age!
CHARGES AND REFUSES
Much has been said CT repeated % charges
made and repulses." Wild imaginations
have conc0eted many such foolish reports
There was but ONE charge, and from the
moment the word Of command was giyen-'ix
bayoaets forward ~ cur advance was never
stopped despite the awful reception which met
It. It is true that one or two regiments be-
came confused in passing over the deep ditch,
abatlS, and TIMBER earthWOTki-lb IS also true
that several slipped from the ranks and ran to
the rear, but in many cases these were wounded
men; but the total number of stregglers'
would not amount to more than one hundred.
This is strictly true, and rebounds to our immor-
tai honor Thess facts are true of Wilcox s,
Pryor's, and Featherstone,s bIigades, who
formed our right, and We are positive that from
the composition Of Writings, Hoods, and PEN
der's brigades, who fanked the enemy and
formed our left, they never could be made to
falter, for Whiting had the llth, l6tn, and 2nd
Mississippi, end two other regiments unknown
to us-Bood had four Texan and one Georgia
regiment, and the material Of Pender's COM
mand was equally as good as any, and greatly
distinguished itself. These were the troops
mostly engaged and that suffered most II IS
gross Injustice IN any to talk Of our troops max
ing three charges" repulses' etc, ETC. Our
troops received the command but once, and II
Satan and ell his host had confronted them, in
stead of mortal Yankees, the result would have
-. mo ronfltcpc--Qlt