Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-07-05
THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
The Battle Of last Monday.
CCnrresnon,lcnca Of the \. i. World

i he Federal position III Cnl7 ua0.io
follows: Reyes had taken possession o. t'!e
road leading from White Oak swamp. TO the
river, and Smith was placed on It IN MS rear,
so as to prevent any movement on the lip,lC
flank, at the same time holding the road TO
Lone Bridge Next on the left was Sumner .
corps, of Richardson's and Sedgwlck' $ dlvls-
ions, Connecting with Sumner on the left las
Vol, face RichmOn1) was HeintZelman' = two
divisions Of: five proven hcroes-kearney and
Hooker. Slu,un and Mccall were held III re-
serve. Though but little time VAS gwen, tor
prerararion. yer orr line, though fully three
miles long. was reformed 50 as 10 prevent the
enemy from passing either Of our tanks by any
of The four roads by which he adyanced
Generally speaking the action was = lit coon-
tt:rnart, in severity, TO those already fought,
and adds feurf1lly TO the list OF casualties; now
already swollen beyond belief by The dreadIrh
contests Of ~ ednosday, Thursday, An1 FRIDAY
last.
The fight opened with artillery about 2
o clock. The firing was NOT severe 1t FIRST,
and seemed! divided about equally between
Sodgwick ami the wagon trains. About s
O clock an advance in large force was made
against Sedgvick's and Richardson 5 fronts,
and the action became hot and bloody, The
enemy attacked this corps from two poslllons:
right and left Slocnm's division WAS called TO
the assistance Of the right and The ACTION on
this part Of the wing, though lasting from -
until nearly + o clock, was finally successful IN
every respect, the enemy beng ctteclually re-
pulsed with enormous loss.
Without single exception this part OF the
battle was conducted, both by troops and lead
ers, with all the valor that flesh and blood can
summon.
While Sumner was gallantly engaging the
enormous force III his front, q demstrau0n was
made by force of the enemy against Smith s
torrifcaton on the extreme right, but it need
ed only dashing charge from the Vermont
Brigade to repulse and drive him tilSc0ntinenr-
" back.
But Heintzleman with his: brave columns
had by far the severest part Of the fight. lie
was sorely pressed all afternoon, and the en-
gagement here continued here with great Sc
verify until nearly dark. He fell back about
half Il mile for better position, so that the
lines during the latter part OF the action pre-
scented the shape Of a curve from lett to right.
It was only the superior qualities OF men,
under the head Of such veterans Of Hooker and
Kearney, and the excellent field management
of Hein1zleman himself, which saved the day
on that part of the line. They were soraly
pressed time and again and the same tacucs
which have been the reliance Of the enemy in
all his previous principal battles, were brought
inlo reQuisition again on this occasion.
The contest has been going on with unsur
passed igor until six 0 clock, when it became
evident that the enemy was pressing this brave
general back MCCALL Pennsylvania reserves
were brough forward, though worn ont by lack
Of food and rest, yet they went in with COM
mendable alacrity. But alas, the gallant re-
serves! What terrible havocwas made in your
ranks! But 4 short time elapsed before they
were broken and pushed back, with their divi
sion general and brgadier general missing, and
another severely wounded Hundreds Of men
left on the field They had tried 10 do much