Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-01
THIS AFTERNOONs REPORT.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE
FIGHT AT RICHMOND,

Trihune's report Of the battle;
Thursday about noon the enemy made
an attack upon Gen. Stoneman's forces in
the vicinity of Hanover Court House,
probably for the purpose Of accomplishing
an outfianking movement on the right, and
to engage our attention in that direction.
Shortly afterwards they commenced
vigorous canmonading from their works
on an eminence opposite Mechanicsville,
about one and half miles distant; also
two batteries one above and one below.
They were replied to by CampbelPs Penn.
batteries, on picket duty on the Mechanics
vile road, and another from behind earth
works at the right Of grove.
About two P. NJ, the enemy's infantry
and squadrons of cavalry crossed the
ChiclSahominy in immense force, a short
distance above the Central Railroad, max
ing a rapid advance toward Gen. McCall's
Division, who were entrenched on hilly
woodland, across a swamp ravine, about q
mile in the rear of Mechanicsville. The
First Pennsylvania Rifles, Bucktails, and
CampbelTs Pennsylvania Battery we're on
picket duty, all of whom except one com
plny fell back behind the breastworks and
rifle pits. where line of battle was drawn
up.
Company X, of thu Bucktails, who were
on picket beyond the Railroad, were sur
rounded by the enemy, and the last that
was known Of them they were trying to
cut their way through. 1t is presumed the
greater portion were taken prisoners.
The enemy advanced down at the rear OF
Mechaniesville, on a low marshy ground,
to where our forces were drawn up behind
rife pits and earthworks, on an eminenee
on the northerly side of the ravine, where
the conflict became most terrible.
The rebels, with the most determined
courage, attempted to press forward over
miry ground, but the bullets and grape
shot fell among them like hail, moving
them down. This continued till dark.
When they withdrew, the cannonGding
was kept up on both sides until nine
clock P. NJ, when the battle ceased.
Our forces were covered by earthwOrks,
and suffered but slightly.
Late in the afternoon the enemy made a
charge with cavalry. About 100 Of them
came rushing down and attempted to cross
the ravine, when the horses became mired,
A squadron of our cavalry, seeing their
position, made a charge down the hill
when the cavalry men abandoned their
4 horses and fed. The infantry fight was
4 then renewed, and according to the state
ment Of my informant Surgeon Hum
phrey, of the Pennsylvania Bucktail Reg
! iment. continued until about A. M,
| when a retreat was ordered very much
AGAINST the will of the Pennsylvania boys
who begged to be allowed to hold their Po-
sitiOn.
The outer forces then began to fall back,
POrter's Corps were EQme distance below
DR.. Gaines residence.
Of the next days battle correspondent
says the cannonading a. nd musketry was
terrific. Duryea's gallant Zouaves were
| lying upon the ground for two hours
while our batteries were sh, .lling the WOODS
over them. Finally, iowa vds night, the
enemy attempted to break tn e center line
in front of Duryea's Zouaves. The mus
kerry firing became terrific, lasting twen-
ty or thirty minutes.
Shortly afterward an attempt was made
to break through the right which was re-
pulsed, and half an hour later another At
! tempt was made on the left with the same
result The battle had then been raging for
some hours without any apparent change
or advantage on either side. Reinforce
ments of artillery and infantry then came
steadily along over the bridge to the field
of battle.
The enemy then seemed to make their
last desperate determined effort and came
forcing our men back into the low ground
between the hill and the bridge where they
could have been slaughtered by tens Of
thousands before they could have crossed
that long, narrow bridge. Wagons, artil
lery, ambulances and men were hurryinl
toward the bridge, and panic was aimos
inevitable, when a strong guard wa
placed across the bridge.
At the time when the enemy had almos
reached main hospital, half mile from tn
river, Thomas Francis Meagher's IrshmeI
came over the hill stripped to the bar
arms, and were ordered to "go in" The.
gave a veil and went to work, and the re
suit was that the enemy fell back to tn
woods, and thus matters stood up to !
o'clock yesterday.
Sunday morning at dark an attack wa
made along the front of the entire line, an
renewed at A. NJ. in front of Hooker
Kearney and Sumner, without materia
5 results.
Another correspondent says Of Friday
battle:
e Twice all along the front did the rebel
t attack our lines, our rife pits and redoutl
Porter, with fifty cannon, and Sumner
h Hookers and Ayres' guns. moved theI
o down with death harvest Their loss
e killed and wounded was horrible.
Under date Of Friday, midnight, Ii
r, same correspondent says ten guns wei
taken from US by sudden flank attacl
covered by the thick smoke which hun
around.
The Count de Paris captured reb
Major who belonged to Jackson's arm,
; He said he had been in the valley of Il
!, Shenandoah all winter, and came here o
ID yesterday with part Of Jacksons arm
y The rest of it arrived this morning. II
b. whole of it was here. He said that iu Ii
g attack on our right the rebels had fro
IS $4,000 TO $4,000 troops. This win explai
r, enormous fire under which our men we
J, borne down and swept away precisely
IS some Of the regiments we're swept away
the Seven Pines.
# Yesterday the Pennsylvania reser'
drove the attacking regiments Of jackson
command To-day they were overpow
Id by the same troops, reinforced. Syk'
regulars were called up but proved u
n; equal to the task Of stopping them, a.
ID siocum's command had to be added