The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-06-06
pefenoe of Richmond.
(From the Richmond Examiner, of Monday
As was generally anticipated, from th

'rat Onn6tOn army, the Dattle was open
ID between nine and ten o'clock, A. M,
IN Saturday, by an attack in force of
Longstreet's aud Hills divisions on the
,nemy's position at Bottom Bridge, near |
The line Of the Richmond and York Riv-
er railroad. The enemy, in large force,
had entrenched themselves behind con-
wise in front of them, so as to render the |
approach Of our troops the more difficult.
After a musketry and cannon skirmish,
during the continuance of which our
brave troops withstood the full fire Of the
and charge was ordered a1d
nobly made by Gen. Hill, the I'd Florida,
9Th Virginia and 9Th South Carolina lead
ing the charge up to the very muzsles Of
the guns under terrific fire of grape,
canister, round shot and shell, that cut
them down by scores. Mounting over
the fret battery they took possession at
the point of the bayonet, the Yankees
fleeing TO the next in position in the rear,
which, in turn, opened it's fire, and, in
turn, was taken, large numbers of the
Yankees being killed and taken prison
| ers.
After an obstinate fight of two hours
the enemy fell back, leaving sixteen
pieces Of artillery, composing three bat
teries, in possession of our victorious
troops. Our loss here was heavy, includ-
ing several officers. The Yankee loss
was not ascertained, but it is supposed to
have been equally heavy. The behaviour
of the troops was splendid. One compa'
ny of the North Carolina regiment alone
took one hundred and sixty-five prison
ers, and brought them to the rear; The
enemy's force was estimated at fully 80
900, and reinforced constantly.
After the cessation of the firing on our
right wing, the enemy attempted DEM
onstration, across the Chickahominy, on
our left wing, North of the Mechanics
vile turnpike, and on the Nine Mile
road. He was here calamity opposed by
Gen. G. W. Smiths division Of infantry
Gen. Writings brigade of the 9th North
Acting Brigadier- General Colonel Wade
Carolina and the l4th and 10th Georgia
The Hampton Legion, supported by
the 10th North Carolina and 10th Geor
the enemy, but finding it too heavily
supported, fell back, but not until after
receiving its fire and giving their own in
return, and forcing the enemy to resume
the defensive. Our loss on the left was
not go heavy as on the right wing of the
army; but among the killed we have tc
lament several gallant and distinguished
officers. On the left wing fell Gen. Pet
tigrew, of South Carolina, name thai
became illustrious in this revolution
He fell and died on the field. Gen. Hat
ton, of the Tennessee brigade, was sho
from his horse and died in the arms o
an aid. Col. Hampton was wounded
slightly in the foot, but remained at hi
post. HIS horse was shot twice.
The fighting extended gradually iron
the left to the right again, about fly
o'clock, and continued up to near eigh
, o'clock in the evening, when darkness
, put an end to the conflict, our army res
ing on their arms in the positions fror
whence the enemy had been forced.
z The strength of the enemy is suppose
0 to have been very great on both wings
; and his loss proportionately heavy.
Tho sullen booming of artillery hear
. occasionally in the city on Saturday MOI
!. ming had prepared the people for the It'd
/. ings from tho field. About noon it be
came evident that bloody work was de-
= ing along tho lines. The ambulances an
surgeons had gone out, and our citizen
remained in O state of anxious suspense
y but not alarm; they knew too well til
!. invincible army in whom they had cor
. fided their trust. Soon persons in We
hicles and on horseback began to arriv
: from the direction of the lines, and the,
, were eagerly surrounded by groups o
, citizens and soldiers, to whom they de
, tailed the news. Their presence wa
marked everywhere by attentive group
of listeners 1--WE have repulsed the er
} emyW passed from lip to lip, and cheer
ing beam of satisfaction lit up every face
saddened only by the record of the ga
liant men who had fallen and were sti
falling in the fight
Towards evening the wounded bega
! to come in from the several scenes of a.
ton, and we're carried to the hospital
the hotels, and residences. Many al
peared to be only slightly wounded, bar
ly sufficient to disable them, and laughe
/ and chatted with the hundreds of syr
pathizers who gathered around the ar
balances. Others, whose wounds we
through the body, and more serious, Il
, stretched out and some in the agoni
I of death.
, Throughout Saturday night they we
being brought in, up to yesterday NOR
ing, and all descriptions Of vehicles we
t impressed to carry them.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
We have some additional accounts
q the fight on our right wing. The see
o of the battle was about eight miles o
~ on the Williamsburg road.
The artillery on our side opened abo
20 ten minutes to ore, P. NJ, and the ca
d nonading continued for the space of or
1t half or three-quarters of an hour. Aft
"a heavy fire of musketry, our troo
= charged upon the enemy in their g
- trenchments with the most devoted q
le lantry, repulsing him at the point of t
a bayonet, and driving him back until
a. had possession of his entire camp. IT
;. enemy. being heavily reinforced; dro
- us back for little space, but could n
If recover his camp.
p Gen. Stuart wes in-command of II
IL field, but Gen. Hill was in immedia
command Of that portion of it where Il
y fight was in progress.
Us After the Yankees had been driv
n from their camp, twas thought that tn
ia were retreating down the Chiokahomir
:, when Gen. Stuart deployed three re
=" ments to intercept their retreat. 1t "
y, found, however, that the enemy was
d. ing heavily reinforced, and the regimen
10 were recalled.
About this time Gen. Stuart sent Liel
Fontaine, who had attached himself
q. his staff as aid. to Gen. Hill, or such &c
e 9, eral officer as he might find on the fe
u urging him to hold bis position, as RE-