Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-02


| three hours. The ear was full of the roar
of cannon and musketry and shouts of
the men; moving artillery and regiments, and
smoke had filled the eye. What had been
done in these three hours? No one can tell
The commanding general, could you catch
his ear, might tell his orders, but he could tell
no more. He who notes the sparrow as it
falls to the ground alone knew the events of
these three hours, the names of those whom
bullet or shell or bayonet had called to their
final account, those who lay gasping and dy-
ing from mortal wounds, who had been taken
prisoners-in short, the fiuctuating fortunes
Of the contest Bodies of the slain lay about
in every direction. Borne on stretchers and
| PROSTATE in moving ambulances and on the
| ground are men covered with blood and every
wound incident to the battle field. Dwellings
and barns and sheds are converted into tenn
porary hospitals. We hear of officers who
have been killed and privates who have brave
ly met their death in the face of the enemy
| We have recounted the valOrous exploits of
this and that regiment and this and that Off
| Ger; we are told of dozens of regiments that
have been cut to pieces, of cross tirings and
treacherous slaughter through false displays
of the Union flag.
The fight after Il short respite was renew
ed. The enemy had been reinforced, and
commenced the attack with new desperation
The yells of the men as they advanced to fire
upon one another could be heard above the
roar of artillery. This was the most exciting
and earnest fight of the day. The cannons
let fly grape, shell and canister, the volley of
! musketry was incesSant, and dashing charges
and counter charges were made with bold i'm
| petuOsity. No battle was ever fought with
| more earnestneSS. Slocum's division, and
| Palmer, French and Meagher's brigades soon
came to our aid. The new men, like those
they aided and relieved, fought with the cour-
| age and desperation of old and well trained
troops. Gen. MeagheE's men went into the
| fight with coats off and sleeves rolled up, and
fought with the ferceness of tigers. All of
| Gen. Palmer's men wore straw hats. They
made these hats visible in the thckest of the
fight. Their utility as a mark, as night adj
vanced, and the air grew darker, am afraid
lost more than one poor fellow his life.
signalized this brigade, not that they fought
better than any others in the fight, but be-
cause of their conSpicuousness on the field.
Duryea's Zouaves, too, were alike conspic-
uOus on account of their uniforms. They
fought, as did all the regulars under General
| Sykes-whose brigade they are now attach
ed-with undaunted courage.
The sun went down in brightness and beau
| ty. Its departing rays shed their twilight hues
upon the contest Of carnage still going on. 1t
was half-past nine O'Clock when the firing
ceased and the days work of battle was over.
We compelled the enemy to retreat, and hold
the ground we were told to hold.
The 9th, 18th, and 22d, were the only Mas
SachuSetts regiments which appear to have
been engaged. On the rebel side it is estima-
ted that full sixty thousand men were in the
action 1t is now past midnight. Bodies of
the dead cover the hill sides and fill the fast
| nesSes of the woods. The groans of the
wounded ill the air, and anxious scores are
wandering YEARLY about in quest of missing
friends. Generals cannot find their brigades,
colonels their regiments, and captains their
companies, and vice versa. Each waits with
anxiety the dawning morrow, to know what of
| hope it shall bring of those now missing. and
| Of fate to themselves. 1t is a mournful sight
| THE EVACUATION OF WHITE HOUSE.
The following particulars are copied from
the correspondence OF the New York Tri-
WHITE House LANDING, VA, June 81
Rumors OF the widest description commenced
flying round this place last evening, and a gem
cral panic was prevalent. Many persons
stald up all night, fearing an immediate at
tack. Reports Of large bodies of rebels on
our right, on our left, and in our rear, were
the order OF the night. This morning matters
| looked even worse. The mail boat John g.
| Warner was under steam all night. Gangs
| Of men from the gunboatS were on shore fell
| ing down the trees which line the banks of the
river to the right and left of White House.
The mail boat which should have LETT at Z
o'clock A. NJ, is still at her dock. She is
crowded with safes, bureaus, chests, Sc, con-
tanning all the money, public documents Off
cial papers, &C., belonging to the government,
while every barge, canal boat, schooner, and
craft of every kind has been towed down the
| river, laden with all the stores they could
| carry.
| The barge Waikiki, which was looked upon
as permanent fixture, being receiving boat
| for quartermaster's stores, is also gone. All
my traps were on board. | presume | shall
never see them again. All the inhabitants of
| White House are running to and fro in the
| widest manner, with every bit of property
| they can carry, to some movable structure
ahoat. The contrabands in hundreds, with
bundles Of every description, are doing like
wise. All is fright and terror. Report SAYS
the enemy in strong force has pierced McClel-
lan's lines, and ianked us on the right. This
is believed by all. That there is a dreadful
| battle raging there can be no doubt. | have
| this from what is considered the best authori-
| ty here. The streets of tents so lately occu-
| pied by the numerous officers are now empty
and White House looks deserted.
Officers who arrived down from the lines
this morning report that general order was
read last night at the head of every regiment
that the army was to move on Richmond to-
day. Several state that the bands of all the
regiments struck up the national airs along the
whole line, and that the spirits Of our troops
were enthusiastic to the highest degree. Men
and officers tossed their hats into the air,
while cheer after cheer rose up from the brave
| spirits who are painting to meet the foe. An
officer riding by just now asked me, Saint
you going to leave?" | said, ''No, sir, not
| yet" "You are the only man I've heard say
so to-day" said he; and he rode off. | now
leave my tent. | am about the last inhabi-
tant who has not moved anything as yet |
am going to have a look round. | may not
have a chance to let youknow what will see.
| o'clock. I've been ronnd; everything |
have stated is more than correct. The evac-
uation of White House is complete; two bat
teries Gone of them Wilson's New York; are
arrayed in line of battle, supported by the 93d
| New York, under Col. G.. Butler, and the
gunboats are in position and ready. The last
few barges with steam tugs attached are wait
ing the signal to move, when the last few
stragglers will run for them.
THE REGIMENTS ENGAGED.
In our list of killed and wounded will be
found represented fifty-five regiments, as fol-
lows -
| l4th U. S. Infantry. 9th U. S. Infantry.
| LIST u. S. Cavalry. 9th u. 5. Cavalry