Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-07

tinued to follow them up as closely as pos
sible. Our men, although compelled to fall
back, did so without any symptoms of o
panic, but still quite hastily.
These regiments arc mostly composed Of ,
comparatively new troops, and have been
reduced very much by sickness since they +,
have been on the peninsula. The whole
Division could not have numbered more
than six thousand effective men, while the
force of the enemy was from thirty to fifty
| thousand.
The officers all, as far as | could learn,
| behaved in the most gallant manner, and
their loss is large General Casey was in the
thickest of the fight, and was reported
wounded but l afterwards learned that he
escaped unhurt. General Palmer is reported
killed, and it is generally believed to be
truc as he was in the thickcst of the fight,
and could not be found. He may have been
wounded and taken prisoner. General
Naglce had his clothes ridded by bullets
but escaped, almost miraculously, without |
any serious wounds. General Wcssils is |
reported wounded.
Cascy's division fell back to the Seven |
Pines, where the division of Gen. Couch was
drawn up behind riflc-pits.
The battle ragged ficrcely here for time,
when General couch fell back, with consid-
cradle loss, a short distance, but finally
succeeded in making successful stand till
the arrival of reinforcemcnts from General
Heintzclman, whose troops were pouring in
on the railroad as left the field, and,
, learn, succeeded jointly in checking the
enemy, and retaking part of the ground lost
during the day. What the casualties were
in COUGHS division, it is impossible to learn
at the time of writing, as tits near dark, and
: those whose statements can bc relied upon
are still on the field. learn that Peck and
, Devens' brigades were actively engaged, and
= suffered considerable loss, but can learn
;. nothing reliable from the balance.
About four o'clock word was sent to
:, General Sumner to bring up his corps which
Z were encampcd beyond the Chickahomny.
b, They crossed the bridge built by his troops
. about three miles above Bottoms Bridge,
and designated by the name of the Grape
vine bridge. The last of them crossed
about seven o'clock, and marched directly
y to the front, where they will be ready for
d whatever may transpire in the morning.
1t is impossible to fix accurately upon the
k, number of our killed, wounded and missing
tonight, but should Judge they will reach
at six or seven hundred.
The loss of the enemy must have been
d. very heavy, as they received the conccntra-
ted fire of our batteries for a considerable
time, besides the deadly vollcy poured into
/
=; A large number of our killed and wounded
~ ~ must have fallen into their hands. The
= object of the enemy, in my opinion, was tC
- make a strong reconnaissance, in order to fee
n our position, and, if successful, to drive u:
~ ~ back as far as possible. If such was tn,
~ object of the movement, it was cminentlN
~ successful, as far as the events of to-day ar,
,, concerned; but what will transpirc to-mor
&c row remains to be seen.
Vi From prisoner learn that the advanc
~ nei of the enemy consisted of Mississippi anC
~ North Curolina troops, under the commant
of General Rhodes, and supported by $1,000
men.
", As the troops under Generals lIcintzclmal
ID and Sumner were seen coming up the rail
ac road and turnpike at double quick, ever
ier one seemed to feel relieved, and felt sur
ay that now the day was ours, and that tn
nd enemy, although temporarily successful
would soon be driven back beyond our fol
ad mer lines.
nd As night approached the field presented
nat dreadful appearance. Long lines of ambr
t. lances could be seen conveying the dca
lis and wounded from the field, while those thi
Jhe could not obtain convcyanccs were bcin
The carried by their comrades.
re- One cause of the disaster to Gen. Casey
Division was owing to the great number
raj officers sick and unfit for duty. Some
les the regiments went into action with onl
he one field officer, and very few of the comp
nee MICS contained their full compliment
the officers.
to The division has suffered more from scl
ness than any other on the peninsula, fro
lde the fact of its being composed of trool
I'M raised last, some of the regiments, in fac
ere having been in the field for few days, viii
md the other divisions had an opportunity, viii
I ,ol
our measure acclimated and accustomed to can
the life.
The Fight on Sunday.
hat Flushed with their seeming victory
pm Saturday, the Rebels awokc with contidcn
and on Sunday TO follow up their movement
say sure of driving us this time to the Chick
ion hominy and beyond. But they had ma
had the unfortunate mistake of estimating t
fore strength of our reserves by the weakness
,ort our advance. Most bitterly did they p
for their mistake. Pressing eagerly forwa
Ger, with confidence of victory, they were met
my the trained troops of llointzelman and Sul
)on, nCr whose unylclting columns checked til,
fore fierce assault, turning the tide of bat
everywhere against them, and forcing the
lrce Mt the point of the bayonct on towar
:, at Richmond.
was 1t was their turn now to break and ri
cry and their losses of the Sabbath left tn,
no little cause for rejoicing over the trilli
ncy gain Of Saturday. Terribly did the Rcb
few suffer on this, as well as the previous d;
INA from the well directed fire of our artillc
igor plying the ground with slain. Terrible a
to them were the frequent charges of {
ircd solid columns, pressing them back, step
emy step, to the last point of endurance, WI
our they broke and run, ingloriously leavi
the behind them many of their officers, as W
an as pTiyates, prisoners IN our hands. I
hich number OF these it is not yet possible
uble ascertain, several days necessarily elapsi
after every engagement before full inv
q an tory can be taken.
sur
and Kc-CaPturc Of Front Royal.