The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-04

creek, our teams wLitsred all the hills on the
southern side, and the weary soldiers, having torn
up the bridge, laid hsms 70 rest II
eight O'Clock on Monday, day arid dusty and closer
than tho pautng but ndotable Northsrners could well
endure. Many Of them wore hungry; the in the
swamp was such that the stomach turned at It with
oahng, and the wounded hobbsd here and there with
dry eyes that seemed to plead for drink. White OAK
creek runs through belt ofewump timber, precisely
a. the chckahominy flows through Its eneompassing
morass. The creek Is not more THAI four six feet
docp, and had bssn made passabs by tho engineers,
brigade, who built good corduroy bridge across II.
strip Of bottom land lies both sides u the swamp,
and on the north side steep hill, crowned with farm
house, formerly tho headquarters OF Cen Casey had
been cncirced by own troops with limo or rife
Its An abatis also stretched across the bottom lard. Be-
yond the stream the country rising, and two farm
houses sy opposite each other at little distance,
whore Of officers stopped 70 rest and rcfrosh
Beyond the most house . small creek sup
ported by thick wood. This the right Of our
line OF bat!c, where General Hancock posted with
his brigade, consisting OF the Fifth Wisconsin, sixth
Maine Forty THIRD New York and Forty ninth Psunsyi
vnna Generals Brooks and Davidson lay close In 10
Hancock, and the batteries Of the division
manded by Captain Ayrss, formerly Of shermans bat
terry. Generals Sumner. Hentzelman, Porter and, 10
fact ALL the whole OF the army excepting the corps Of
Keyes and an immense number OF strsggleas that had
pushsd on toward the James could Be rallied In
time 10 be OF service extended the line OF battle upwards
OF four miles to the eft bordering the whole distance
upon the swamp, with batteries ranged upoa every CON-
mandIag hill and strong pickle. situated at Charles City
Cross Roads where shrevdly expected the enemy
would attempt tc come Out in force from Richmond.
rIancocks position was strong one, and II would
have taken strong enemy TO dslodgc him. The Ore
A. IL. A~.I-
that the eng ncers Ind constructed the psars OF
army having srbssrved It's purpose, removed from
White OAK creek. Previously the railroad bridge hal
been burned the caysts blown up, and 10, Of SUPER
s,ous ammunition aud cumbrcus baggage run by traia
into the Chickahominy
ia appeared On white Oak Swamp In strong fcrcs,
and directly opened twenty masked batteries,
that bax up several OF Captain Motifs cassoas dsmcunt
"a his p,ecss, and raised . habbub generally among
tsan,sters, wagsnsrs, osnnonsrs snd infantry. Tho
Twentieth New York at this time made Their cslsbratsd
supeds FOR which, next day. the Provost Guard, By
order Of General Mcclellan. picked them up and took
tbsu 10 headquarters like 50 many csiprits
I However, very scon our igh. tatssriss recovered
and vigorously Responded TO the enemy who
was soou "A psrcephls disadv1niaCs, SO far a. ac.
oorscv and slfsci we're conccreI Our infantry, too
s., II ,s rcady 70 support The batteries cr meet halt
~.v snv s,,snp. os The rebel Infantry TO push acros,
49, crack rnus the battle progressed u late in th'
anernoou with serious loss u both sidss-nors wounds
fm cannon shot porh ,ps resulting than At any otho
,,ma IA any batls. The robels made spn,s despcrat
oasr,s TO cross The crces but General Smith brough
his man M 10 clcsc quasers sith thsa whenever the
acl the coatcsi, and although in each clss somc Z
r Lssl and most L0l9se soldiers bit ths d,gt ihts
,asna gs o. acdiux cf Tic cannon Grins was iacSs
III hs o. snn.e u iis daslcst and coscsi ~ ne "A'
. a.asAs mfartfy 40 eStcAiad plss Whole -ininns.
r1,s xysNy.Ar cdArtSs ,prY crcR Fotn+
Tho csnu,p.aius and continued ssvsra hobs WI