The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-15
Battle at Williamsburg.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA, May 6.

os WILLIAMSBURG, VA, May 6.
To the Associated Press: .fz-
i The enemy evacuated this place, and
their lines in front, last night, their
rear-guard passing through about G
o'clock. AT 0 o'clock General Me- lel
Ian and escort entered the town and
took possession. About $50 of the en-.
emy's wounded were left behind, with
out rations, medicines or surgeons.
They also left number Of. their dead
unburied. All of cur wounded in yes
terday's engagement, who fell into
their hands, were left behind. Colonel
Dwight, OF the Excelsior Brigade. who
was severly wounded and taken priso-
ner, was also left. 5...... 80
In the engagement Yesterday the en-
envy suffered terribly. General Rick
etts was killed. The enemy had fifty
thousand men, and only decided to
evacnate after the brilliant charge OF
Gcaeral Hancock. A majority of the
white inhabitants remain.
The number of the enemy now in orr
hands will reach about 900, including
wounded.
New York, May Z.
The following dispatch, from Gen.
Mcclellan to Secretary Stanton, have
been received:
WILLIAMSBURG, May 6.
l have the pleasure to announce the
occupation of this place as the result
of hard fought action yesterday.
Hancock's brigade engagement had
the effect to turn the left of the enc
my's line of works. The enemy aban-
doned their entire line during the night,
leaving all his sick and wounded in our
hands. His loss yesterday was very
severe. We have some three hundred
men wounded, and more than one
thousand wounded and prisoners.
Their loss was heavy, and our victory
complete. / have sent cavalry in pur.
suit. The conduct of our men was
excellent. with scarcely an exception.
The enemS's works were extensive. and
exceedingly strong. Our loss in Hook
er's division is heavy, but very little in
other parts of the field. Hancock's
success was gained with loss Of not
over 90 killed and wounded. ;, We have
other battles to fight before reaching
Richmond. The rebels are flying from
Williamsburg toward Richmond.
General Mcclellan tclegraphs from
Johnston's headquarters, as follows:
The weather is good today; but
there is great difficulty in getting mp
food, on account of the roads. Very
few wagons have yet come up. ~,
Am authorized to follow the exam
pie of other Generals, and direct the
names of battles to be placed on the
colors of regiments. .g..[..,
(Signed) GEO. B. Mcclellan. -
' Major General Commanding.
LATER FROM THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMS
BURG.-List of Killed and Woun-
Ied IN the Michigan Regiments.
BALTIMORE, May 8.
The following is from the 1American's
account of the battle at Williamsburg.
'sThe battle before Williamsburg, on
Monday, was most warmly contested
engagement Owing to the rougbness
of the country and the bad condition
of the roads but small portion Of our
troops could be brought into action.
Gen. Sickle's Excelsior Brigade and
Gen. Hooker's Division bore the brunt
of the battle and fought most valiantly
though ovcrpowered by numbers,
and the superior position and
earth-works of the enemy. The APP
proaches to their ear.hworks were a
series of ravines and swamps, while
rain fell in torrents through the day.
The men had also been lying on their
arms all the previous night in wood
and were we'll soaked with rain, and
chilled with cold. The battle ragged
from early in the morning until 8
o'clock in the afternoon, when Gen.
Mcclellan arrived with fresh troops
and relieved tho division of Gen. Hook
err, who were nearly Frustrated with
fatigue and exposure, while the Sd
Excelsior Regiment, of the Sickles
Brigade, had its ranks terribly thinned
by the batteries of the enemy. They
are represented as having fought with
such bravery that not less than two
hundred Of them are killed and woun-
ded. After the arrivalo Gen. McCleI-
Ian, the enemy were fiercely charged
by Hancock's brigade, and were driven
within their works before nightfall with
heavy loss. Nearly seven hundred of
their dead were left on the field, with
many wounded, though most Of the
latter were carried into Williamsburg
Our loss was less than three hundred
killed, and about seven hundred woun-
ded. Night having come on, we occu-
pied the battle field, the enemy having
been driven within his works. Our
forces laid on their arms, prepared to
storm the works in the morning. On
Tuesday morning Gen. Mcclellan sent
out scouts, whilst preparing to move on
the enemy's works, who soon reported
that lie had again taken flight during
night. The works of the enemy and
the city of Williamsburg were then Ia
ken. Fort Magruder was a most ex-
tensiye work, capable of prolonged