The New York herald., 1862-11-19
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AL the chances of Our tnougnts
90 that Tor fork) u which have already IN 40
tho battle Inc siiuatin
OF the army of Mcclellan was the tnen. only the
two branches OF the Fork united by perma-
nent bridges. Offering every AGILITY rapid transport
ing the dileren corps from one shore 10 the other he
main body the federal troops, eight div so s-but
divisions greatly reduced-was On the left branch,
the right bank the thckahominy and occupied the
inIrcnchmenis which laced Richmond These troops had
before them the mass the enemys army, posted like
themselves ntenchcd positions ON the right branch
that say the left bank of the riverwas General
Fitx John Porter Win two divisions and the reserve m
tho regulars II against him that jackson and the
corps Of General Hill marching, coming from Rich
mond all under the command OF Lee. who from the tio
the wound ng johnston had taken his place IN the
chicf command. In fact the Army OF the Potomac
was gang 70 contend w'tn Two nnS.rs 0"0 Fat
ties have sometimes been gained under similar
circumstances but there was no reason to count upon
OF these avors Of fortune The best thing tna
could done would be to withdraw from the critical po
sition in which We were placed There was 90 o.her
step that could be taken but prompt retreat This plan
unfortunately far from beng simple, ana there
only choice between the dangers II the army
were ated the left bank OF the Chckahominy
we would abandon the enterprise against Rchmond. and
bo exposed TO disastrous retreat upon White House ana
Yorktown with the whole Confederate army at its heels
in country whore place Of safety could
be found. There was no good 70 BE- hoped
for from this plan on n,n the s,, o'aa n woas mama %o
necessary TO stand and see the enemy Immediately seize
the railroad which Supplied tho army, and cut on its
communications with White House. IL would then %
forced open communications with the James river
and therefore to move in body and without delay
than few miles, and II was sufficiently
reinforced with the aid Of tho navy could atter itseh
on tho lett bank against Richmond itself, upon
the right bank against Petersburg whose capture would
involve the taking o. Richmond rms latter pan c was
Ian had for long time thought on this as one OF the ne
csssies of his situation and had even taken some even
tual dispositions which about 10 be found singlnry
Justified but was thing TO perform this retreat
in proper time by free and spontaneous movement 1t
another to make preciptatey unoer the nenaces
hostile MES
M ,sssrry FOR PROMPT ACTION.
There was, however, time for delberaion, the
resolution once taken ought be executed at the mo-
mcnt. Tho distance from Fair Oaks TO the James river
was not long II was only seventeen miles, have
said; but it was necessary to all the matei9ei
and baggage upon single road preseitng the
flank always 10 the enemy, who by numerous roads all
iverging from Rchinond could throw considerable forces
different points at the same time The rapidty with
which that operation conducted oyerthrew their cal
before deciding; probably he Also hoped that General
Mcclellan would resolve TO abandon his line of COM
inunicaion the White House, and he acted IN con.
! THE ArrAok oS mcALLs POSITION.
The troops of the Confederate General Hl OF which
have recently spoken, after crossing the Chckahomny
| Al Meadow Bridge, on the 26th--tllat IS u say ,
the day after the air with ilooker-attacked at
noon of the day the forces OF General Mct all,
which formed the advanced guard Of Porter on the left
bank. This first combat very sharp bu Mccall oc-
cupied good position on Beaver Dana kind OF ravins,
bordeied by beautiful flowers (catapas) then in bloom
had constructed abats there and the earth had been
so well thrown up that could not b. taken although
the combat was prolonged Till night This vigorous
sstance compelled the enemy to bring numerous rein
forcemens acress the river This was precisely what
General Mcclellan desired HIS intention to dra "
the attention OF the Confcdeates to this sde while the
for the ransncta ion OF the army TO tile James
river was beng made ready on the right bank Of the
Chickahominy.
The night consequently employed in passing over
this river all the baggage Of Porers CORPS and in uniNn
il to the grand convoy which was to commence its march
atey given to and destroy ali the magazines and
provisions located the railroad TO White House, and to
eyacuate that great depot. General stoncman With 9
light column, was selected to cover this operation by
Keeping OF the enemys He then fall back
| upon Yorktown. AL this executed as Intended.
/ M'CAiI. ORDERED To EAlL RACK.
| ccived the order to retire upon the bridges
constructed in front Of Gaines Mills, on the
expected and unitsd with the other troops Of Por
ers corps, Morss division, and the regulars, command
ed by General Sykes. Porters missieaand II was
that demanded ~ much coolness as vgor-waso to resist
the snemy advance Of the bridges 10 give time for the
Tas %sss o. hs s S ~ Ss%
the evening Of the 27h destroying shera after crossing
The attack commenced carly against these three dvi.
asaso came Up g P M In G IL danSs a TSsy
fought undulating ground, wooded for the most
Struggle was sy snarp the Ieasss With
there was even momsnt whsp Porter believed that
advantage for the situation would have been snguariy
modified Therefore, in this moment OF hope Mcclellan
hastened TO send over to the left bank all the troops that
not absolutely indispensable guard the federal
lines in front OF Richmond. one divsion-that Of Gen.
Socum-passcd the bridges loss than four hours and
son, did not arrive OF the ground until the fall o.
the day Al the nomcnt when the reinforce
scene contemplated in It's whole was Of a character
imposing by its grandeur We had thirty five thousand
,s part & 10 es snS S pa On ne
Gus artillery thundered on oil sides In the valley Of the
Chckahomny the cavalry with their ances and banners
floating, were in reserve, and this greatly animated
picture OF the battle framed In by picturesque
country llamned by the last rays Of the sum- which
| sinking in the horizon as red as blood
DESPERATION CONTEST.
All at once the firing assumed an extraordinary
INTENSITY ihs reserves which had been up up
| ground, were made TO advance; they were
animated BY hnrrahs and made to enter the woods The
nre OF muskery became more and more violent aud
went on extending towards the left. There doubt
that the enemy would attempt to make last effort on
anoher Sod, hand c'ciock and he day ,ros
passing ac0y rapidly ~ the fdal army had yet another
pulsed The ensry al sides, and the Efforts Of Jackson
Lee Hill and Lon street, whose soldiers before IL,
had been entirely r"weres In default Of infantry, Por
| ter placed three batteries In position on his
! extreme left. to aid the troops who were
malntaising an unequal conhct but these
their cartridges nearly all exhausted The Coniedc
rate reserves began in their turn to They threw
themselves nto line, and regularly depoycd against the
left Of the iederals who gave way, broke scattered
the disorder gaming by degrees until IL reached the
centre There was no panic they did not run with the
bewdsrment OF fear; but, deaf 10 all appeals the men
went away deliberately, their rifles upon their shoulders
like who have had enough aud longer believe m
success In vain did the General the officers Of
1 the general stan, the Count de Paris aud the
Duke dc chartres throw themselves into the
melee sword IN hand, arrest the
the battle OF Gaines Mills ost There was nothing
left then but 70 prevent disaster. The enemy ad
vancing always the plain, always the same order.
his infantry depoycd by regiments In cchelons. and
every moment closing up more and more the confused
mass Of the federal troops The muskety and cannonad
ing such that the hail Of proecties which struck
the ground caused permanent cloud Of dust The cavsi
ry Nen ordered 10 charge found myself by acct
dent, near TO them al that moment. | saw them
clap their hands upon their sabres with tnat cleo.
trical which charActerzes resoute and devoted
men. AZ they were moving forward ] asked q young
cfcer what was the name Of his regiment al il the
Fifth cavalry he replied, brandshng his sword with
all the pride Of the epra de corps Unfortunate young
mani ] saw his regiment again the next day Out of
charQ a IN mt