The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-01

corps, who had been sleeping on their arms Ill n$ns
began. General Mccall accordance with Instructions
opened with his artillery upon the enemy The latter
thought this the renewal OF the preceding days fght
and returned vigorous response from their gums Shot
and shell few In antagonstic directions with dangerous
liveness. Gradually Gen. McCall's troops Withdrew
which, the enemy naturally mIstaking for victory ON
their side, caussd them to follow on In hot haste OF
course our column yielded the ground slowly, the
more to make tho enemy believe that they were being
beaten. Meantime Gen. Sykes division led the retreat
ing column, followed By Gen. Morss division Along
the advance there but little indications OF retreat
The men moved slowly, and ell ignorant Of this back
ward movement, were anxious to know the cause OF It,
I'VE are not beaten, are wss eagerly asked Fourth
Michigan boy.
"Faith, no Don't nivsr blAvs you are whpt till you
are whipt YOURSELF" responded gallant OF Tppora
~ and lighting "mimbsr" OF the Ninth Massachusetts,
regiment. can sure ws are afther only drawing the
ribels on"
And SO It was: and the rebes continued TO on,
mutual eannonadng being continually kept up The re-
treat was decidedly against the will and wishes OF the
bulk Of troops All feel fully confident OF their abb
lily to maintain the posion they bad gsinsd the prsv
Gus evening. There resisting orders, and on
came betssries regiments in marching esdsr cortsgs
Of ambulancss stragglsrs convalsscents
and miscellaneous coterie Of outsiders, who always
manage to be in close proximity to moving army. W
BURNING ooMxIssARr STORES AND AMMUNITION.
do not know whether it happened from unaccount
able blundsr and have not yet found any able
willing to explain 10, but huge column Of smoke
from the late headquarters Of General Sykes
and on the ground occupied by the Second brigade Of
General Morells division. At tho former place large
quantity Of comisary storos set Are and at the
latter place commisary stores and ammunition The
rolling up Of the huge smoksy wreaths Increased no
doubt the belief OF the enemy that retreat
nscessous one 1t certainly added to the oagerness Of
their pursuit should here state that General McCic
land had previously ordered the removal Of all
commissay and quartermasters stores the Chick
ahomny. This order given Thursday. before the
first attack on the enemy by General Mccall and shows
the object to have been concentration Of all troops
the other side OF the river in accordance with the
programme alluded to above
wHsKsv TURNED TO GOOD ACCOUNT.
The recent ordor, Cutting OF the whskey rations. left
quite an accumulation OF barrels OF this precious fluid
at tho Second brigade commssary headquarters Lieut.
Broadhead, Acting Brigade Commssary turned tho fluid
to good account After emptying some Off his
insure their speedy burning his attention was called
TO the large chapel tent Of the Ninth MASSACHUSETTS reg
mcnt sti standing This tont is about the size OF cir
tent. The enemy were In sight. It's removal was
So0SA
get 1t removed
'Do you that chapel tsntf Lieutenant Breadhsad
asksd . dozen more soldiers, who were looking on
wisfully Al his waste OF whisksy.
eve do,n was the unanimous response.
ssHere, give me your oanteens and I'll Oil them with
whskey, and you 60 and that tent across the
BRIDGE"
on came the cantsens, ana or went the men. The
chapel tent was safely removed. 4st.e
DESTROYING BRIDGE AT GAINES MILLS
Hardly the chapel bearers crossed tho bridge
at Gaines Mills when . squad OF axemen appeared to
down. The bridge Is about twenty feet wide and
some fifteen feet above the wator. The blows came
down RAPID and hard side Of lay angularwise
in the wator. There only ono other way for the
enemy here, footpath leading over the
dam adjacent. OF course no could not his artillery
over this narrow viaduc and the only thing he could
TO plant his pieces on the opposite bank and send
his shells over direction This he
do the time waiting for the construction OF
means OF transit for his The latter piece
work prosecuted with some difficulty, the Ninth
Massachusetts, regiment blazed away at them from their
muskets with destructive effect Our cannon too were
not backward in responding the rebel grape and
mister.
ADVANCES TO OUR FINAL POSITION.
From this point our retreating column started on in
into divergent roads. General McCails division, and
the troops under General Sykes, wont by way Of Cold
Arbor, while General Morelps men and the batteries
took diagonal road leading to Kdd's MILL Soon the
designated place for hating was reached During the
latter part OF the march there less disturbance
rebel cannon and muskcts, although they kept within
respectable distance, till our men passed into the
woods skirtng the folds and allow land extending
back from the ravne through which the creek and
pond furnishing the water power TO DIR. Gaines Mill.
Beyond those woods the rebels did not show themselves
for some time II about ten o'clock when
what afterwards proved to be- the field Of the days
test was reached. II will be seen from this that
six hours were consumed In the backward march from
tho scene Of the preceding days conssa distance al
together Of less shan six miles, The time occupied shows
the judicious slownsss OF our retreat.
TIE FIELD OF BATTLE.
The field of battle large Like Virginia land
of similar this vicinity IL 10 made up diversey
of level meadows, unduatng grain fields, woods thick
with undorbrush and clear Of IL, and marshes and
ravines. There three large farm houses, each in
sight Of the other, each shaded hill, and each got
up tho inevitable Virginia style Of huge outdoor chin.
neys at either end. These first used head
quarters by Generals Porter Mccall and sfors but after
wards converted into hospitals Tho open country Ion
gitudna in shape, il enveoped with woods This open
space nearly two miles length, and little
mile in width. Twothrds are high rolling land and
the remainder bottom land and marsh. enclose dia-
gram, from which q very Ineligible idea Of tho
ground may be obtained and the position Of the oppos
ing forces during the most OF the fight It will be SEEN
however, from what that troops and those Of
the rebels exchanged positions two or three times
during the day, according the tide wavered for or
against the contending bslligsrents.
OUR ORDERS.
From Gen. Mcclellan the order TO Gen. Porter 70
draw up his men line Of battle in this ncd plant his
bastsries in most eligible positions and not yield the
ground any condition. Gen. Porter essayed carry
this command and he did IT, in the end. most sue
csssfully.
AYEARAxcs BEroRR THE nGHf.
BY eleven A. NJ each division and brigade, and rssi-
msnt ana gun in IT. place. some were in the broad
opeA neld, and under Of the woods and hill
Sides The whole presented animated spectacle
Sloryous Stars and Stripes floating IN every direction