The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-07
The Last Sanguinary Fights
THE BATTLES OF THURSDAY,
FRIDA Y, AND SATURDAY.
&c, &C., 4. &c. &c.
TIL FIRST DAY.
BATTLE FIELD, NEAR INTERCHANGEABLE, /
June 26th, 1862.

been the scene of q battle to day of more
than common duration and ferceness. The
result has only been the carrying out to
fuller confirmation the remark of General
Mcclellan that the army of the Potomac
has never yet sustained q check. We have
beaten the enemy. and a glorious victory is
ours. Our loss, considering the time we
were engaged is small, about 200 killed,
wounded, and missing being the present es-
innate. There is every reason to believe
that the loss of the enemy is more than
double ours, and that Notwithstanding they
had nearly twice as many men in the ac-
ton. #
The enemy made the attack. A demon
straton mad been looked for from them for
several days, and hence our men were in
readineSs-and when are they otherwise
to repel the attack. About two O'Clock this
afternoon the rebels were seen advancing in
large force across the Ohlckahominy, near
the railroad, close by Mechanicsville, where
Gen. Mccall has been ercamped since occu-
plying position our front lines. Plant
ing their batteries in good position on our
rear they opened fire. Qnietly the batter
les of our division wheeled into place, and
a vigorous response began. The roar of ar
tillery was deafening, but soon the crack of
volleys of musketry united in swelling the
tumultuous roar OF the battle.
Co.'S. -. GEN. INGALLS, DIVISION
Our men were drawn up in line of bat
tie, directly facing the enemy. 1t was a
bold piece of work, seeing that the enemy
were manifestly largely superior to US in
numbers. 1t was no determine ion or wish
of the regiments constituting the PenusyI-
vania reserves, to seek the protecting cover
Of woods or marshes, either of which they
might have selected, but came out in square,
open fight. The work soon waxed warm,
as the enemy showed a disposition to accept
the challenge to open combat-an accept
ance, doubtless, based, however, on full
confidence in their capacity to come out
first best in the fight.
THE BUCKTAILs SURROUNDED
The First Pennsy lvania Rifles (Bucktai;s)
were on picket duty as the enemy first
marched on US, making a rapid advance
through the intervening Iowlands and for
ests. The first thing the BucktaiIs knew
they were almost completely surrounded
Seeing the position they were in. and hav-
ing no disposition to go to Richmond in
advance of the grand army, they set them
selves at work vigorously to get out of the
difficulty. It was no easy job, but they did
more towards accomplishing their purpose
could have done. They cut their way fair
ly out, out most of company K, who hap
pened to be the first surrounded, were taken
prisoners. The rest were soon in rIfle-pits,
and they peppered the enemy with a sauci-
ress carrying with it feeling of revenge
And they had their revenge The rebels
left as many dead on the field, shot by the
Bucktail rifles, as members of the regiment
they bore away captive with them.
HEAT OF THE BATTLE
About six o'clock the battle ragged with
fercest fory. Advancing down at the rear
of MechanicsviIle, on low swampy piece
of ground, where our men were drawn up
behind earthworks and rife pits, the con-
q ct became indescribably terrific With
desperate courage, the rebels attempted to
spring forward over the marching ground,
but they were moved down without mercy
in their wallowings in The mire.
A charge of cavalry was attempted about
this time, but the horses, like the men, be-
came mired. Some of our cavalry, seeing
their condition, charged down the hill; the
rebel equestrians left their horses and took
to their heels.
Disappointed in these attempts to win the
day, the rebels attempted flank move
ment. Now came the time of closest con-
test. Onr men would not yield rod from
their position.
GEN. MoRELL's DIVISION TO THE RESCUE.
During the height of the caunonading,
Gen. Morells division arrived on the
ground. They reached the scene of the en-
gagement about o'clock in the evening.
With bold front, the reinforcing division
marched up in the face of the flying shells,
Cen Moral and bic ctoH Iaad;1o- III
vancing column. Only one brigade was
called into action-the Second brigade
under Gen. Griffin, who only three hours
before had assumed the command by right
of seniority over General McQuade The
brigade came up on double quick, ready
and eager to lend helping hand in secur-
ing to our side the fortunes of the day.
The brigade was ordered to relieve the
center of General McCalrs column. The
Ali Michigan, Col. Woodbury., and I4th
New York, Col. McQUade, formed in line
of battle in front, taking the place of two
of General McCalrs regiments, while be-
hind them, likewise drawn up in line of
battle, were the ga Pennsylvania, Colonel
Black, and Massachusetts, Col. Cass.
Meantime, battalion of Col. Berdan's
sharpshooters, who had also been ordered to
reinforce Gen. McCalPs forces, arrived on
the field under command of Lieut. Colonel
Ripley, and were formed in line of battle
Two companies-C, Captain Giroux and G,
Captain Drew, were on detached service
with General McCall's division, and had
previously been out as pickets and skirmish-
ers. These companies had been stationed
by Col. Berdan two days previous, in antic-
ipation of the enemy crossing at the point
where they did actually do so. Their orders
were not to fire until the enemy actually
crossed in force, and then to retreat, firing,
in order to draw them on until they reach
ed the rife pits and Entertainments which
had been previously placed for the purpose
of giving the enemy warm reception.
These orders were carried out TO the letter.
On the rebels appearing and crossing in
force, they were led on by the retreating
sharpshooters, who fred rapidly and fell
back, until the rebels suddenly found them
selves under the fire of our earthwoIks and
the rife pits, in which they 1.-THE sharp
shnnlersl had anscnnsed themselzes The