The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-07-08

escaped FROM Richmond ths nexs DAY. and !
who was all over the field, are confident that |
three thousaud fell. Our own loss Wa 30 |
killed aud less than $50 wounded The con |
duct OF our troops vas admirable, and the |
gaiiantry OF the officers conspicuous. Gen. |
Mcclellan VAS NOT M the battle. but vs. Al
General forier's headquarters until II ter
minated
Ia vas nov ascertained from prisoners that
Stonewall Jackson had not Joined Lea
Hence u was infcrred that no was 50 eeping
down the banks OF the Pamunkey 20 siels
the public property. snd cat Oh our rctreaf
w that direction Gen. Stoneman's com
msnd vas moved swiftly down IN watch OPP
cratiohs there. and orders we're i.-.ei Tor
the removal or DISTINCTION OF all public stores
At White House The situation. apparently
placed on the surface. developed troubled
undercurrent. Gen Mcclellan directed
General Mccall 10 fall back and take up
new posisssa IA frost Of our military bridges
10 resist an attack which Was anticipated next
day friday. Ia WAS thought IL the enemy
vas not successfully repulsed he could be
drawn across our bridges upon our own
terms. where he could be roughly handled.
The command was given 10 Gen. fitz John
Porter. Who controlled the troops already
bt n F&8<ftui tt4t4
OF artillery. regular and volunteer.
Meantime all the trains and equipags Of
the right wing were Withdrawn 10 Trent's
Bluff. on the right bank OF the river. during
the night. and our wounded were conveyed
TO the hospital NJ Savage Station--to be de-
serted. alas. TO the enemy they had beaten.
AL these facts indicated danger. hut other
evidences Of IL were not wanting
-. -.
BY daylight. Friday morning. Gen. Mccall
had fallen bick In the rear Of Gaines Mil.
and In trout Of Woodbury. Brigade. where
he Was posted. his left joining the right OF
Butterhcld's Brigade. resting Ia tho woods
and near the swamre OF the Chlekahominy.
Morsn Was his right. Ia the center. and
General Sykes, commanding 5000 regulars
and Duryea's zousves held tho extreme
right--ths limo occupying crests Of hills near
the New Kent road. some distance case by
south Of Gaines Mill. A portion Of t.s pc
sition was good. but judicious gencralship
might have found better. and especially u
might have been amended by posting the
left Hank upon a swamp which was impassa.
BILE beyond peradventure. Besides tho liues
was 30 disposed that IL Was next 10 impossi-
BILE 10 use our artillery adsantageously--lhe
very arm ia which we enjoyed undonbted
superiority. Nothing definite bad yet been
heard OF the enemy, but u was assumed that
I he would appear stronger than Yesterday -
Accordingly. Gen. Slccum's Division lab0ut
5000 strong.) was moved across the river 10
support Porter. although 10 was deemed haz
ardous In consequence Of pending attack
along our whole front. But there was no
alternative: Gen. Mcclellan had only 20
much material. and IL was imperAtiv Q that
he should nae IL according 90 unay oldsble
necessity. Thus far ! carry the reader In
this history. The story Of the battle Is
narrated by friend. TO whom | had In
trusted the right wing. TO secure the bsne-
Eta Of division Of labor. He writes 81
the
pATIlE or cAINns' MILLS. FRIDAY. JUNE 2sTH
The battle opened about one o'clock by
skirmishing, particularly in front OF Grin
ms brigade, near the mill. and BY an arill
cry attack from the battery planted In the
orchard nee, the Gaines House. The eng
my felt orr position rapidly. and along thl
whole line at the sane time. showing tha
be Was ia full iorcs BY two o'clock Their
had been several conflicts between Opposing
regiments. without any particular result
save that our men steadily maintained theil
line About this time Gen. Gri6in's brigade
whose front was covered by Berdan's sharp
shooters. advanced through 20 the edge O
the woods toward Gaiues' mill. and made
the first important opening Of the battle
The enemy at once replied. The 9th Mass
achpsetts. Dol Cas-, strong and brsy,
regiment. With the 9TH Michigan and lfd
New York. had the principal position. Tai
ga Pennsylvabia took position on the OK
IRENE right. whore the enemy appeared YER
strong. Weesleu's Rhode Island Battery
from position In rear OF the WOODS. pile
she'll and s.lid shot with accuracy and ei
feet This was the earliest collision be
tween our forces ana tue enemy.
on rHE RIGHr.
The action Immediately began with yigo
on the extreme right, held by Gen Syke.
division, composed of Gen. Warmers. Co
Buchanan's and Col. Chapman's brigade
These brigades supported Weeds. Edward
and Tidballs batteries. all regulars. Tn
enemy attacked very hercely. charging n
peatedly. but were "a often repulsed
on rifK LIFT.
The enemy delayed their assault upo
our left for some time, though Martindale
brave fellows. who were exceedingly we
posted. gave them several worry destructiy
shattered columns up over the hill. dow
which they had advanced A brilliant ep
sode occurred on the LEFT of Martindale
Brigade. where the 18th New York. an
the frc proof and Scared veterans Of III
"a Maine we're posted. ! brigade Of Ala
baR.lns moved up over the crest of hi
in splendid style; even steady and resolut'
with arms at right shoulder shit. ready "a
a charge. up and At them" was III
> word along our line. and the two regiment
which had lain concealed in the low growt
Of timber in the valley. sprang to the
/, feet. and one piercing. terrible. volley ,
deaih-dcaIlng minni0s was poured into III
ranks Of the confdept enemy
The grey coats hed IN terror and dismal
lischarging only few random shots tn
range was so close that the whites OF th
eyes Of the rebels could almost be distir
gaished Tho hill was cleared a. thong
: swept BY hurricane. One Of the regimen
left their colors and battle flag npon n
. field. The regimentAi color Was secured
Col. Roberts. Of the 81 Maine. and the ba
tie flag BY Capt Sullivan Of the 18th Ne
. York. who followed the retrestlng enem
and secured Il Captain Sullivan found u
! Geld literally covered with the rebel dsa
! there being over eighty near the spot whe'
the colors fell.