Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-01
From McCieIIan,s Department.

NEW YORK, June 29.-The Tribune has is
sued extra dated the battle field, giving an
account of two days desperate fighting A CON-
pany of Bucktails was surrounded and captured
Our right wing forced to retreat. Over
l25, 900 men were engaged. All civilians were
ordered away from the White House
and most determined battle was
fought on the right wing on Thursday and Fri
day, which is claimed by some of our officers
successful strategic movement, into which
the enemy had unwllingly been drawn, and
which will result in the capture of Rich
mond and the entire rebel army. The attack
was made by the enemy in immense force. who
crossed the Chickahominy near the railroad.
above Mechancsvle, OH Thursday afternoon,
who fought desperately, but were unable to
drive men a single rod, though the enemy
were ten 10 one.
The only forces engaged that day was McCalrs
Division. The battle lasted from till 9 z. NJ
when the Division was ordered back.
Gen. Mcclellan on the field, and expressed
himself satisfied with the result
Thursday about noon the enemy made an at
tack upon General StOneman's forces in thew
cinty OF Hanover Court house, probably for<he
purpose OF accomplishing an outtianking move
ment on the right and TO engage attention in
that direction.
Shortly afterwards they commenced vigor-
Gus cannonading from their works, on an emf
nence opposite uecndnlcsNllie, ABOUT one ana
half miles distant also from two batteries one
above and the other below They were replied
to by Campbell's Pennsylvania batteries on pick
ct duty, one on the neck, and another from be-
hind earthworks at the right of grove.
At about Z. NJ. the enemys infantry and
squadrons of cavalry crossed the Chickahominy
in immense force a short distance above the Nir-
ginia Central Railroad, making rapid advance
toward Gen McCalls division, who were en-
] Il
ravine, about mile in the rear of Mechanics
vile.
The LIST Pennsylvania rifles (Bucktas) and
Campbell's PennSy lvania battery were on picket
duty, all Of whom except one company fell back
behind the breastworks and rifle pits, where 4
line OF battle was drawn up.
Company X of the Bucktails, who were on
picket beyond the railroad, we're surrounded 10y
the enemy and the last that was known OF them
they were trying 10 cut their way through lie 10
presumed the greater portion OF them were taken
prisoners.
The enemy advanced down at the rear of Me
Gainesville on low marshy ground TO where
our forces were drawn up behind rifle pits and
earthwOrkS on an emnence on the northern side
OF the rayine, where the conflict became most
terrible.
The rebels, with the most determined courage,
attempted to press forward over miry ground
like hail, moving them down. This continued
till dark, when they withdrew The cannonadug
was kept up GU both sides until about y VI ,
when the battle ceased. Our forces were covered
by earthwOrks and suffered but slightly.
Late in the afternoon the enemy made charge
with cavalry. About one hundred of them came
rushing down and attempted TO cross the ravIne,
when the horses became mred. A squadron of
cavalry seeing their position, made charge
I QnWu the hull "a hon rho cavalry abandon al
their horses and hei.
The infantry fight was then renewed, and. &C
cording To the statement OF my informant, Sur
geOn Humphrey. Of the Pennsylvania Bucktal
regiment continued until about A. NJ, when a
retreat was ordered, very much against the will
OF the Peunsylvan boys, who begged to be al
/ lowed TO hold their position. The outer forces
f then began 70 fall back POrter's corps were
some distance below DR.. Gans's residence.
/ OF the nex, days battle the correspondent
SAYS
The cannonading aud musketry Was terrific
Duryea's gallant Zouaves were lying upon the
/ ground for two hours while our batteries were
Smelling the woods over them.
Finally, towards night the enemy attempted
70 break the centre line in front OF Duryea's Zou
aves. The musketey firing became terrific, last
! ing twenty or thirty minutes.
Shortly after this, attempt was made To
break through the right, which was repulsed aud
half an hour later, another attempt was made on
/ the left. with the same result.
The battle had then been raging for some
hours without any apparent change or advantage
on either side. ReintOrcements OF artillery and
infantry then came steadily along over the bridge
10 the felcroi battle. The enemy then seemed
to make their last desperate and determined ef-
fort, aud came on, forcing our mea back into the
low ground between the all and the bridge where
they could have been slaughtered by tens of thou
sands before they could have crossed that long,
narrow bridge.
/ Morgan's artillery ambulances aud men we're
I hurrying towards the bridge add panic al