Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-06-07

Further Particulars.

HEAD QUARTERS OF GENERAL CASEY,
SEVEN PINES, Va, May 81, 1S62.-Ths adj
vance division Of the Army of the Potomac
on the left, under the command of BridaCicr
General SilI5 Casey, were attacked ktO- day
by an overwhelming force Of the enemy and
driven back distance of two miles.
Prcmonitory symptoms of an attack had
shown themselves Tor twoGays previous, and
it was generally the opinion in camp that
the enemy contemplated such a movement.
Yesterday thc enemy made rcconnois-
sancc in force, and learned exactly the
position Of our line of pickets, as well as the
location of our camp, and made these pre-
parations accordingly.
At the time the attack was made General
Cascy's outpost were within about five miles
OF Richmond, near Fairoak station. The
position was gained by the reconnaissance
made by General Ncgley, on Saturday, the
cath inst, and our General had orders to
| hold the position at all hazards.
The Rebel Generals undoubtedly made
the attack in order to prevent us from COM
| pletng the Notifications which We were
| building, and also to feel our strength and
| learn our exact position. The ourposts OF
our pickcts We're less than mile from our
general encampment and very close to the
pickcts of the enemy.
In conversing with ourpickets, learn that
they could distinctly see an unusual com
motion in the Rebel camp this morning, and
evident preparations for an attack, and say
they Immediately sent word to division
headquarters of the fact but the enemy had
attacked and driven in our pickcts before
the different brigade had started TO support
them.
They were also told by Rebel officer
captured in the morning, that the enemy
contemplated an attack in the afternoon
and that they would drive US back before
night, all of which proved true.
About one O'Clock the enemy fired three
shells into our camp, one after another, al
intervals of about a minute, which was
probably, signal to their forces that every
thing was in readiness, and which caused nc
mcasiness in our camp from the frequency
of its occurrence of late. Within few
minutes they came upon our pickots una
, ware, and attacked them with great vigo
: and large force.
Our pickcts were either killed, captured
or driven in very quickly, and the enem,
: advanced as rapidly as possible upon on
camp. In the morning the regiments of tn,
/ different brigades had fallen into line in an
ticipation of an order to that effect, whicl
soon arrived, and at once were offin double
quick to the scene of conflict.
5 General Cascy's Camp was situated in al
, open cornfcld, about Il mile square, sur
rounded on all sides by belt of woods, ant
his pickets were posted through these wood
! in front of him distance of nearly mile
c In very short time after the firing com
e mcnced, the enemy had driven our picket
clear through these woods, when they wer
S met by our forces coming to their support
and here the seyerest fighting took place.
4 The musket firing at this time surpasse
o anything of the Kind | ever witnessed, an,
0 il seemed as If whole brigades were firing a
: the same instant. Our men fought wit
c great bravey, moving down the enemy a
y every discharge, but the vacant places wer
immediately filled up from their apparentl
C numberless reserves.
c The most terrible of the fighting occurre
just as the enemy got through the woods
and where our reserves where drawn up I
t receive them. The most desperate courac
J. was displayed here upon both sides our reg
d ment changing repeatedly upon the enem,
II driving them back for while, when the
d would again, in turn, get the upper han
and drive us before them
II The loss upon both sides at this poir
d must have been fearful, as every inch {
n ground was disputed in the most desperat
n manner, and was only gained by overwhe
!. ming numbers, and by passing over th
d bodies of our dead and wounded soldiers.
81 Our batteries at this time were pourin
y into the Rebelranks aperfect shower Of graz
1t and canister, moving them down in viii
rows but still they steadily, step after stel
a advanced till our lines commenced to Civ
1t way, when they charged upon our batteTie
y and succeeded IL cdptssiag SrA guns, whie
&c We were. unable to remove, owing to th
horse. hasiug heea killed