Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-08
Green Glt. fireman
MONTPELIER VT.
tuesday MorninR, Jaly =, 1864.
The Fighting on the Peninsula.

'"'ANN'''N''N
late movements On tae Peninsula
How This battle occurred, and the particular
object Of it, should be distinctly stated IN tn.
outset, II was a part If the grand march on
Richmond For some time past, as is wei
known, Conceal FiN john Porter corps, com.
yrIsng Gcu. lais Mccall = Motdl5 ana Sykes
divisions and the feser,e batteries have been
stationed this side Of the Chickahomlny-tha
ia, on the opposite side from Richmond, while
the other divisions Of the army have been acros,
The river, close upon the rebel capital Ihi,
disposition 81 our forces h4s compelled Us to
keep upa lengthy line OF defence from Mechan-
icsyillc for several miles this side Of the river to
Cold ArbOr, Old Church, and beyond. Although
held III reserve, this corps, experience has shown,
IN case Of IA engagement across the river, could
not be brought into action without jeopardlzug
more than tue advantage to be gained FROM their
sudden withdrawal IA Al emergency. For in.
stance in the great battle at FAIR Oaks, our
men were submltted to the fearful ordeal VI list
ening TO the cannonading and roar OF musketry
with0utthe ability to 20 To the rellGl oil the closely
pressed troops so near US. Our tents, ammunl
ton and stores could not be lett behind without
u sacrifice too great to be thought Of. II was
seen that all oar troops must be pushed across
the river, and the line Of defence this side
abandoned. In the meantime II was deemed
desirable to open an engagement With the rebel
force, facing our right draw them in pursuit,
and II mpossib.e to bag them through their com
ing upon Us III oostIong iorce-presa with our
rit wing VITA corresponding aud perhaps over
whelmins ugor upon Richmond t,r,i, The great
citadel OF the enemys strength, It Is certain
that the enemy haze followed in larger force
than vas Anticipated but is equally certain
that they have not been allowed to followed fan
thet than u was iesgucd to allow th'm The
latter part % the pr0gr1mme-;he p'ssra upon
Richmond aItl our centre and leit-lt Is sud
will be entered upon t9-morrow Ihagc !, an
other part Vi che programme which am not at
liberty to uuiJld--l chang IN The base 0i our
army operations. Il lle ign thus far las
not developed the utility Of DE new plan,
lew days more AZ htho.e.t, and possibly "a sin
gle Day, will reveal 1t, Our troops once across
the Ch!cbahominy, aud tiie re5eI army cannot
follow after US. Like the bridge d L)di u
small force can resist the pa"ageol the bridges
against vast ) superior numbers, Tbs accom-
p!iehed AMI The ,ncmy shut of from mOles ting
US in the re- r all that remains Tor our army to
do is to press with united and inyncibe strength
upon Richmond, ard make her ours, as she
sooner or later must be.
COMMENCEMENT OF The DAYS WORK
Shortly after The close of Thursdays light
came an order from Cen Mcclellan to ten
Fitz John Porter, directing the withdrawal OF
his corps to POSITION TWO mies this side OF
Gaines Mill, the erDund we now occupy At
three clock A, NJ the moving back OF the
corps, who had been sleeping on their arms all
night, began. Gen Mccall in accordance with
Instructions, opened with his artillery upon the
enemy The latter thought this the renewal of
the preceding day tight and returned ylgor-
GUS response from their guns. Shot and she'll
flew in antagonlsIic directions with dangerous
Iveliness.
Gradually Gen. MeCall's troops Withdrew,
which, the enemy naturally mislaking for vic.
tory ON their side, caused lhom to follow on IN
hot haste. OF course our rear column yielded
the ground slowly, tho more to make the enemy
believe that they were being beaten Meantime
Gen. sykes division led the rutreating column,
followed by Gen. Morell division Along the
advance there We're but little Indications of
retreat. This men moved slowly, and all, igno.
rant of this backward movement, were anxious
10 know the cause OF II.
BURNING CONASsARv STORES AND ANgeNITioN
do not know whether it happened from an
unaocountable blunder, and have not vet found
any one able or willing 10 explain it, but soon a
huge column of smoke arose from near the ate
headquarters OF Gen. Sykes and on the ground
occupied by the ID brigade of Gen M0rel's d.
vision. At the former place large quantity
OF conmisslry stores were set On fire, and at the
latter place commlssdry stores and ammunition.
The rolling up of the huge smoky wreaths in
creased, no DOUBT the belief OF the enemy that
our retreat Ngis necessitOus one it certainly
added 10 the eagyrness ot their pursuit, should
here state that Gen. Mcclellan had previously
ordered the removal OF all tents and commssary
and quartermtstcrs stores across the Chlcka-
homny, This order was given on Thursday,
before the first attack on the enemy by General
Mccall, and shows the object to have been a
concentration OF all our troops ON the other side
Of the river, In accordance with the programme
alluded to above
DESTROYING TIE URIDGE Al GAINES MILLS.
Hardly had the chapel tont bearers crossed
the bridge AT Gaines Mills, when squad OF axe
uloH bIIcdItu W uuO III uuWus Int uIluRt Is
about twenty feet wide and some fifteen feet
aoove the water, The blows came down rapid
and hard one side OF II snon lay angularwire
in tue water. There was only one other way
ior the enemy To cross here, u narrow foot nath
leading over the dam adjacent OF course, he
could not move his artillery over this narrow
yiaduct, and the only thing he could do was TO
plant his pieces On the opposite bank and send
MS shells over in our direction. This he at
once proceeded To do, al the same time waiting
lor the construction OF u means of transit for has
cannon. The latter piece OF work WIS prose-
cuted with some dihcuIty us the Ninth AlaSsa-
chasets regiment bla1ed away at them from their
nuskets with destructive effect Our cannon,
too, were NOT backward in responding to the
rebel grapa and canister.
AprANcE To 0UR FINAL POSITION.