Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-07-10
AFFAIRS ABOUT RICHMOND.

AFFAIRS ABOUT RICHMOND.
Events Of the Last Three Dsys-Gre,
Battle on Friday-Important Stratt
gle Movement-Evacustion Of Whit
House-Tbe Enemy Severely Re
pulsed - Gen. McClellsn's Arm
Massed South Of the Chickshommi
ny-Tbe Enemy Drawn out of hi
Intrenchments Onward to Rich
mond.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore American
WH1rE HOUSE,,
Saturday. June 90.
The events transpiring at this point
and ia the army before Richmond du-
ring the pas. four days. have been o
such varied character and thrilling in'
terest, that scarcely know where to
commence or end the record In order
to make them understandable to the
general reader. Many who were eye.
witnesses to these movements have fed
off panic-stricken, fnlly convinced that
the whole army before Richmond ha,
been destroyed, and that Gen. McClel.
Ian has been out.witted, out-generaled.
eut-hanked, and "driven to the wall, I"
where he promised to place the enemy.
The evacuation of White House was to
them an inexplicable mystery under
any other condition OF facts; but had
they have kept their eyes open early in
the week. they would have discovered
that the work of evacuation was silent
iy and surely progressing before any
Of the fighting on the right wing, as
early as Tuesday, and that large num-
bers Of vessels had left the York and
Pamunkey rivers, and were moving
rapidly around to q new basis Of oper-
ations on the James river. They
might also have observed that all
civilians we're forbidden to approach
the front as early as Tuesday, under
any pretense whatever, and that the
immense stores of supplies at Dispatch
Station had been steadily reduced for
a week, until the last box of crackers,
barrel OF beef and bale of hay had dis
appeared, before the great contest on
Friday, which left the way open for
the enemy to approach that point,
which l have every reason to believe
was designedly intended by Gen. Nc
Clellan to be the mouth of an empty
trap into which they were being led,
and. as hope and believe, to their en-
tire route and discontinue.
Before proceeding to the narrative
of events as they have occurred in the
vicinity Of the White House during the
past few days, l will briefly state that
the whole movement of Gen Mcclellan,
so far as changing of his lines are con-
cerned. and in reality the making of
his left wing bis right wing. and with
drawing his right wing TO rest near
Savage Station, at the railroad bridge
across the Chickahominy, has been ac-
complished. throwing the way open
for the enemy to rush to his coveted
feast at the White House, where he
found nothing but an empty platter
Whether this movement is good or
bad. or what may be intended by Gen.
Mcclellan to be accomplished by it
further than throwing his left on to
James river, and supporting land
attack on Fort Darling. it is impossible
at present to say. A day or an hour
may decide this point. 1 will merely
proceed to a narrative Of events as
they occurred at the White House up
to Saturday at noon, embracing such
statements as reached us from the bat
tle-feld on Wednesday, Thursday, Fri.
day and Saturday.
WEDNESDAY AT TIE WHITE BoUsE.
At the White House, on Wednes.
day, matters were progressing as usual
with the exception that there had been
a check in the landing of stores of all
descriptions, whilst those on the land
ings were being rapidly loaded in
wagons and moved of toward the left
flank. Several steamers with large
strings Of vessels ladened with forage
and subsistence had also been started
down the river, with orders to proceed
to City Point, on James river. This
reversal in the course of transportation
occasioned considerable comment and
speculation. but was ascertained 20 be
the fui6llment Of an order direct from
Gen. Mcclellan. Some supposed it to
be intended for the supply of portion
OF Gen. Burnside's srmy. which rumor
said had reached the James river to
cooperate with him. An order was
also received from headquarters early
90 Wednesday to prohibit any one
from coming forward to the lines on
any consideration whatever, unless the
parties belong to the army. This or
der was so peremptory that even those
connected with the press, some of
whom had come down to forward their
report BY the mailboats. were prevent
ed from rsturning, and others who
had smuggled themselves through
were promptly sent back.
On the same day Gen. Casey came
down and took command Of the small
force, not exceeding 500 men. and in
the evening was notified to prepare at
any moment for the entire evacuation
OF the post, and the preservation, as
far a. practicable, of the public prop
erty. Similar orders were also sent
to Col. Ingalls,. He Immediately COM
ntnicafad NTH tha aaaf .n1 d,v;