The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-12

THE POSITION HELD BY GENERAL CASEY
Was on the Williamsburg Stage
Road, within six or seven miles q
Richmond, and on line so extended al
the front that the troops had to main
tain picket guards of sufficient strength
made no slight draft on his weakene,
forces. The right of the line was held
by his First Brigade, under Gen. II. Nj
Naglee, as brave and vigilant an officer
as is to be found in the army of the Po
tomac. Gen. Naglee's pickeis extend
ed across the railroad trimming parable
with the Williamsburg road, about q
mile to the right near to the sixth mile
post from Richmond, and so on further
to the right aud little to the rear unit
within short distance of point on
the Chickahominy, where Gen. Sum
ner had thrown bridge across the
stream, and was hourly expected Il
cross t" complete the line of pickets to
the river.
The centre of Gen. Casey's position
held 10y the Second Brigade of General
Wassel's (forEerly Gen. Keims',) ex
tended from Gen. Naglee's lines to the
left a short distance across the Will
'amshurg Road, whore it joined the
Third Brigade, Gen. Palmer's stretch.
ing some distance further to the left
and joined the lines of Gen. Couch
who guarded the left flank, the main
portion of his force being a short dis
tance to the rear of Casey on the vii
liamsburg Road.
THE NATURE OF THE GROUND.
The position occupied by the main
body of these two divisions was clear
ing of abont one mile square, surround
ed on the left and the front by belt
of forest, in which General Casev's
pickets were stationed. On the right
u wooded swamp divided the clearing
from similar opening in the fnrest,
along the railroad, which was occupied
by Gen. Naglee with his brigade. just
beyond the woods to the front were
similar clearings with woods on :heir
further side. where the rebels lay con
cealed, their picke,s occupying the
edge of the forest, and separated from
our ipickets by the width of the fields,
forming sort of neutral ground be
tween the two armies, over which each
kept close watch lest his neighbor
should take possession.
THE ENEMY RECONNoITERING.
Step by step Gen. Casey had pressed
on To this point, overcoming such op.
position as met him, until it became
evident that the rebels had reached the
limit of their retreat, and further adj.
vdvance could not he ventured without
the risk of a general engagement, for
which the plans were not yet ripe. Onr
proximity to the rebels was evidently
annoying To them, and on Thursday
and again OF Friday, they made an mn
successful attempt, with the force of a
few hundred, To drive in the pickets
and discover what mischief was plot
ting behind the belt of woods shelter
ing General Casey from their view.
The attack was resolutcly met by the
pickets, who fell back on the reserves
aud held their ground, defeating the
purpose of the enemy.
Meanwhile Gen. Casey was actively
mt work securing his position, large
force of men being kept under the
SkilIul direction of Licnt E. w. West,
of his staff, digging rifle pits and fell
ing trees for abattiS. A similar line of
defensive works had been commenced
and partially completed at General
Casey's former position, at the Seven
Pines, three miles further To the rear,
and just back of these was line nf
carthworks, constructed 10y Gen. Couch,
aud more carefully finished.
Failing in the two attempts to gather
information by forcing back General
Casey's pickets, the rebels apparently
resolved upon an advance in force
against the left wing of the army,
doubtless determined tn drive it beyond
the Chickahominy, should the opI,or-
tunity offer, and put them in position
to turn Gen. McClellan's flank.
THE sRoTM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
During the afternoon of Friday, a
terrific thunderstorm arose, continuing
through most Of the night with uniil-
irrrupted severity, deluying the earth
with rain, converting the spongy soil
into nearly impossible bog, and rails
ing the water of the Chickahominy so as
to carry away one of two bridges Gen.
Sumner had prepared for his passage,
and somewhat disturbed the founda.
tions nf the other.
The broad sheets Of lightning that
night, and the camp fires of unusual
size, cleaning in the pitchy darkness,
seemed to illuminate our position, and
may pnssibly have assisted the rebels
in getting an idea of the bearing of
things. Just before the storm had
reached its fury there was some skir-
mishing between the artillery on both
sites. This commenced again in the
morning, several shot flying over our
camp, indicated that the rebels had in
some way gained more correct idea
of our position.
THE ATTACK ON SATURDAY.
Shortly after noon the grand attack
commenced. Gen. Casey's pickets be-
ing driven in all along the front, after
a spirited resistance, the rebels advanc-
inu along three roads-the Williams
hnry road, to our left, the railroad, in
the centre, and the Nine mile road"
as it is called, on the right. With his
feeble division greatly weakened by ex-
tension. Gen. Casey had no backbone