Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-07


chard, flied. with large reiniorcements and add /
tional batteries, well as with several squad /
rous Of cavalsy, toward several roads leading To 4
the Chckahominy, and, covered by the thick /
timber, were enabled to remain concealed until 4
they had reached wheat field that stretches from
Savsges to dense belt of woods in the direction /
of the farms of DR.. Trent and Messrs Mickey. \
Dudley and Couch. Suddenly appearing out Of /
the edges of the timber they opened with rifsd \
cannon upon our forces. drawn MP in full view to
the south OF the railroad. Directly they ran out
three batteries 10 commanding points in the wheat
field. and opened rapid enflading fire Of shell 4
and grape. This was at first so staggering that 1
our men could not form. nor our artillery bring /
their batteries into service.
The Tooth Pennsylvania regiment was seized |
with momentary panic, but soon recovered and
did good service. The first named lost in the
beginning of the fight a hundred killed and
wounded men, and regiment of rebel cavalry |
gallopea in and drove the regiment of, 50 thzt
the wounded had TO be resigned. ln the mean
time a rebel brigade was observed stealing down
the right, Us if with the design Of hanking our
troops by reaching position on the Williams |
burg road Capt. Petit at orce plantedtwo guns
on the railroad and swept the column with grape
and canister until IL went back to the woods mp
on a run. Some ofthe sharpest infantry fighting
of the war ensued. in which parts of Sedgwick's,
Richardson's, Hookers, Kearney's and Smiths
divisions engaged with various success. The re-
bells came dvterminedly across the field firing
they advanced, until Gen. Sumner ordered our
troops up at double quick TO charge. About
four thousand OF them went of at once with a
roar that might have drowned TIE musketry. The
rebels kept their position for a moment and then
fell back to the rear of their batteries. Meagher's
brigade. however, succeeded in charging right up
TO the guns of Virginia battery, two of which
they hauled off, spiked and chopped the carriages
to pieces. The s6th CID and 69th participated
in this gallant act. liz was here that the brave
Col. Pierce of the 29lh Massachusetts regiment,
formerly Gen. Pierce of Big Bethel fame. lost an
arm. twas taken off by a solid shot.
Night came Oh, but put no end to the carnage.
The steady roar of cannon and the sharp. quick
ring of muskery, now bursting into volleys, now
degenerating to to that rasping made by fe firing.
filled the whole AIR. The darkness was lit up by
the titful flashes; and to complete the awful pic
ture, the woods set fire by bursting
shells and confagration painted fiery terrors on
the sky.
THE LOSSES AT sAvAGEs.
The battle of Savage's was much heavier than
that of Peach Orchard. We lost, in addition to
wounded-all of whom fell into the posses
sion of the enemy-frOm seven hundred to a
thousand men. During the several parts of the
action we took not less than five hundred prison
ers, but were compelled to let them 60 for the
same reason that operated in the of our
wounded. Still the White Oak Swamps were
to pass. and our weary and battle worn soldiers
found no rest.
THE GREAT BATTLE OF WHITE OAK SWAMP.
The enemy followed us hard toward White
Oak Swamp, the faithful fellows of Hentzelman.
Sumner, and Franklin protecting our laggard
baggage and artillery. These, indeed, were
compelled to keep in line of battle across the
country along the whole extent of the retreat,
for the enemy was forever endeavoring to turn
us upon the right and the LETT.
The enemy appeared on White Oak Swamp in
strong force. and directly opened from some
twenty masked batteries, that blew up several of
Capt. Motifs caissons, dismounted his pieces, and
raised hubbub generally among teamsters,
wagoners, cannoniers and infantry. The 10Th
New FORK at this time made their celebrated
stampede, for which, next day, the Provost
Guard, by order of Gen. Mcclellan, picked them
up and took them to headquarters like so many
culprits.
However, very soon our light batteries recov-
cred themselves and vigorously res ,onded to the
enemy, who was soon at perceptbe disadvan-
tage, so far accuracy and effect were con-
cerned. Our infantry, too, fell in line, ready TO
support the batteries meet half way any at
tempt of the rebel infantry TO push across the
creek. Thus the battle progressed till late in
more wounds from cannon shot perhaps resulting
than at any other time in any battle The rebels
made some desperate efforts TO cross the creek
but Gen. Smith brought his men up to close
quarters with them whenever they dared the
contest. and although in each case some of our
best and most beloved soldiers bit the dust, there
were no signs of holding off. The cannon firing
was incessant here, some of the deepest and
closest of the war, and the infantry fire extended
along whole columns
THE ENEMY AT CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS.
The caDnonading had continued several hours
with fearful effect among our baggage and artil
lery teams. We had, however, prev ented the
enemy from crossing the swamp in our front, and
fondly hoped that he would be unable to pierce
its Businesses at any other point at our right or
left. That this hope I'LL founded was soon
testified by the appearance of the enemy in great
force at Charles City Cross roads, which lies
about four miles from White Oak Swamp due
SOUTH and about mile and half or two miles
from the James river at Turkey Island Bend he
had advanced direct from Richmond eight bril-
gades, the first under command of the redoubta-
bic Gen. Henry \. Wise, and when discovered at
the Cross Roads was endeavoriDg to work quietly
down the river road between trains,
wounded and the army.
At 5 o'clock they engaged the enemy, hidden
by woods aud the swelling of hills, and the firing
from musketry and field batteries were soon in
tense. The rebels did fatal execution among US,
and some of our most valuable officers fell here,
wounded and dying. The men fought well,
though half dead with heat thirst and WEAKNESS.
Some broke for the river and plunged in The cool
water for an instant, then emerging rushed back
To the fray and fought like lions.
THE GUxBoaTs OPEN FIRE.
About five O'Clock in the afternoon the gun
boats Galena, Aroostook and Jacob Bell opened
fire from Turkey Island Bend, in the James riv
er, with shot and shell from their immense rife
guns The first few shots went wide, but the
man in the Gaena's topmast lookout signaled
the proper elevation to the guns, and soon they
threw among the serried rebels the bill their
ponderous obligations, that cut down whole ranks,
spreading confusion, desolation and dismay. The
fire went on with the same fatal elects, making
music to the ears of our tired men, and conster-
nation among the exultant and blood thirsty trai
tors They (slready confident of concluding their
work and driving US into the james, began TO
reel and grow uneasy. Their fire perceptibly
slackened; their ranks seemed slow to close up
when the naval thunder had torn them apart; dis
affection and disappointment had already seized
upon them. and every tocsin from the Gaena add
Ell It's impetus TO the preyaing dread, when
HEISTzELAAS CHARGED
The whole corps Of this famous warrior, con
fdent that a recovery OF the fortunes Of the time
could be made, prepared To give another great ef
fort to retrieve the fortunes Of the day and the