, 1862-06-09

ILL 1lAAD o- DA4 Liz. |
SEVEN PINES AND VICINITY.
From short distance beyond the Chicka-
ominy River, the highway to Richmond,
; west to tie rebel capital. Seven miles east
if Richmond, On this road is the place known
il the Scyen Pines. Near to the Seven Pines
common country road, known to us as the
Sine Mile Road, crosses the main road, and
N the LEFT (our lef5) runs through the woods
owards White Oak sWamp. On the right tho
road runs in northTesterlr direction by Fair
Oak Station, on the Richmond railroad to |
Richmond. BIZ this road it is nine miles from
tAc Seven Pines to the city.
GENERAL cAsET's STRENGTH.
It is necessary 10 speak Of the condition Of |
Gen. Casey's command, and it will, perhaps,
not BIZ contraband to say Of it what is not |
true Of any other division Of the army, and |
what viii not be true Of that division after
few weeks Of rest. It was made up when |
first organized OF very raw troops-tle latest |
Of our immense army. There
vas no cohesive strength even IN the rcgi-
ments, discipline was lax, and the men, rs
pushed into active seryice-made to march
and 6tarve with our year old regiments to
bivouac and fight side BY side with those who
had been ont so long as to begin to consider
themselves veterans. Numbers consequently
became sick, ard this weakened his division
battle an unusually extensive picket line, and
nearly every regiment had ont three compa-
nits on picket or 1atigne duty. From these
various causes this division did not on satnr-
day have in the field more than c, 600 effective
men.
TIE REBEL GENERALS STRENGTH.
General Longstrect, as We have said, left
Richmond with the whole effective force Of
his command-six brigades-purposcly to
3r;1-o q Ham
also came; and number of prisoners state
the force in the field At five divisions They
advanced down the Williamsburg road, and
thus the whole bEunt OF the Gret attack fell
upon Gen. Casey
How THE FIGHT BEGAN.
It was about noon when We first heard the
scattered fire Of our pckets in front. For
two or three days before, there had been
skirnishcs between the picket5 near the road
in front, and this was mistaken for another
affair ot the same kind, sud thus some time
was lost; for, instead Of the dispositions that
should have been made, a regiment vas slmp-
| u ordered out to support the pickets. THIS
| regiment vent out quickly, WAS formed
| near tho road, and almost stumbled upon the
enemy advancing in line Of battle. Before
! the men had even loaded their pieces, q full
| and steady yolley, from the effects Of which
| it did not recover That one fre-dcliyered
o]mcst Is 4 complete surprise, and which our
men could not return-cut down, perhar-
| onc-tlfth Of the regiment, and demoralizGd
| the remainder. Nolnore service was had from.
| the 1o3d that day, and, what was worse, the
| 1nrE brgan to stream to the rear with the oil
story OF ''cut to pieces"
/ FORMATION OF TUE BATTLE.
But that one yol1ey, while it aunihilated th'
regiment, told also quicker than courle
could car19 the news, the mistake that ha'
been made, aud the enemy Was upon lie
| Casey'6 force was turned out in hurry au'
formed, and Col. Bailey, Of New York, Casey
| chief Of artillery, had the enemg's line unde
his fire before it had gotten through the frs
wood, and before the lire WAS completed
| formed,
THE ARTILLERY.
sprat!'s battery, which was posted in fel
| to the right Of the road, and near the edge
the wood, and Regan's battery, which was ais
| in the same field, cot into action Immediately
and were supported by the 1o0th New orlk
| by the l1thMaine and 10th Pennsylvania G
; their right, and By the 92d New York
, the rear. Both batteries did splendid exec
tion; but the cnemy's line advanced silent
and steadily, receiving the fire with apparent
| / psrtect GOODNESS, and firing in return vi
, great effect.
TIE REBELS ADVANCE IN FINE ORDER.
AS the enemy S line CAME into tire Of o
infantry, regiment after regiment gave it
them in ire style; but still, though there "
| luHUy zap Ill LuG1l uucS, 11EfQ WIS no urea
4 Fire after fire tore through their rank5, b
could not break item, and our three regimen
engaged at that point fell back, q little sh2s
perhaps, but still in order.
on TILE FENCE.
' Sprltt's battery was composed Of Napole
II guns. Four hundred yards in front Of t
= place where it was posted there w:,s a ratl
L difficult rail fence, which the rebel line hid
cross. as they came up to it the four
\ poleons played upon them feartul1y With era
: and canister They could not pass the feas
Livery time that they came up to it the u
:, discharge tore their lines asunder, moved nj
gaps through their formation, and held tn,
l. there bcyond the fence. They did not D:
the fence until spratt's grape and canis
we're gone. lie could not be supplied aga
fer the WAGONS were beyond the CAiekabo1ni1
With his four Napolcons, fell back to tile
doubt.
ANOTHER BATTERY N DANGER.
Is Regan's battery still maintained its fel
le fire. But now the enemy dressed his line
al the most perfect manner and came for til
:. should be have few more pieces? moi
st tire could prevent it, and the fire Of the b
Il in1antry regiments that supported it was
doubled. But fire could not prevent it, G
" Casey saw that in spite of what fire could
Or tho battery was gone.
S ABA1oSEr CHARGE.
~ The old hero, conspicuous by his large E
r horse and By his white hair, rode into
81 thickest Of the fire, formed the four regime
II. Mainc and tic 10th Pennsylvania into Ii
n gave the word, and led the charge in pers
At Fire could not eaye the battery, but the ha
IL NIT did. Back went the rebel line, dri
h fairly out Of existence. Plenty were bchi
Of however, to take its place, and still the enc
| IN a IS1Aa 1tytA. lrI
"a tho right flank Of Cssey's front, and
gan's battery and its supports fell ba
1r | Another attack came simultaneously On
,se left flank, held by the 98th sud 96rh y
Ee York, and they too retired, still in good OH
as IN TEE REDoUBr.
I'D Casey's division was thus fairly driven
ne his first line Of defense, and the enemy
left, was Bates battery Of six pieces, WI
Immediately begau to put in reasons wh
:. should not be taken. In support were
'ta Slst and S5th New York and the S5th
cat | 10lst Pcnney lyania- Fiteh's battery was 2
lie, ed to the right and in rear OF the redo
" retired.
TEE REBELS STILL ADVANCE.
~ There was silence Of few moments
o1 the rebel line again began its terrible adya
the Bates and Fitch's batteries had alrs
opered, and now also the four rebel bltte
o,o did The same, and the rebel infautry and
- | Own infantry. Never since this war be
a. has there been heard more terrible fusil
~, At this time the left Of the rebel line
a. ~ formed of Jcnkfae' Palmetto sharpshoo
~ ~ fSonth Carolinians), the 9Th South Caro-
s:. 49,, | regiment and the 9Th North Carolina 4
80 .e. view Of this line was obstructed ~ the ab
~ W. It's Of fallen timber between US aud II but
~ kn.w how steadily it came on, for over
~ obstruction Of branches aud green leayes
~. cuuld see the light, faint fringe Of smoke
~ M from the continual file fire, and far at
49, 49, the smoke their white battle flag fut.
o. o. proudly out and showed how fast they cal
ds, THE REBELS STORM TIE woRKs-oIR 6
led LOST.
to Well, the enemy reached the redoubt
red the rife piss and stor1ned both. In the
b Of doubt VIA left Bates whole battery and
} il Of Spratt'e guns. because they could rot
Ful taken away; but every gun was spiked.
hat OF one lot Of lSS horse5 only tWeRty-e
the were left alive
ant | GEN. ooUCH's FORCES PREPARED FOR
-as FIGHT.
mid Cesty's resistance was nov pretty well
has | with. His batteries were all ea route
hat ward, and the majority of bis regiments
sith completely broken. But We must not {
lock what the gallant old soldier had ar