Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-08

RICHMOND, July ], 1862.
When the Persians invaded Greece, they car
ried with them a marble monument to be erected
to Victory. When Mcclellan came upon his
mission TO take the Confederate capital, he
brought along a large and beautiful Star
Spangled Banner " to float from the building in
which the rebel Congress holds its sessions. The
young Napoleon rightly conjectured that it would
be difficult to procure such a thing as q Union
flag in Richmond, and therefore was careful to
prepare his bunting beforehand. The flag,
which is thirty-six feet in length, is now in the
possession of Gen. Magruder, who slept COM
fortably upon it the night after its capture, but it
is not the only evidence wehave OF the excessive
confidence of the Yankees that Richmond would
fall into their hands in q few days, and that they
would celebrate the Fourth Of July in its parks
and streets. Mcclellan sent the most hopeful
dispatches to Stanton, the Secretary Of War,
with regard to the operations of Wednesday
last, the 25th of June, declaring that every
thing was goirg on to his entire satisfaction.
What messages, if any, he has forwarded since
that time, we are not as yet informed, but the
government at Washington and the credulous
~populace of New York City, must, ere this, have
come to the conclusion that the " onward move
ment has been again arrested, and that the fall
Of Richmond is " unayoidably postponed"
The events of the last two days have been
signally disastrous to the =" Grand Army which
has now reached a point SO far from the city on
its retreat to the gunbOats that several hours
must elapse before intelligence can be obtained
Of its exact " situation" Heavy fighting took
place along the lines on Sunday at several
points, but the most important contest occurred
late in the afternoon, near White Oak Swamp,
beyond Fair Oaks station, on the York River
railroad, between the brigade Of Gen. KerShaw,
Of McLaws' division in Magruder's corps
d'armee, and a large force of the Yankees. Their
main body was retiring in good order, protected
by a strong rear guard, when our skirmishers,
having passed through a thick copse of woods,
came in sight of the enemy's guns in position
some distance beyond. An open field lay be-
tween the combattants. The state of things be-
ing reported to Gen. Kershaw, he ordered up
Kemper's battery to the open field, and a brisk
fire was Immediately commenced upon the enc
my's position, which FIRE was heavily returned
with a vastly superior number CT gus. OBJ
serving that the spot occupied by Kemper was
very much exposed, Gen. Kershaw ordered the
battery to be removed under the crest Of a hill,
where it should be less annoyed by the CALLING
discharges Of shot and shell from the Yankee
artillerists. This was no sooner accomplished
than the enemy advanced with loud cheers upon
skiTmishers in the woods driving them
back upon the main body, but the moment they
emerged from the cover of the pines into the
open plateau on the other side, they were warmly
received by Kershsw's brigade. The men had
been lying down to await the onset, and rose TO
their feet with pieces at an aim, delivering at
once 50 murderous a volley into the ranks of
the enemy, that they were forced to take to the
woods in confusion.
The pursuit was now reversed, and our troops
chased the Yankees with great ardOr through
the copse, and were met, in their turn, by a des.
fire on the further edge from the enemy's
reserve which compelled them to fall back to
original position. Once more, with ire
mendous shouts, the blue coats rushed through
the woods, but this time to meet with a final and
terrible r%epulse. Kershaw's regiments, now
supported by Grifith's brigade, which, since the
death of the gallant general on Friday, has been
commanded by Col Barksdale, dashed them
upon the Yankee column and routed
it completely. Night put an end to the conflict,
with the morning the Yankees were no
to be seen.
The pursuit was however vigorously prosecu-
ted yesterday. Jackson having crossed the
Chickahominy came up with one OF the retiring
divisions, while Magruder and Huger pressed J
upon the main body, and the commands of A.
2. Hill, Longstreet, and Holmes passed round
10 get between them and the James river. In
condition o~fatfairs the enemy were engaged
BY Longstreet at a late hour of ii afternoon,
Ind after an obstinate conflict severely beaten
a loss of sixteen pieces of artillery. Gen.
George A. Mccall, next in command to McClel-
an, was made prisoner.
Our information to-day is vague and unsatis-
except that we are well assured that the
whole army Of Mcclellan is in our power, and
lnless there is some great blunder committed,
capitulate or be snnihilated. One may
almost anything stated upon the best au-
on Main street. Mcclellan, with his
Whole army that has been left to him. has es
aped to his ~gunboats, says an alarmist. Nc
;lellan has been wounded and is a prisoner,
avs a sensationist. An utter rout has been ac-
omplished, says a gentleman fresh from the
Department, and the Centervillo races Of
lst July were nothing in comparison. OF two
acts, however, which stand somewhat in oppo-
ition to each other, there can be no doubt. One
}, that the retreat of Mcclellan has been per
with remarkable elaboration and skill.
heir camps were mostly, for the frat three days
+ the recent fighting, as denaded Of all valua
lie material as if they were on an ordinary
larch. All their commissaFy stores were burned.
nmense piles OF glowing embers, yet emit
ng an intense heat, showed where thousands
+ dollars worth Of property had been consumed.
be ditehes on the roadside, in some places, !
yeraowed for hundreds Of yards with molasses |
every instance, whore they hsd no time to
.moVe their tents, they had ept them into rib
ons. The other fact is, that Notwithstanding :
le discipline and good order Of the retreat, q
rye numbers of the soldiers Of Mcclellan have !