Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-05-15
also been lying on their arms all the previous

also been lying on their arms all the previous
night in a wood, and were soaked with the
rain and chilled with cold The hattie ragged
from early in the morning until 5 o'clock IN
the afternoon, when Gen Mcclellan arrived
with fresh troops, aud relieved the division OF
Gen. Hooker, who were nearly PROSTATE with
fatigue and exposure, whilst the Third Excel
sior Regiment of Sickles' Brigade bad its
ranks terribly thinned by the balls of the
enemy. They are repr esented as having fought
with such imprudent bravery that not less than
two hundred of them were killed and wounded
After The arrival Of Gen Mcclellan, the
enemy were fercely charged by Hancock 5
Brigade, and were driven within their works
before nightfal, with heavy loss. t.
Nearly 700 of their dead were left on the
field, with many wounded, though most of the
latter were carried toto Williamsburgh.
Our loss was less than 800 killed and about
700 wounded
Night having come on we occupied the bat
tie field, the enemy having been driven within
his works, and our forces lad on their arms,
prepared to storm the works in the morning
At daylight on Tuesday mor1ing General
Mcclellan sent out scouts, whilst preparing TO
move on the enemy's works, who soon report
ed that be had again taken his fight during
the night
The works of the enemy and the city Of
Williamsburgh were then taken.
Fort Magruder was most extensive work,
capapable of prolonged defence, bat the enemy
had abandoned it early in the night, retreating
in the greatest alarm and confusion, as de-
scribed by few negro women who were found
in the town
A large number Of wagons, munitions, and
considerable store provision, were found in the
town, while The road was strewn for mauy miles
with arms aud accoutrements
A number Of deserters also made their eS
cape, and came within our lines, who stated
that they had received intelligence that large
numbers of Federal troops were landing on
York River, above Williamsburgb, to flank
them
YoRKTowN Wednesday, May 7-I2M
AS close my letter the latest intelligence
received from the field of battle u.s. that Gen
Mcclellan has come up with the enemy about
eight miles beyond Wlliamsburgb, and after a
pretty severe skirm;sh with his rear has again
put him to flight across the Chicahomiuv. A
large additional number of prisoners have been
taken including many deserters who report
that they have had nothing to eat but few
hard biscuits for forty eight hours, and when
brought in fell down in state of exhaustion
Heavy canonadrg could be heard by the
boats coming down the river at an early hour
this morning Nothing as 10 results is yet as
certaned There is no doubt but that the
whole army of Lee, johnson and Magrudrr
are in IA state of inter diSOrganzaton, and
under the rapid pursuit of Gen Mcclellan and
fleeing with great precipitation without the
intehtion of making IA stand anywhere, aud
unless they reach Richmond 10 boats by way
of James River, they will certainly be inter
cepted aud captured by the foc andng,,and
lauded at West Point Not less than City
steamers are engaged in transporting the bal
ance of the army to West ! oint A large
number Of prisoners are arriving at West
Point, and others are being constantly brought
in. On Monday, the enemy took about eighty
f our men prisoners and captured one Of the
Pennsylvania batteries, having first killed all
the horses They having but a small support
of infantry were overwhelmed by superior
force and were compelled to abandon their
guns, but before the close OF the day this bat,
terry with one of the enemy's was recaptured
by Gen. Mcclellan, and the prisoners they
had taken were found in Wilamsbprgh next
cay engaged in attending on the wounded If
the enemy they had left behind. The retreat
of the enemy was accompanied by too much
confusion aud haste to be troubled with the
prisoners
LATEsr-I have inst learned that the eremy
have destroyed all the bridges across the
Chickahomiuy, aud that General Mcclellan is
resting MS army on this side. 1t will be re-
membered that the Chickahominy runs paral-
lei with the James River, into which it enters
1t is the general impression that Gen. McClei'
Ian has now got the enemy just where be wants
them