, 1862-06-14
FROM M'CtELELLaN'S ARMY.
WEATHER MATTERS BEFORE
RICHMOND,
Mcclellan amends His Fair Oak
Dispatch.

WASHINGTON, June, 15.--Advices from sfc- |
Clcllan's headquarters last evening, sla:c that |
q reconnaissance, made this morning as far as |
Meadow Bridge, found the enemy quiet, but |
during the day, but with little result on either |
side. The weather is noW good, and the roads |
the following dispatch has just been trans
mittcd to Secretary Stanton-also a copy to
Gen. Casey:
HEADQUARTERS AnH9 OF THE PoronAc,i
June sill 2. n.
Hon. E. II. Stanton, Secretary Of War:
MJ dispatch Of the 1st inst, stating that
Gen. Casey's division, which was in the front
line gave way unaccountably and discredita-
bly," was based UPON official statements
made to nc before I arrived on the field Of
battle, and while was there, By seyeral COM
members.
From statements made to me subsequently
by Gen. Casey and Nag}ec, am induced to
believe TINT portions Of that division behaved
well, and made most gallant stand against
superior numbers; at present the accounts
arc too conflicting to enable me to discrimi-
nate with certainty. When the facts are
clearly ascertaincd, the exceptional good con-
duct will be properly acknowledged.
(Signed,) G. B. MCCLELLAN,
Major Gen'l Commanding.
New YoRK, June ia letter from, tue
army Of the Potomac to the Rst, gives camp
3uIlul tA1t 0u 41leu LlttlupLcu 10 uE-
sert from thc rebels, md reached Mechanics
vile bridge, but ran, after few shots from
our picket guard, and that they are now under
guard. 4 letter to the Philadelphia Re.s
states that dcserters are arriving, and report
that great number are anxious to reach our
lines. There are not only North Carcluli1l5.
but nen trsm every rebel Stale.
JUSTICE TO GEN. CAsEY's DIVISION.
Correspondence Of the New York Times.l
The list Of over 1,1o0 killed and wounded
tells The story rs to where Casey'5 division
he had, in tact, less than j 600 men actually in
the tight, this list shows percentage Of over
oLe.fIth Of his command injured, not to
speak Of many others who suffer from con-
| tuEions and slight wounds not bringing them
under the surgeons care. I know that a large
| list Of casualties is not always proof Of dcs-
! pt1ate fighting, but there Is other evidence to
| prove that Gen. McCltllau's dispatch of June
| 1st WAS cruelty unjust to brave men made
! the victims Of untoward circumstances. This
! ! find to be the impression here, SO far as
learn it, and the proof Of the fact is such that
| the CommandeI-in-Chiet has modified his
I views.
The simple truth is, Gen. Mcclellan has re.
| peatcd the mistake be made at Williams.
bursh in giving to the country hasty dis,
patch, based upon partial and biased state
n,ents, bcfore he had time to inform himself
Of the real facts of the case.
| He was not on the ground that day, he
never saw or heard from Gen. Casey in re
ga1d to his division, and depended for his in
preston Of its conduct principally upon thu
Statements Of those whom rigid ilsestigl
tion might prove to have been themselves TIL
Chief sinners in this affair.
The inquiry is very general as to how th
weakest division in the army should happel
to be thrown SO far in advance. The explaua
tion is simple: In consequence Of followin!
/ nr11fa aCyairi nd 1ta
by Gen, f. II. Naglee, in manner givin
great satisfaction at headquarters, Gen. ca
sey's division was thrown forward i
tile advance Of General Keyes' corp:
to within some two and one.hal
miles Of their position On the s1st. Here Ger
he was ordered mile or more in adyanct
where he halted aud had commenced to FORTH
his position, when, contrary to his judgmen
he was ordered to move forward to his las
J camping ground, which placed him entirel
| beyond the other portions of the left wing {
the army, and in front Of the abatis alread
constructed which proved source Of gre
: | embarrassment on the day Of the battle, con
: i ItlliDg the troops to retire down uarro
road in faee Of q heavy fire.
fhe exposed position Of the division was
: constant subject Of remark among its officer
: as 1 know by personal intercourse with the
during the time Of their occupation Of the p
sition. It was evident that exposed as it va
| the division lived only by the suHerauce OF /
t enemies and vigorous attack upon a1I side
which their Situation invited, must subje
{ them to the danger OF annihilation-
The matter was understood by Gen. keye
: and represented to Gen. Hcintzelman, in cor
f maid of the left wing. But the only eff:
4 TIE representation seems to have had the
was to excite the mcrriment of Gen, He1ntzt
Inan's Adjutant, who wazed exceedingly j
{ cose at the idea that Gen. Keyes could for
n nlent suppose that the enemy we're in III
/ force in front If him. Perhaps they We're NJ
e but where did that sixty OF seventy thou5a'
e men come from on tic day Of the battle
J | Fair Oaks?
d With the first line Gen. Casey fought t
enemy until he was Ganked By over#lelnn
3 numbers, when he retired to the second 1ir
= where the tight was continued until be "
d again tlaDkcd, and in danger of being 81
r. rounded Then, and not till then, did
: troops retire to the line OF Gen Couch, abe
lr ont-half to threc-fourth5 Of mile to the re-
l. Thus, for from tWo aud one-half to TIL
q hours, with a force Of less than 5000, u
'e were not reinforced by single man, G.
Casey NithsEoOd the furious onset of at lei
r 4Q, coo rebels, the flower Of the Southern arm
'e | That after desperate resistance, his dl7lsl
Z. retired before overwhelming numbers, is tn
le | That it retired discreditably is not true,
x theY left q third Of their little number on
5, battle field, killed, wounded and missil
The dead bodies Of the rebels strewing
le field in front Of Gen. Casey's position,
e ! si.ert witnesses Of the honorable 1e5istance
al | his division.