The New York herald., 1862-08-22

lightnings Of heaven had seathed ana blasted IT, The
forest shows tho 'spntered branches OF thousand
riddled the fences utterly demolished the earth Itself
poughed up In my places for yards here stands DIS
manfed caisson, there broken gun erriase tncK anu
many the graves, the sods which yet bear the
marks OF the blood If their occupants ON the plateau
across whose surface for hours the utmost Jury Of he
battle ragged the tender that had grown up as high
salghsd and sung IA the Sessze Of early sum
| mer; everything, in short, but the blue heaven
above seaks tho carnival death which there
frghtfuy celeb raed About quarter OF mile from
The field sauds on the roadside the house occupied by
General his headq during battle The
weather boarding and the shnged roof exhibit ABUNDANT
evidences OF ne terrible nature of tue cannonade Tho
elongated shells thrown by the gunbo were most fear
fu proeetes measuring twenty inches III length oy
know the only damage done by them 70 the enemy
Mt having the proper range tho gunners so elevated
their TO let these messengers Of death fall mostly
among the ranks OF their The effect or one
which burst Crews house indescrbabiy fatal
II struck gun OF Of the batteries shatering II into
Fragments and by the explosion which followed instanta
neously seven men standing the piece killed
in the winklng Of an They foil without the move
ment OF muscles in the very attitudes they occupied the
before, stiening the stony axsdness
OF death one indeed, almost blown into snnihia
tho gum Yet another belonging % an Infantry rosmont
hold in his hand tho ramrod with which he was driving
home shs load IN ms ss M ride while M ,,,s fourth Win
the cartridge he had just bitten Of The faces Of the VIC
Tins still expressed the emotions which animated
them Ia bstendierence, hope, terror triumph, rage,
there depicted but traces of the suffering which
should be caused by the death pang They had passed
into eternity unconscious Of the shaft that sent them
therel
| "WEDNESDAY, yuLY2
Tue struggle OF Tuesday had given tho main
body Of McClelans army ample time TO reach the much
coveted positions In the neighborhood Of Berkeley and
Westoyer on the James river where avaing themselves
of the strong natural dsencss Of the place. and under
cover Of their gunboats they were relieved from the ap
affairs, description of the locality and opog aphcal fea-
lures OF the enemys selected place OF refuge, will DO
matter of interest.
north side James river, fys miles below City Point
and by the OF the river sixty five ues but the
Charles City road not moro than twenty-five miles from
Richmond. The building, old fashioned brick edice,
stands upon eminspce lew hundred yards from the
river in grove Lombardy popiars and other
President Harrison was born here in 1773
The Westover plantation, long the seat Of the disn
guished family Of Byrds and at present owned by Mr.
John Selden adoins Berkeley the east the dwelling
houses being some two miles apart Charles City Court
House is between eight and ten miles east Of the latter
IL IS not 70 be supposed the enemy selected these
plantations Of his last great without
good The first and most apparent OF these Is,
the Westover landing perhaps, the very best
James river and tho stream, miles up and down be-
ing broad ad deep, affords both excellent and
anchorage for his gunboats transports But this
is by the only advantage Of tho position On
the OF Berkeley nnunerabe impossible ravnes
runains from near tho Charles City road on the noth to
James river making successful attack from that quar-
ter next to impossible Within quarter Of mile Of
whore these ravnes begin Herring Run creek tho
Charles city road and running in souhsasterly direc
ton, skrls on the north and east, the plantations of
Berkeley and Westover and smptes into James river at
Of this creek impossible morass while along
It's northern aud extend the heights
utuna long range oil hi,s that overlook the WeStoyer
and Berkeley esatos which oer eligible positions
heavy guns. II will be that protected the south
by the river and his gunboatS tho by mpass&be
ravnes and the north aad east by Herring creek
the he hts o Evenon the emys position presents
presabc pointhe piece OF level country northwest
Westover, from quarter to hall mile In width lying
between the head OF the and the point whore Her
ing Charles City rold But it required
ony very brief period for the enomy with his immense
OF and machinery to 0DsLruc by this
only natural entrancc to his strongn Id Already
within range VI gunboats his sioge guns plant
the Evclinton his. Another day saw it strewn
with feed tnlber and brstling with hcd batteries.
Tho James river covered with the trans
gunboats Of the enemy aud MoCean secure in his
new base OF operatiols, vigorously began work OF
niusing courage ald confidence among his beaten and
allied tojps Ga the 4h OF July hs issued the
owius address, which, considering the immedi-
ateiy preceding Is Certainly rather remarkable docu.
m8nt:-
HRADQUARTERs, Army THE PoroMAc,
CAMP NEAs HAKRlsoS's LANDING, July 4, 1862.
vi the past days have illustrated vaor and
endurance Of tho american soldier Attacked by supe-
ror forces, and without hopes Of reint0rcemens, you
succeeded In changing your base operations By
nank movement always regarded as the most hazardous
cept few LIST In battle taking In return and coors
troIA tho enemy.
Upon your march you have been assailsd day after
day with desperate fury. by men OF the and
naton skilluy msssed and led Under every dsadvan-
tge OF numbor aud necessarily OF position also you have
u every conflict beaten back your foes with
conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies Of
history None viii now question what eash OF you may
always, with pride, say.'I belonged the Army Of the
Potomac" You have reached this base complete in
organization and unimparsd in spirit The enemy may
a. any time attack you've are prepared 20 meet
them. have personally established your lines Let
them come and we Will convert their repulse into 6nal
defe II.
Your government is strengthening you with the re-
sources Of great people. On tnis nations birth.
day declare foes, who rebels against the
best interests Of mankind that this army shall enter the
ttut shu and hat
alone insure internal and external security each
state, must and shall be preserved cost what il may in
time, treasure and blood. GEO. Is. MCCLELLAN,
Major General Commanding.
This narrative cannot be better concluded than by the
in reference 70 tho battle. These orders give official
and probably the St Trustworthy summary Of the re.
TO the address OF Gea. Mcclellan
GENERAL ORDEtS-N0. 75
HEADQUARTERS, THE FIELD July Z 1862.
inc General commanding, profoundly grateful to the
only Gver OF all victory for the signal with which
he has blessed tenders his warmest thanks
70 the army oy whose vaor sych spen
ON Thursday, june 20, the powerful and thoroughly
in extent and most formidable in character within
sight of our capital.
To-day the remains OF that confident and threatening
host lie upon the banks Of James river thirty miles FROM
Richmond seeking recover under the protection Of
his gunboats from the effects OF series OF disastrous de-
The battle beginning the afternoon Of the 2eth june
above Acchancsve, continued until the night or July
with only such intervals necessary and
overtaxe the flying foe His strong inrenchments aud
obstinate resistance were overcome and army swept
rcsstlessiy down the north side Of the Chckahominy
until reached the rear Of the enemy and broke his
communication with the York. capturing causing the
destruction Of many valuable and by the decisive
battle Of Friday, forcing the enemy from his line Of
powerful fortincaons the south side OF the Chicka
homny, and driving him to precpitatc retreat. This
victorious army pursued rapidly the distractions
placed by the enemy in his would permit three times
overtaking his flying column and often driving him
with slaughter from the field leaving his dead
and wounded 10 our hands In every conflict.
The immediate fruits or our success the relief Of
Richmond from state OF siege, the rou OF the great
army that 80 long menaced its safety many thousand
prisoners including officers Of high rank the capture
destruction Of stores the value Of Millions and the
QUESTION Of thousands Of and hfty.one pieces Of
superior artillery.
The service rendered 70 the country In this short but
eventful period scarcely be estimated and the gene