The Portland daily press., 1862-07-03
From our own Correspondent
Letter from Washington.

The engagements Of the 18th and 9th on the
Chickahominy-Chdng Of McCielian's base
Of operdtions-1he Acknowledgement
communication uith the army at present
suspended.
WASHINGTON, June 20, IL midnight.
The worst of the reports from the Peninsu-
la, of which l wrote to you to-day, have been
confirmed by the arrival of those who yester-
day left the White House, ON the Pamunkey
river, the late base of Gen. McClellan's opera
tons.
Yesterday detachment of the enemy in our
rear held railway and telegraph station on
the Richmond and York River West Point
Railway, known as Despatch Station, some ten
miles from White House, which is the point
where that railway crosses the Pamunkey riv-
er.
Upto White House, on the Pamunkey river,
our gunboats sometime since made their way,
and on Saturday, 18th inst, three were still
there. From that place Gen. Mcclellan has
received his supplies, landed there from YES
sells.
For some days of last week, Gen. Mcclellan
has been removing his supplies from White
House, with a view, it is said, of making
point on the James river his base of operations.
The supplies accordingly have been and are
still moving, in vessels, down the Pamunkey
to where it empties into the York river, at
West Point, thence down the York, past Fort
ress Monroe, thence up the James as far as
they may go. As we are at present advised
the navigation of the James river is obstruct-
ed by sunken vessels, &c, near Fort Darling,
about eight miles from Richmond, where our
gunboats were repulsed some weeks ago.
To reach the James river, and to open COM
muncation between that and Gen. McClcllan's
left, four miles of road were to be cut. Part
of the way lies through forest. The axes of
the sturdy men of one Of the Maine regiments
were ringing at that, some, one day last week.
By this time no doubt Gen. Mcclellan is in
free communication with the James river, of
course at point where our vessels and gun
boats can bring supplies and aid.
1t was to prepare for and facilitate this ar
rangement, that the movement of Hooker's
Division on the left was recently made.
1t was while this change of line was going
on, that the rebels fell upon our extreme right,
which lay on the north side of the Chickahom-
my. The position was held by Fitz John Por-
ter's Division, mostly composed of regulars
In it, however, are the Maine Second, and, if I
mistake not, the Maine Fifth.
Both these regiments were in the fights of
Thursday and Friday, as were the Sixth and
Seventh Maine. All that is known of the
casualties in these regiments has been tele-
graphed specially to the PRESS, tonight in
season for your Monday mornings issue. The
report of the wounding Of Col. Jackson, and
Of the death of Lieut.. Col Heath, are brought
by reliable gentleman, cautious man, on the
faith of whose statement the despatch was for
warded Probably, before this reaches you,
the telegraph viii have given the anxious
friends of the brave men of Maine more defn-
tie information of the losses in the regiments
The field and staff officers of the I'd Regiment
are unhurt, and the casualties of the regiment,
as stated, killed and % wounded, seem to
have been comparatively light.
AT four O'Clock this Sunday afternoon, tel
egraphic communication with the army was
still cut off. We have no information from the
field of operations later than that brought by
my informant, referred to above, who left Gen.
McClellan's headquarters on Saturday morning
at six O'Clock, and the White House ia miles
from the Generals headquarters at ten o'clock.
He saw no indications of the renewal of the
battle that morning.
The story goes-and it is one which you will
see in the telegraphic reports hence to to-mor-
row mornings New York papers-that Gener-
al jackson had attacked our lines (Fitz John
Porter's Division) on Thursday Tor friday
gained advantages-that the next day he was
caught between the last named division and
that Of Gen. Stonemam, when he was badly cut
to pieces.
cannot think this explanation of the situa-
ton reliable. On Saturday at ten o'clock, A.
NJ, Gen. Stoneman's division, some six or seven
thousand Cavalry, with artillery, lay at White
House. They had not then been engaged, and
were expected to hold their position at White
House.
On Thursday, in fact, the attack on Porter's
division was successfully repulsed. so much so,
that word of the success went late at night
along the lines. The regiments cheered, and
the bands played, in honor ofthe achievement.
1t was on Friday that the damage was in
ficted upon Porter. That day he retired six
miles, crossing the Chickahominy, and joining
the main body of the army, rhich now all lies
upon the Richmond side ofthe Chickahominy,
its left resting on James River.
cannot help agreeing with the military
men who say that our position is as good or a
better one than it held before.
1t is plain it is one which Gen. Mcclellan
was preparing, when his extreme right was
thus fallen upon.
| 1t is by no means certain that we are not
better off to-day in the Peninsula than last
week at this time. But the advantage, if it be
one, is Offset by the fact that fine division of
the army were driven into this new position
with loss and disaster.
All the stores at the White House were got
safely off. Gen. McClellanis now In possession,
| from the point on the James River which may
have been selected, of more than ten days
| food, and ammunition without limit. Any
amount of green forage was cut on the banks
of the Chickahominy, part of which has been
sent around by the James River, as indicated
! above. ID.
lB-The ladies of Presque Isle are busily
| engaged in collecting hospital stores for the