New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-10
Grave of the Union-rhe Ecbcis Attack
ia OvcrpOwering Numbcrs-C"sey's Di-
vision-The Rebel Loss Greater than
our own ueintxeinan's Eorethoughf.

vision-The Rebel Loss Greater than
our own Heintzelnan's Forethought.
Correspondence Of The n. Y. Tribune.
sAyAGRs STATION, June 4, 1862.
The Chcahoniny is the drain of q swamp. The
stream is deep, though sluggish. Densely tmbered,
riarsby land fripges it on either bank. The Rebels
had gathered enormous reservoirs Of water by the
use Of dams, weapon Of military offense north
of the Richmond and York River Railroad bridge.
When the awful rains of last Wednesday and Fri
day had every square rod of thspsr, Of the PENN
sua to work 10 contribute the elements of flood to
the Chicahominy there was glee in Richmond, and
mutual congratulations among military men. They
surely reckoned that Bottom Bridge would be shoat,
and that on the other eide Of the swollen stream,
wherever Mcclellan bad made passage ways for bis
troops and his transportation his artillery would be
motionless hubdeep in the water, and bic trains Of
ammunition and Of food mmovable, and from 1000
to 10000 Of the best troops in the army standing
useless upon the brink Of river beyond which their
brothers in arms were being crushed in their ranks
by overwhelming numbers, or driven ct the point of
the bsyonet to death by drowning before their eyes.
On Friday night the reservoirs Of accumulated
water on the Upper Chickahominy were cut open.
On Saturday morning Bottom Bridge was afoat.
On Saturday noon, an hour occupied by soldiers IN
cooking and eating aud favorable to attack, because
leaving little time 10 the assailed 10 call for and
ceive help 900 of the choicest of the Rebel troops
who fought at Boil Run, circled Left Wing with
a crescent of danger within the woods in front Of
our pickets.
Now to the situation. Casey's division held the
advance. COUGHS was the right. To Peck was
committed the care Of the left.
This left rested on the White Oak Swamp, which
runs parallel to our line Of march to Richmond The
Charles City road to Richmond lies beyond the
swamp. Numerous wagon ways from this road
cross the swamp, and come up TO the Williamsburg
turnpike, on which our center rested, and ON which
the whole Left Wing had marched up. Finally,
new road, branching off from the turnpike from
Richmond, beyond Cssey's camp, could deliver upon
Peck's fank $4,000 troops unseen and unbeard.
The key of our position was held by Peek.
His accommodating upon his flank through the
swamp. and all it's trayerses TO, and up and down,
the Charles City Road had been constant, careful
and thorough Every one of these bad drawn fire
from the enemy. His aide, Capt. Morris, had been
fired on and Capt. Titus repeatedly shot at as bad
been Stirling, and Loder, and kinca'd. The thick
presence Of the enemy all through this vast hiding
place had repeatedly been demonstrated. Pecks
vigilance alarmed Au0 IDltlfdG IOIRbIcel. ne
thought we had massed our forces on The lett, and
that his secret purpose Of an overwhelming hank
attack had been OWNED. He resorted to strategy
10 ascertain our strength German artilleIyman,
whose mother lived on the nearest farm to Pecks
headquarters-sn exceedingly shrewd and cunning
msn--was cent home in uniform, with pass from his
General Our pckets took hin az lie emerged from the
woods iust next 10 his home. He was forwarded to
Mcclellan. The Mayor Of Richmond furnished sharp
and adventurous fellow with civil pass through the
Rebel lines and LoDgstreet Instructed blm 10 trav-
er,e the ground that the aItieryman had been sent
to spy out. Pecks pckets picked him up, ald be
di1 not return to make report. An aide of 10.
Johnston, sent on q similar errand, WAS bounced on
the evepng before the fight, and sent to the rear as
prisoner The loss Of these spies exaggerated
Longstreets apprehensons OF the sueng,n OF reekt
force and, although he bad, on Saturday morning,
nree brsgades IN he White ok Spamp agenuo,
be he,itated TO attack, and finally changed his plan
Of battle.
This plan lad been, to drive in Caseys pckets, TO
engage him moderately in action with such superior
force that help would be sent TO him, and when at
teuton was concentrated on the front, to fall Ike
lightning On Peck OH the left and on Couch on the
right and annihilate them the spot, or start them
on panic run into the CkckaLomipy. The destruc-
ton OF two entire army corps had been cafeiuiiy
planned. =, ;.,,.,.
came living in from the woods in front. The resist
auce made by them TO the administers as they came
on the leap through the timber was 10 ineffective
that Longstreet was in force upon Caseys command
at a blow. Gen. Bailey's artillery met their run
down the road with grape and shot making gaping
wounds in their columns, but not staying Their
attack Out of the woods to the left OF the road out
of the woods to tho right Of the road and beyond IT,
The Rsbe!s swarned like bees, rushed courageonsly
mon Cascys hastily formed regiments firing as they
advanced and bringing with them the morale or
fierce thirst for the battle and assurance OF vic.
tory. The most conflicting statements are made OF
the behavior of the troops in Csseys DIVISION. Inc
coypses of hundreds and hundreds Of them lie upon
the ground mute but impressive witnesses OF the
courage that can die, if it cannot resist unequal
numbers On the other hand, the early and almost
immediate set-in Of the DRIFT OF skuling and strsg
cling from Casey regiments is tact which cannot
he denied and which cannot be made to consist win
d;.cipline and sodierly spirit. The witnesses 10
tbs early and formidable and disgracefni nood 10
the rear of unwounded men are thousands ana thou-
ssuds in number Majors wandered alone IN WOODS
q mile from their regiments line OF battle; lieu
tenants. with privates, when stopped, swore 'Ias
their body had been entirely cut 70 pieces AND did
not ey;sf and edged sideways out OF the question
inc and out of the barred pathway and resumed ther
a;Sbt from the shells which screamed and oure. 10
the air above. by twos and threes, sngiy ahd 10
grouDs officers and men--too many oiiicsre 40
5eclsre. thew retreated continuously from the hrs,
five minutes after the firing commenced, ana cGuia
not be stopped, save in numbers 90 few tha., wnen
gathered by Col. Russell OF massachusetts, ,noy
ant