Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-03
THE BATTLE AT HANOVER COURT
H0UsE.
New York Post ]


BEEoRE RICHMOND, May 2s.-At an early hour
this morning returned from witnessing bril-
liant eng aQement between q BODY OF our troops
and the rebels at Hanover Court House.
information had been obtained that the rebels
were moving in considerable force up the Freder-
icksburg Railroad and around to the Pamunkey
river, In our rear, and Gen. Mcclellan determined
TO attack them. Accordingly, on the morning Of
the 27th, the portion Of the army assigned To that
duty was early under way. At Hanover, a dis
lance OF ten miles on the road our troops had the
hfst sight OF the rebels-ffteen piskets fastening
away at our approach.
ther, their anticipations of q fght waned mate
rally, but upon approaching the summit OF the
hill, so that Hanover Court House was visible,
the rebels opened fire, which wss briskly returned
with both artillery and musketry for about half
an hour, when the 25th New York regiment made
a charge upon the enemy, driving him out In q
complete rout, and taking "a pound brass how
itZer. The rebels left their dead and wounded
on our hands, with their surgeons to attend them.
The 2zd Massachusetts, engaged a small force on
the left, who retreated and gave them the posses
sion OF the railroad and depot
The rebel forces engaged were Virginia rPgi-
ment and the 18th North Carolina. They fed,
leaving their knapsarks, haversacks and ratlons,
and a large number Of muskets. Our infantry and
artillery pursued for some miles, until II was dis
covered that the retreat led round by Richmond,
and IL was found that the main force Of the enemy
was not there.
Soon after the commencement OF the skirmish
q
found TO be coming up In the rear, and soon had
possessed themselves Of the depot and railroad
when the iith New York and 22d Massachusetts
were sent to discover their purpose and strength.
II was found that they had come up In some force
and occupied the road In our rear, evidently
supposing that they had entirely surrounded US.
They had in reality cut OF our retreat by the road
we came, II The retreat Of the Union forces had
ever besn dreamed Of, but Ii was not The sith
New York engaged the enemy In front and on the
left, and the 25th New York and 22d Massachus-
etts on the right, and section OF Martins Bat
terv was brought TO bear.
The engagement now became animated and
quite severe for time, threatening to overpower
our small force. The enemy charged seveTa
times, but the determined reception they me
caused them to fall back They came 30 near our
two guns, however, as to compel US 10 retire, but
they did not get an opportunity to remove the
pieces before reintorcements came up; when Gen
Martindale, with his brave little command, which h
had stood the fire for over an hour In face Of the
enemy, were relieved.
The I'd Maine and 9Th Massachusetts approach
cd through the woods, and the 9th charged upon
the enemy's rear, putting them to flight in hot
haste. A portion Of our artillery had returned to
the Held and opened a deadly fire Of shot and
shell, and the enemy were forced 10 retrace their
steps In The manner they came, leaving all their
killed and wounded On the field. They had ut
one time placed guard over a Temporary hos
pitai where few Of our wounded were lying
and when the guard retired as the eaemy fell
back, they took Lieut.. Perkins, OF Gea. Butter,
neld's stat, prisoner along with them. We tool. +.
the enemys mail-bags and mail, juIt received
from Richmond, containing nunerOus letters and
papers.
The number OF prisoners taken cannot be far
from 100, although at this hour Of writing Il 10
not denaitsly known. The enemy's loss In Killed
and wounded who remain In our hands, aside
from the wounded who were removed, will add
nearly 200 more to their loss. The ground where
the rebels were engaged, and especially the wood
where the charge OF the Ninth was made 10 II te-
rally filled with dead and wounded rebels The
wounded will be kindly cared for by our physi.
clans, and the dead buried soon as practicable
The command or our forces during the day
was taken by General F J. Porter. Among
those who were particularly worthy Of commen-
dalton was the 2jth New York, Colonel John
SOM the 22d Massachusetts, Colonel Grove; the
4ith New York, Colonel Stryker; and the 9th
Massae husetts, Col. -Cass, and ID Maine, Colonel
Robert Gen. Martindale was particularly cool
and intrepid, personally encouraging his men az
the fight continued.