Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-03
TIL T. w AR.
GREAT BA TILE At RICHMOND .
BEGINNING OF THE END
Attack on our Right by Jackson's Army


DESPERATE FIGHTING-INcoMPLETE Ac-
COUNTS.
The New York Tribune issued an extra, Mon
day morning, with dispatch dated Battle Field
Sunday morning. The dispatch states that
severe and most determined battle was fought
on our right wing, Thursday and Fri lay. 1t
is claimed by some of our officers as a success
full strategic movement, into which the enemy
were unwittingly drawn, and which will soon
result in the capture of Richmond and the en-
tire rebel army.
The attack was made by the enemy in i'm.
mense force. They crossed the Chickahominy
near the railroad above Mechanicsvile, Thurs.
day afternoon. They fought desperately, but
we're unable to dri;e our men a single rod,
though their strength was ten to our one The
only force engaged that day was McCalls divi-
sion. The battle lasted from two o'clock till
nine D. m when the division was ordered back.
Gen Mcclellan was on the field, expressing
himself satisfied with the result.
The following is digest of the Trbunes re.
port of the two days battle, which the cores
pondent states is necessarily imperfect.
ATTACK BY THE REBELS.
On Thursday noon the enemy made an at
tack on Gen Stonemans forces in the vicinity
of Hanover Court House. Shortly afterwards
they commenced vigorous cannonading from
their works on an eminence opposite Mechan-
oil lao. - 4
the other below. They were replied to by
CampbelPs Pennsylvania batteries, one on
Mechanicsville road, the other from earthworks
at the right of the grove.
About p. m. the encmy's infantry and
squadrons of cavalry crossed the Chickahomny
in immense force a short distance above the
Virginia Central railroad, making a rapid adj
vance toward McCalps division, which was en-.
trenched on billy woodland across swampy
ravine, about one mile in the rear of Mechanics
vile. The LIST Pennsylvania rifles, "Bucktails'
and Campbell's Pennsylvania battery, were OF
picket duty all OF whom except one compan,
fell back behind the breastworks and rife pit.
where our line of battle was drawn up
Company X, of the Bucktails, being on pick
Ct duty beyond the railroad, were surrounded
and the last known of them, they were tryin.
TO cut their way through an immensely super
ior force. Their fate is not known, but it il
presumed that the greater portion are prison
ers.
The enemy advanced down in rear Of Mech
anicsville on low marshy ground, to where oul
forces were drawn up behind rife pits ant
earthworks on an eminence on the northerl,
side of the ravine, where the conflict became
most terrible. The rebels, with most deter
mined courage, attempted to press forward
over miry ground but bullets and grape fel
among them like hail stones, until, in the
words of an officer, "They lay like flies on
bowl of sugar." and withdrew. The cannonad
ing was kept up on both sides until about p
M, when the battle ceased. Our forces wer,
covered by earthworks and suffered but slight
ly.
Late in the afternoon the enemy made
charge with cavalry. About 100 of them cam,
rushing down and attempted to cross the raw
inc, when their horses became mired. A squad
ron of our cavalry seeing the position in which
the enemy were placed, made charge dow
the hill, when the rebel cavalry men abandoned
their horses and fed. The infantry fight wal
then renewed and continued until a. M. wher
a retreat was ordered very much against tn,
will of the Pennsylvania boys, who begged t.
be allowed to defend their position, which the,
felt confident they could hold. The QUITE
forces began to fall back. Porter's corps wer,
some distance below, near DIR Gaines resi-
dence