Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-11
: s''.,s'zs = WAR NEWS.
THE GREAT RICHMOND BATTLE
FIRST DAYs rrGHr--A SIGNAL 4yIcroRY. s

FIRST DAYS FIGHT--A SIGNAL ytcToRf. ssssn
We compile the. following account fom the Rich,
mond papers:
The battle Of Saturday 31st May, took place this
side Of Laurel Grove between the York river rail
road and the Williamsburg stage road, about seven
miles from Richmond Gen. Hills Division com
menced the attack about eleven o'clock in the fore.
noon. The enemy, in large force, had entrenched
themselves behind consecutive batteries and feled
trees crosswise in front of them SO as to render the
approach Of our troops the more difficult.
As soon as the enemy's position was reached ten.
Hill prepared for vigorous attack Featherstone's
brigade led the advance. It was commanded on the
occasion by Col Anderson, the General being i'll in
the city. Garland's brigade commenced the attack
on the left, and in a few minutes the engagement
became general
After musketry and cannon skirmish, during the
continuance of which our brave troops wthstood
the full fire of the batteries and charge was order
ed and nobly made by General Hill, the Second :,
Florida, Sixth Virginia and Fifth South Carolina
leading the charge up to the very muzze OF the guns
under terrific fire of grape, canister, round shot
and shell, that cut them downby scores. Mounting
over the first battery, they took possession at the
point of the bayonet the Yankees fleeing to the
next in position in the rear, which, in turn, opened
its fire. and, in turn, was taken, large numbers OF
the Yankees being killed and taken prisoners.
The Dispatch says: Observing the strength OF
the enemy's line in 'front.' our commander ordered
up the 4th North Carolina who, advancing in force,
broke through the ID Mississippi battalion in their
hurried progress and divided the latter corps in
such manner that, subsequently, their whole force
could not be again collected. Brilliant in cOEcep-
ton and execution the finely drilled North Carroll
mans flanked the enemys dense line of skrmishers,
and did such havoc by their fanking fire that
the enemy preciptately fell back upon their ur:-
finished breastwork in and commanding the entrance
do IF RAJ Gorfc fnru
Having arrived in open ground our forces COM
menced to howl in fearful manner, terrifying the
enemy with their indescribable sounds. The 4th
North Carolina regardless of consequences, shut
their eyes to the chances and attacked the work in
gallant style, being supported by other regiments to
the right and left They gained their object, but it
is said unable to retain it. for the enemys large
brass howitzers dealt destruction among them, and
it reported they fell back in admirable order until
fresh troops could be brought to bear upon the
hordes Of Pennsylvanians who, in thousands, were
pouring vollies upon them.
Capt Barnes, of company F, 4th North Carolina
State Troops, was killed in the action on Saturday.
We are informed that but one Captain of this regi-
ment escaped uninjured the rest killed and wound
ed Only 2l3 men of the 4th North Carolina an
swered at roll call yesterday morning, and the reg
ment took over 700 into the fight.
Capt Bacon, of the 9th Georgia, while acting as
aid to Col. Anderson, was killed
In the last charge on the retreating Federals be-
yond their camp. Col. d. Il. Smith, of the 9th
Georgia, was wounded in the thigh.
After an obstinate fight Of two hours the enemy
fell back, leaving sixteen pieces of artillery compos
ing three batteries, in possession Of victorious
troops. Our loss here was heavy, including several
officers: The Yankee loss was not ascertained, but
it is supposed to have been equally heavy. The
behaviour of the troops was splendid. One COM
pany of the North Carolina regiment alone took one
hundred and sixty.hve prisoners and brought them
to the rear. The enemys force was estimated at
fully 10000. and reinforced constantly.
Later in the day, zen. Longstreet's division came
up and rushed eagerly into the battle. About four
o'clock our artillery came into play, and did excel
lent service, as has been already said Although
heavily reinforced the enemy were charged by
Longstreet's and Hills men and driven off the field,
our men taking possession of their camps and forti
fications. The Yankees very closely contested the
ground as they fell back, while our force steadily
pushed upon their line.
As an incident of the fight, we may mention that
endorsements were ordered to Anderson and but
one regiment could be spared, the 18th South Caro-
| lima, Col. jenkins, was sent Upon arriving, Col.
j. was asked if one regiment was all that could be
| sent "Yes," replied the Colonel But that will
do. knov these boys" The gallant charge of the
4th afterwards fully verified the good opinion Of
| their commander.
The 9th Alabama, 9th Georgia, and 23d Georgia
suffered severely, the 9th Alabama being nearly de-
cimated The 9th Georgia lost 100 out of the 500
men they took into the field.
Among the distinguished acts Of daring on Satur-
day was the capture by Capt Thomas Walton, of
Mississippi, of the coors of Federal regiment He
was acting on General Longstreets staff, and while
| COL Giles's regiment was charging he gallopped
ahead of it and dashing into the Yankee regiment
seized their colors and bore them off, He then rode
up to Giles regiment and presented the flag to
them. The act was rewarded by three hearty cheers
from our men. The gallant Captain was shot in the
head later in the day, but refused to leave the field
before the fighting was over.
| Gen. Rhodes brigade of Hills division, was in
the thickest of the fight. 1t went into the engage
ment with about $50 men, and of these 1,092 were
| killed or wounded in the desperate fight. Gen.
RS men fought like heroes. The officers suffered
much, Gen. Rhodes received painful, though not
serious, flesh wound in the arm. Philip T. Sutton,
of this city, one of his aids lost his left in the
afternoon by MIME ball, after acquittng himself
calamity on the field.
After the cessation of the firing on our right
wing, the enemy attempted demonstration, across
the Chickahominy, on our left wing north of the
Mechanicsville, and on the Nine Mile road.
The plan of the battle was this: Gems. Hill and
Longstreet were to attack in 'front.' and when the
enemy we're repused, Gen. Whiting was to march
down the nine mile ROAD ana make an attack upon
the flank The force was started down this road
but come Unexpectedly upon large body of the
enemy, who had crossed the ChickaLominy and en-
trenched themselves. This was the left of the
railroad and east of the New Bridge, or nine mile
road. as it is known in country parlance.
Writings division, formerly Maj. Gen. Smiths
consisted of his own brigade commanded by Col
Pender, Qhe famous "ad brigade" which Bee lee
at Manassas Hoods brigade, of Texas Pettgrew'
-, L..~ l.
about IA 600 men.
Col. Jenkins commanded brigade, composed o
the 5th South Carolina regiment Co., Giles; 6tl
South Carolina regiment COL Bra:ton; and the Pal
metto Sharpshooters, Lieut. Col Walker. Tn
former commander, Brig. Gen. R. H. Anderson
commanded division in the fight. He has not re
signed; the Gen: Anderson who resigned is iron
Tennessee, and his place as commander of the Ten
nessee brigade was assigned to Brig. Gen. Rober
Hatton, who was killed.
While proceeding down the New Bridge road
endeavoring to get to the rear of the enomy, VIII