The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-07-18
THE BATTLES ON TIE PENN
SVLi.
REPORT DY AN EYEWITNESS,
tcoaeroudeuor oflho Now yorl roa,

(Core,poadeucr orthe New Ncrk ros,
llEApQuARrERs ARMY OF rnE poroMAo,)
CAMP AT HARRIsoN's BAR, ON JAMES
RIVER, July lth, 1862.
The events of the past week can only
be correctly told by compilation and
comparison Of the reports of all the men
engaged in them, but careful observation
and research have satisfied me of The
general truth of the subIoired accounts of
/ the movements Of this army Tor the past
sew days.
/ Facts show that Gen Mcclellan had
{ been informed Of the intention of the
rebels TO attack his right flank with an
/ overwhelming force, aud that he set rap
/ idly at work to prepare for thuir rcccp-
ton.
After the abandonment Of our line oi
communication on York river, the rebels
appeared ON the right flank Of our army
with u force of some 50 900 men. made up
Of "Stonewulln JiCkson's army from the
Shenandoah Valley, thirty Thousand
strong, which had comc down by way ui
I Hanover Court House, and 10000 men
I from Richmond, under Gems. Hill aud
Longs,rcet, who crossed the Chickahcmi,
~ at Mcchanicsvile. These forces Join.
ed at Mrchauicsvillc.
THE FIRST BATTLE.
About noon on Thursduy the rebel,
took up their line OF march, and wcr,
met by Gen. Stoucmuu ON the right, Az,
the engagement soon became gcngrul,--
A mile ard half from NJ. chauicsvill,
Mccall had dug rine-pts aud thrown u,
an utrenchment urou hill commands.
the line Of approach.
To this poiut our troops fell back, am
opened raking fire OF she'll, canister an,
grape with terrible effect upon the col
umns Of the advancing rebels. From on
> protected position cur loss was inmate
rial, willie that Of the rebels must hay
been enormous. Still th5y continued L
upprooch, couiidcr; iu their uverw helmin
numbers, a d the terrific fire Of Uftiilc
ry ragged until eight o'clock in the even
ing.
While the right wing af the rebel arm
was approaching by THIS road, the hi
wing was coming down by road lurthl
" to the right, where Gen. Stoncman hn
Y met, and skirmish between artillery an
=. cavalry took place; but Gen. Stoncma
:. gradually fell buck, not having suilic
y vnt number olmen 10 warrant AN cngag
u mcnt.
cr a. en-. Mccall had been rc-cnlorccd [
ne Cen. Morell's division, md could ha,
=, held the position against the enemy, br
for the force to the right. On tia; u
N count he fell back during the night
ry New Bridge, VIII re a junction was torn
" ed with Gen. Sykes force and Colon
y Hunts reserve artillery; and the porto
of the army which had been sent to @
> Church was ordered to fall buck, burnil
10 the bridges as 1t passed, and muki
H. ready for warm contest
~ Gen. S,oncmun was sent TO condu
4 the retreat before the rebels, and 60 pr
,ect the landing at White House from
y surprise. How he did il has been PREV
ou,ly told.
T.. The portion of Gen. Portcr's CIR
20 which had been stationed at Old Chur,
y, was Gen. ButtHtcld's brigade, and d
IN business Of destroying The bridgts al
,p obstruclng the passage OF the rebels "
TO given TO the 4lth Now York rcaim, !
- under cummaud OF Lieutenant Colon
- Rice. The work wgs most ,Gyclull
ne done.