The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1862-06-05
The Battle of Williamsburg.

No Official report OF this battle mas
yet been published, but the statements
from reliable sources show that it was
a very bloody affair, and that through
the mismanagement Of Gen. Sumner,
who was in command of our forces,
they suffered heavy loss, and came
near being repulsed. A correspondent
of the New York World says:
The more complete are our returns
from and understanding of the posi-
tions and fortunes of the various corps
engaged, the more glaring is the fact
that not half so much was accomplished
by US as should have been, and that
what luck we had was owing--6rst, to
the bravery of our troops; second, to
the opportune though late arrival Of
Gen. Mcclellan on the field.
The truth might as we'll be told. It
IS lawful, as [ believe, to narrate all
facts connected with a battle fought.
Gen. Sumner Shanefally n,imaadged
the affair. He must hare disappointed
the commanding General From some
1naccountable apathy he deferred avail
ing himself Of the t,oenty thousand troops
standing in idle reserue. He allowed
Gen. Hooker, with not more than ten
thousand effective men, to maintain
most distressing and unequal contest
against twice or three times his number
from z o'clock in the morning until the
middle of afternoon. Gen. Hooker's
regiment expended all their ammuni-
ton; some of them held their positions
hours after their cartridge boxes we're
empty, and lost scores of men with no
power to injure the enemy. His left
was turned; he was forced partially to
fall back, he suffered terribly, and when
reintorcements at last came it was too
late to make anything more than draw
game OF our main battle on the left
wing.
| On the right--though Haucock's su-
perb GOODNESS of movement gave us the
victory for which Hooker had been 80
ste1diily contending all day-on the
right, | say, the management was even
worse. 1t was criminal to send only
five thousand men on a flank movement
requiring several miles circuit through
forests and ravines. IF the enemy had
thrown ten regiments around Hancock 4.
as he might, instead of three, he would
have crushed us to powder.
IF Hooker had been early and strong
| ly supported he would have carried the
intreuchments, and captured thousands
of prisoners before noon of that trying
dav.
So much for tho chief manager. In
consequence of his and other draw
backs, elimination and recrmination
prevailed throughout the action between
the leaders of the corps darmCcs who
| participated in its conduct.
Conversations with many of the more
intelligent prisoners taken by us have
induced me, and / most fully believe:
First. That the forces actually op-
posed to us were only Longstreet's and
Gustavus A. Smiths divisions-to-
gether numbering not over 30, 900 men,
and that only portion of Smiths had
"a chance to share in the contest.
Second. That the main body of the
rebel army, perhaps $4,000 men, we're
within leagues distance from the field.
Third. That if the rebels, conse.
quently, hal been cognizpnt of our bad
management, they might have punished
us severely, but that
Fourth, Their only wish was to make
as good fight as possible with their rear,
/. guard, and so fairly cover their retreat.
Finally, our losses in the affair sum
up an unlocked for total of near TWEEN
tytive hundred killed, wounded, and
missing. The rebels must have los
about three thousand. We have over
200 prisoners, besides 800 of their
wounded, on our hands. They captured
one of our batteries and made good their
evacuation. On the other hand we
have their formidable liue of works
siege guns, and position, and are dri.
wing them in some confusion before US