The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-09
be mpted bud for the aLtaek On our rIghl
PREPARATIONS ron nrrsEAr.

Orered that they were being removed 10
5avage's Station, and a competent officer
explained gravely that 10 was thought
advisable to 60 there, although IL was in
the rear Of our lef wing. After dark
there were other ominous symptoms; gem
eral officers conflded 20 their STATE their
fears Of coming disaster. Even with the
best disciplined troops, and under favor
able auspices, to change a plan Of opera
tions in the face Of an enemy, is regarded
by military authorities as one OF the most
dangerous enterprises. In our situation
IA was case of desperation. With our
force, we could not hold our position
against en- enemy IN trout and rear long
er than supplies inland would last. An
attemptto cut through lines OF enirehchi
ments and powerful redoubts. defended
by numerous and desperate eneafv
would have been madness We had no
hope Of reinforcements. Besides, IL was
now too late for them to form Junction
with us, eitherby the Rappahahnoelx route
or BY York river, since they would be cut
OF inevitably. There was bat ono ex-
iremely perilOus alternative. The army
must fall back on James river. A hone
was entertained that the enemy would be
deceived into the belief thatwe designed
10 fall back TO the White House. Pfepa-
fatiOns were accordingly begun.
Porter's command crossed the river
without opposition. During the night,
our bridges were blown up and the cross.
ings were barrioaded and defended
Reyes line, which was on the extreme
left resting on White Oak Swamp, was
prolonged, and our artillery and transport
tation trains were ordered 10 prepare 60
move forward That night Gen. Casey
was also directed to destroy all public
property at the White House that could
not be removed, aud to transport the sick
and wounded to place Of safety, to re-
tire himself and reioin the army on James
river. Friday night was thus actively
and mournfully passed. The troops
were ignorant of the status, and it was
desirable TO conceal the truth from
them. II was feared the enemy might
attack on Saturday, and every prepara-
tion was made TO resist successfully. Our
defeated right was disposed ON Trents
bluffs, where the enemy's crossing niqlt
be successfully opposed, and by day light
our main body of supports, after severe
night resumed their original position.
The night of Friday, June ~, was
gloomy, but it was felicity ITSELF COM
pared with those Of Saturday, Sunday,
Monday, and Tuesday.
Saturday morning loomed upon us
holly and eheerlessly. Until nine o'clock
not The sound of a hostile gun disturbed
the dread silence. The profound stillness
of morning became so oppressive that the
dull report of musket on tho borders
have been comparative happiness. About
nine o'clock this anxiety was relieved by
an awful cannonade opened upon Smiths
position from two forts in Garnefs field,
battery at Fitz John Porter's old posi-
ton, and another below it, on the left
bank of the Chickahominy, raking his
intrenchments and compelling him TO
abandon the strongest natural position
on our whole line. The fire was terrible.
can describe its lines fairly by com
pairing it with the right lines and angles
Of chess board. Smith fell back TO the
woods. a few hundred yards, and threw
up bTeastw0rks out Of range,
The enemy, content with his success,
ceased firing, and quiet was not disturbed
again that day. The silence of the enemy
was explained to me that night by me-
gro slave, who had escaped from his mas
ter at headquarters in Richmond. He
said dispatch had been sent by Jack
son to Magruder, who remained in com
mand in front of Richmond, expressed
thus; "Be quiet EperytLiRgis lool6itg as
tceH as zoe 'ooqH desireP 0minous words
| now proceeded TO Savage Station.
shall not attempt to describe the sombre
picture Of gloom, confusion and distress
which oppressed me there i found Off
GERS endeayoring to fight OF the true
meaning. Anxiety at headquarters was
too apparent 10 one who had studied that
branch of the army too sharply 10 be de-
luded by thin masks. Other external
signs were demonstratiVe, The wretched
spectacle of mangled men from yester-
days battle, prone upon the lawn, around
the hospital the wearied, haggard, and
smoke begrimmed faces Of men who had
fought yesterday, were eoRcOmitants Of
every battle field, yet they formed the
sombre colorng Of the ominous picture
before me. Then there were hundreds
who had struggled from the Geld, sprawl
ed upon every space where there was a
shadow of q leaf to protect them from a
broiling sum hurry aud tApult Of wag-
ons and artillery trains, endless almost
rushing down the roads towards the new
base, moving with sort Of orderly con-
fusion, almost as distressing as panic
itself, But / venture that few of al that
has,ening throng, except old officers,
understood the misfortune. Strange TO
say, that oven then, almost eleven o clock,
communication with White House by
railroad aud telegraph was nninterrupt-
ed, but soon after eleven The wires sud-
denly ceased 20 yibrate intelligibly
From headquarters / passed along our
lines. The troops still stood az the
breasiworks, ready for battle; but IL was
evident they bad begun 20 inquire into
/ the situation. Some appeheHsiye Off
GERS had caught hint Of the mysteries
which prevailed. The trains were or
dered 10 move, troops 20 bold themselves
1 Ia readiness 10 march az any moment
So passed that day dreadful In its
moral attributes as a day Of pestilenoe,
and when aight closed upon the dreary
scene, the enterprise had fully begun,
/ Endless streams Of artillery trains,
/ wagons, and fmeroal ambulancos pour
! ed down the roads from all the camps,
and plunged into -the narrow fun
mel which was our only hope Of es-
cape And now tho requisite truth
flashed upon me- ID WAS. absolutely
necessary, for the salvation Of She army
and the cause, that our wounded and
manglcd braves, who lay moaning in
| physical agony In cur hospitals should
/ be deserted and left IN the hands Of the
enemy.
! .nMfNEHT DANCER