Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-03
From tie Richmond Di.pdteh.
THE RATTIF9 AND THE LOCALITIES.

10 day a. well il possible to do so, upon the pro-
gress Of the momentous struggle going on pear this
city, and which has shed such lusre upon the Conied
crate armg Yet, for a better understanding OF II TO
those not familiar with the ground, deem proper to
group together the main points Of the narrative con-
| tlnued from day TO day.
The OhiekAhominy is stream rather above the og'
nifty of a creek and not July up TO that Of river,
which meanders through the tdewater district Of James
river in line generally parallel TO the James at mean
distance of ten twelve mes from that river until it
THE Cbickshomiuy) reaches the lower end Of Charles
| City county, when it abruptly turns souhWardly and
empties into the James. Il is the Northern boundary
Of both Henrco and Charles City. 1t is skirted gener.
ally by wide low lands and in some parts considerable
swampe McClelsns army had part Of il, crossed TO
the Sou Inside of the ChickGhomny, and were foruhed
on the Williamsburg road, and adjacent to It, within
seven mills of Rcnmond-he point where the battle oil
| Seven Pines occurred. The enemy was also strongly
posted for many miles on the North bank the heights
OF which fortified with great energy and skill from
Meadow Bridge, his extreme right, to some two mnes
below Bottoms Bridge distance Of about twenty miles
Meadow Bridgeis 81 miles from and North Of the city
and az that point the Central Railroad crosses the Uhck
aiomiuy. The enemy we're posted on the heights be
yond. The York Riv5 RIilroad crosses the Chieka-
hominy about ten miles from Richmond and about NJ
distance below Meadow Bridge. kechanicsviile Is
mile beyoad the Cackahominy, six miles from Rch
mond and some two three miles below Meadow
Bridge Oher points which taye become famous in the
battles are in this order Elyson hih, Beaver DAM
PoWhte, or Hogan's farm, and Coal Haroor-ah
on the North bank, and covering distance OF some
twelve u "a.
o. the south side, and South Of the York River Rail-
roaG are the following roads, often referred % in
the narratives gwen now, well as In the battle OF Sy
en- Pines The Williamsburg road, which connects With
tle New Bridge ard Nine Mile roads al and near Seven
Pines crosses the Chiokahominy ct Bottoms Bridge
The New Bsdge ROAD crosses the Cbickahominy about
eight miles l,om the city. Meadow Bridge 10 NORTH,
and the route of cur victories being from thence down
the eoutbeasl line pursued on tho Chckahom!ny, is
brought 10 Bottoms Bridge, due cast of the city.
We hlc il tbs E-qu!rer, of yesterday so brief and
clsar review OF operations against the enemy In
these Localities that make it part of this article:
"On Thuraday a; three O'clock Major General Jack
SON took up his line OF march from Ashland and pre-
c5el-d dOTn the Country between tie Chckahomiry
AID Pamuuksy r,ers he uncovered the front Of Brig
Gen. Bralch by driving IA tho enemy collected on the
north bank Of tue ChiCkAocminy river, Of the point
where i. ia crossed by Tho Brock Turnpike; General
B.ano- NO IVES Jn the sou,h bALk then crossed the
river AID wheeled to The right down its northern bank
Proceeding IN that direction Gen. Branch, In like man
ner Uncovered at Meadow Bridge, the front of VI jcr
General A. P. Hill who Immediately crossed. Tbs three
columns now proceeded tehelon Gen Jackson ia adj
Val &C and on the extreme f. Big. Gen Branch (Who
was nov merged with Gen. A. y. Hill in the centre
and Gen. a J. Hill on the right, Immediately on the
river. Jackson, bearing away from the Ohckahominy
on this part o! the march ss 10 gain ground towards
tse Pamuukey, marched to the left Of bechanicsVle
while Gen HILL keeping well TO the Onickihominy, ap
preached that village and engaged the enemy there
Tee military talent exhibited by General Hi in this ap
proach sad assault is worthy Of great commendaton
aud has mperishsble honors for that gallant youug
officer while the courage, ardor and hmUess OF bis Of
fcers aud in the assault Of the enemys earhWorks
al Eysous Mill have reflected the greatest glory spon
the Confederate army. Driven from the immediate To-
cAty of Mechsne,ve, the enemy rereaied during the
night down the river TO PoWhitc swamp, and night
closed the operations of Thursday.
AS soon as General Hill cleared the road at hechan
emile neral Longsreets corps ddriass consisting Of
his veteran division OF the Old Guard Of the Army OF tie
Potomsc and Gen. d. II Hills DIVISION debouched from
The woods on the south side OF the Ohckahominy aud
osssd that river at Mechanicsvlle. TIE position OF
ANY Friday night may be described as forming, with
the Utickahomiuy, acute angle; our 6fs still In ad
varce under General Jackson, lying over towares the
p muukey; General Hull occupying Aechancsvie and
the CENTRE and General LongsIreet with General D. d.
Hill, composing our right, lying Immediately along the
Chiekahominy.
Friday morning the general advance tehslOn again
began; Gen. Jackson in advance and far TO the ltf,
gradually couvergDg to the Ohickahominy again ; Gen
A. p Hill in the centre and bearing towards New Cosl
HArooT Gen. Longsueet and Cen. d. Il. Hill coming
down the CbickAhominy TO New Bridge. Arrived at
HogAns house. near New Bridge e n Lee awaited the
contamination Of his magnificent strategy-cturer after
courier arrived informing him Of the approach Of each
division. As soon as Jacksob's arrival at Coal Harbor
was az nounced Gen Lee and Gen. Longstreet accom-
panied b. their respective sts rode by Gaines Nil ano
lated al New Coal HArbor, where they joined G n.
p. Hill. Soon the welcome sound Of JGcksons guns an
nout ced his arrival and that the battle had begun.
"rho enemy now occupied singular position; one
porton of his army on Southsde OF the Obickaaom
n.y. iron,ed Richmond, and was confronted by General
Asgruder-the other portion on the northsde, had
turned their backs on Redmond, and itonted des'
ructicn In the persons Of Lee Lougtre Jackson and
the Hills.
"These last were, therefore, advancing Richmond
with their backs 10 the city, such the position into
which General Lee had forced Mcclellan. The position
zhch the latter here occupied however one Of great
strength.
Jackson having begun the contest, It was taken up
by neral A. p. Hill in the centre and by d. II. bill on
tie ef LOngstreet in reserve, supported Immediately
the centre under General A. P. Hill. Fom the begin
ming OF the ct, JIcksol pressed up and D. Hill
down the Chickahoniny Jar wings we're thus approach
ng each other while our centre driving the enemy
back upon tho river Fom four O'Clock until eight tie
battle ragged with display Of the daring and IL
epidy the part Of the Confederate army. The enc
mys nts hlaly broken and his strong Positions
all carried and night covered the retreat Of MeCeaIts
broken and routed columns 10 the southside Of the
ChickahomDy This retreat to the Richmond side OF the
river continued through Friday night aad the morn
irg OF Saturday. Closely watched aud pusied By Our
army he held his fortified camp the southside of Il
Oaickahomny during Saturday, but evacuated IL during
the night and resuntc MS reea', taxing drecuoh 10
wards James river.
"Tbe operations OF our army since Sunday morning
have bsen principally on the Redmond side OF the
Ohictahoriny; Sunday, however, dickson command
Cd Bottoms Bridge aud though unable to 1t be-
under range of the guns Of the enemy, pre-
vented lie by the enemy while he built himself
other mile above where he crossed his army to the
South side on Sunday evening, leaving Gen. Stusrts
cavalry on the North side.
The retreat which began from The North side Fri
iay right, on yesterday ohsrg into ght and the
foot races ct the srmcs of ia, Potomsc are now being
ruu down towards the imes River through Charles
City, The position OF ne scm,G At the time of writing
,ts owing to HcO!e lans rsPi movements and brilliant
SHAGGY may b. dsgns: as decidedly shifting indeed
1Cso,irc views the principal parts ofthe fyrg Fed.
sTal panorama
Tue suit Of The ccr ac. thus far Is splendid trib
ute 10 the capacity Of ou Commanding General Robert
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