New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-03
Another skirn,ish--Maj. Kelley OF the 06th
KiIlcd-six Miles from Richmend-A
Battle Within Forty.eight Hours.

SEyEH PIyEs, Va, May %, 1862.
The left wing, immediately under Gen. Peck-the
extreme left advanced about mile to-day. rode
ahead of the selected eamping-ground to got
the pickets as military law would aow-rode a
mile aud half in advance. crowd around a house
in field on the way diverted me from the road, Of
courre and soon found that the central point OF In
terest for our soldiers was a wounded Rebel, over
whose broken thigh . council Of surgeons debated
whether they should ampu.ate or leave the man to
the curative love of Nature. T wasa nice question
for the chances ofsarvyal Of the wound and Of tie
operation were equal. thought in the face OF
the North Carolnian the shadow VI tho coming Angel
of Death, coming to end the humane controversy Of
science, and TO discharge tae Rebel forever from
military service He had already mentioned to one
Of the Surgeons that the Southern army this side of
Richmond was about 10000 strong, and that its de-
termination was 70 give us the hardest fight they
could make. He betrayed the anxiety of the Rebel
leaders TO know if iroops were making their ap-
proach to Richmond By parallels They thus ex-
plain 70 themselves the remarkable delay which has
made our march hesitate since we crossed the Chick
ahominy. To end all doubt upon the point,
they sent toll regiment at o'clock
this morning, to drive in our piekets on the main
Williamsburg road, and to push, with ball and bayo-
net, reconnaissance rs far within our lues they
could penetrate. The fog, thicker than Nlagaras
mift, covered the earth after midnight Ii lifted ut
lifted suddenly, and revealed in line of battle ia
front of Nagee pickets the long array of Rebel UNI
forms. TIE tragedy had no loss Of time From the
leveled line OF muskets leaped the iame-winged bull
lets and small picket force instantly gave ground
Major Kelley of the New-York 9th, mounted I'M
fortunately on bis horse was target for three bull
lels. He fell dead, as did private - of the same
regiment. Two OF the rank and tile were wounded,
one of them % severely 10 require amputation of
the left arm near the shoulder. Down the road on
the double-quick came the Rebel line. But it soon
right. about.i.ced. Re-eDforcements 10 the drivenn
pockets came from Nagees brigade and 300 drove
800 away from their impertinent search after our
Z" parallels, or other causes OF delay in the On to
Richmond" march.
Wbie riding away from the council of amputa-
ton held around the wounded Rebel and on to the
front, met an ambulance whose peculiar unyelding
motion told that freghted for the grave Instead
of the hospital stopped II, and lifting the curtain
looked in. The dead Major and his comrade 10 the
ranks wero calmly sleeping. No passion, aud no
suffering disigured their faces. Will there be am
balances enough to carry those who will follow You
to- morrow day after tomorrow, departed soldiers
of the Union lrOw not.
Our pickets on the left OF our line Of march, and
to the 'front.' ars mile, mile and half, aud az one
point nearly two miles from the enemy. The tree
beneath which | write is but six miles from Rich
our light arti lery is III motion to the west. How
long can the eannoniers OF the opposing forces be
kept asunderl Within forty-eight hours they will
look into the muzzles o, each others pieces if the
shar pshooters mutually grant the fearful privilege.
| can not imagine that The struggle between the
representative armies Of Freedom and Slavery, i'm
pending now these twelve months, can possibly be
postponed longer than two days.
> OF the result of the battle have no doubt, when
| look upon these wonderful men OF New England
growth and descent. The Yankee is an inviIcble
product of God and Civilization. III doubts of the
result do assail me, i, is only when look at some
of the officers to whoss incapacity and selfshness
President Lincoln and tue Senate have committed
the lives and the conduct of the best men in Ameri-
ca. Oh through what "a painful aud weary, and
costly and wasieiul road ARE the Americans OF the
North destined 10 TO the complete education IN
the art Of War which, with their courage and intel
ligence shall make them unequaed as soldiers by
ANY race that has ever lived! And into what II
school OF public and Of private economy are the
taxpayers OF the United States now fully admitted
and obliged to graduate-and graduate with dis
tincton thai. may reflect honor on msefliness.
But 10 the situation, right under my eye. No one
knows the future aud it is not my habit TO appoint
distant day or the telling Of truth. The left wing
of this army only, 10 across the ChickahOminy. II is
running wedge.shaped into the eneny's country. and
no to the Notifications OF Richmond. IL is doing all
the dangerous and exhausling duty OF picketing.
Since the battle Of Williamsburg, Reyes, Couch
Peck, Casey, ana Deyns have bad imposed on them
the labor of driving the enemy over the Chcabomlny,
OF brlds ling the swampy stream, OF sweeping the
Rebels through the unnlapped and unknown woods
this eide the Chckahominy-of feeling and hgh,ng
their way by day-of fighting and watching .ne.r
ground by night-till they stand now like promon-
tory projecting into the sea. Opposing Ior.e' s
round thcm-and will dash on tnem, OUT III vaiu.
The genius caution, courage experience, ana .enasg
Of Couch, Peck and their associates IN eoInulanu MN
hold securely the advance which they nave won mus
for for the whole army with the muskes anu 'ue ~