The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-12

preaching night, aud the fortunes of the day
had only wavered momentar.l : at times to-
wards The rebels, and the fight waf growing
desperate. The troops we're getting used to
she smoke, dust, and din of battle, and tie
roaring of cannon and bursting of SHELLS,
more terrific than ever seemed to have less
Reflect uaon the rebels. They pressed up
with fearful determination, column after
column Of fresh troops, aud the courage oi
the whole army was at lis best.
Even the General Commanding showed
signs of apprehension for the result, and
the safety of the heavy siege train, so
dreaded at Yorktown, and the other arlil-
lery and ammunition. But it twas no time
for faltering. Troops who had fought with
courage, gallantly repulsing the enemy at
every step for FIVE days, must use despera-
ton new.
The line of the enemy's attack was con
ceptrating, and Genesal Porter rode in front
of the army, ordering the two wings of
Morell and Sykes, and Couch, to concen-
trate and Withdrawing Meagher, placed him
in a position on the left, to flank the ap-
proaching columns, with orders to cha ge
at advantageous opportunities, and giving
the same orders TO Butterfield's brigade of
MorePs division. and Colonel Warren of
General Sykes and to General A5ererom-
brie in General Couch's.
At this moment General Sickles brigade
came up profered by General Heintzelman
and was received by General Porter, and
conducted to point a little neglected.
The engagement now became a scene of
madness-a force of thirty thousand con-
tending against fully three times their own
number, plunging with rapid charges and
deafening shouts, and successfully driving
them from the field. A brilliant charge of
the New York 44th, under Colonel Rice.
captured secesh flag. with the motto
"Seven Pines" Our troops were in no
condition to follow the enemy beyond the
range of the artillery, aud they contented
themselves with leaving them at a range
where the effect of the artillery was most
terrible. T roar OF musketry died away,
and the engagement became an artillery
contest, neither side attempting TO advance
The force formerly beaten by the mishap
of cavalry blunder at Chickahominy, had,
in the battle of Malvern, successfully re-
pulsed the rebels in every quarter. Our
killed and wounded were numbered by
thousands, and what the loss of the rebels
was can be imagined.f
AS night closed iu,ethe firing gradually
ceased, until not an ALARM gun was heard
Detachments of each company were sent out
to gather 10 the wounded and bury the
dead, and Judging from the appearance of
the field, nearly the whole army was out
recognizing friends and members of their
companies killed and wounded, and bring
ing them off.
The Union and rebel soldiers mingled
promscuously in the sea ch and separation
of those on either side, hardly noticing that
a few minutes before they had been opposed
to each other in deadly combat All the
wagons, guns, and the immense siege train
were safely removed to Harrison's bar by
Wednesday noon, and the army was set at
work to recruit and reorganize.
The storm which yesterday drenched
many poor fellows dusty uniform, and
chilled his tired frame, and which reduced
the clayey soil to that pasty adhesive con-
dition which offends the patience of the pc
destrian, and tries the nerves of horse and
rider alike, passed over during the night,
and Independence Day came in with glad
dening sun to cheer the hearts of the army.
During yesterday, in spite of mud and
rain, the mass of troops which bad been
poured in here so hastily was reduced 10
order, and corps and divisions had their
definite positions assigned them, prepared
camp grounds, and the men spread couches
to enjoy the first real rest wnich had been
permitted them for a week. The long pull
of sleep they got last night told the
troops. 1t was far happier, brighter and
stronger set of men, who stood about the ;
camp fires this morning, than that which I
the day before shivered in the rain. About
noon the bands, such of them as still have
musicians and instruments, wholly or par
TALLY complete, played National airs, which
uHusuaE sounds did much to enliven the
camps, for months debarred the luxury Of
music by an imperative order, necessitated
by the near proximity of the rebels, who
could from our music, discover our position.
A little after noon, Gen. Mcclellan, with !
his staff, in costumes cleaned of the mud
and rust of the long journey, commenced
the round of visits to the different corps
The Commanding General looked in excel !
lent spirits, not discovering in the least any
appearance of fatigue. He took the differ
ent corps in order, reviewing the men, his
arrival welcomed in every division by the
firing of a Mejor-GeneraPs salute, and he
himself received by the troops with hearty
cheers, which kept mingling along the
whole line as he passed from brigade to
brig ade- 1t was a touching sight to view
the thinned ranks drawn up before their
General, the war-worn veterans, no
longer the scholar soldiers, whom he re-
viewed in Washington last November, but
heroes of six, eight and ten battles, who
had attested their courage aud devotion, |
and won the right to the name of soldiers.
Gen. McOlellan looked with particular in
terest on brIgade5 which had suTervd -o-5
severely in the late battles, and expressed |
his sorrow at the gaps in their lines, but as
Caldwell told him in answer to such an ex-
preston of regret in regard TO his brigade,
they died in doing their duty, and the rest
were ready to do the same thing. The
visit and review of the General occupied |
nearly the whole of the afternoon, during |
all which time the hills resounded with the |
salutes. The whole ceremony was one of |
The most impressive and touching that could |
possibly be witnessed, and cannot be with |
1ut its good effects upon commander and |
men. The soldiers on their own part cele- |
orated the Fourth with the popping of !