The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-09
From Gen. McClellan's army
The Second Struggle on the Field of the
Seven Pines. List of Casulties.

CAMp BrroRE RIcuuoNp June 2G


which the month opened. No longer the
subjects of an unexpected attack, but adj
vancing this time against the enemy, under
the immediate direction Of the Commanding
General, our troops have achieved decid.
ed advantage, securing a position some
what nearer Richmond, and leaving but q
single belt of forest between them and that
city.
Since the three days with which the
month opened there has been scarcely any
thing worthy the name of fighting and
with the exception, perhaps, of the loss
from picket firing, which has been heavy
our list of casualties is less than for any
similar period since the army came upon
the Peninsuala. The time has been improv.
ed by Gen. Mcclellan in making a new and
better disposition of his troops in procur-
ng reinforcement and in strengthening
ais lines with a series of ieldworks, which
have proved all effe ctual safeguard against
such assaults as that from which Casey suf-
iered, and furnished a strong base ofopera-
tions for further advance.
Meanwhile the rebels have also been
lctive, not disdaining to make earnest
use of the weapons they have scornfully
assigned to Gen. Mcclellan. They have
been busy with the shovel and pick, and
multiplying the fortificatons guarding Rich
mond, extending them nearer to our lines
than before Thus, along the front of our
position on the further side of the Chicka-
hominy double row of earthworks have
lrison, 50 near as to threaten bringing
matters TO a dead lock by preventing effec-
tive operations from either side, and SO
separated by belts of forests. that neither
could act against the other.
Between these hostile earthworks is a
narrow space commanded alike by the guns
Of both, forming the debateable ground be-
tween the two, which Gen. Mcclellan must
command wholly before any further progress
could be made. 1t has been the policy of
Doth armies to pursuade the attack. as in
this wooded country, the party advancing
ioes so under great disadvantages, and
necessarily ignorant of the enemy's dis
positions and the location and extent of his
defensive works.
At first the rebels felt themselves strong
enough to assume the initiative, but since
the lesson received by them at the battle
OF the Seven Pines, they would seem to
have abandoned the idea of driving us from
our strongly guarded positions, and have
made no organized effort to dislodge us.
though their assault on one of our principal
works on Saturday was supposed to be pre-
liminary to such a movement.
On the right of our forces on the Chicka-
homny there have been no offensive move
ments from either side, since the position
was occupied by the troops of Gen. Smith.
Indeed, very amicable interchange of
civilities has continued there. up to the last
few days, when the stern policy of war has
put stop to it. On the center and left of
,,,,,,
unceasing in their efforts at ANNOYANCE
shelling our camps, shooting our pickets,
or advancing against us with reconnoiter-
ing parties; which last compliment we have
returned in kind, though little attention has
been paid to their rather harmless efforts
at breaking up our camps. None of the
enemy's efforts have been sufficient to dis
turb the plan of operations in progress, and
finding them indisposed to more serious
efforts, Gen. Mcclellan, having taken ample
time for preparation, seems to have deter
mined on forward movement, partly TO
secure better camping ground for our
men, and partly for other purposes which
will develop themselves in due time.
In order to make any further advance up
the Williamsburg road. the railroad, it was
necessary TO drive the rebels from the
woods in front Ofus, across the open space
beyond, and out Of the rifepits on the
further side, exposed to the danger of fire
from batteries OF uncertain strength, that
might be the ground; our superiority in
artillery could be made of little avail to lis
and any advantage gained must be by the
direct contact of the infantry forces contest
ing the ground inch by inch and hand to
hand. But Mcclellan knows his men.--
Williamsburg and Seven Pines have shown
with which army rests the superiority in
determination and mettle. ..
On "Wednesday the order came to ad-
vance in this direction, and by Z in the
morning Of that day the corps of Heintzol-
men and Sumner were under arms, every
preparation being made at the same time
for general engagement, should the meve-
ment provoke one. But the enemy showed
no disposition to bring matters to an issue
at this time. Their main resistance was
directed against the position held by the
troops of llentzelman from the railroad TO
the left, along the line of the attack on the
force of Ger. Casey. Here the battle raged
in a series of detached skimishes through
the day, Hooker's Division being most heav-
lily engaged and suffering most severely in
the assault. ...... ......
At o'clock the prigades of this division
were drawn up in line of battle on the right
of the Williamsburg road, short distance
beyond the Seven Pines, and from that to
the railroad the First Massachusetts, Col.
Robert Cowdin. being deployed as slIirmish-
ers, the Second Now Hampshire, Col. Mars
ton, supporting it a little to the left and
rear, and the Tweny-sixth Pennsylvania,
Col. VIM. F. Small supporting it in the
rear the Eleventh Massachusetts, Col. VIM.
Blaisdell, ironing the reserve. On the left
of the Williamsburg road, Gen. Sichles'
Excelsior Brigade was stationed, the remain
ing brigade of the divis on, Gen. Patterson s
New Jersy Brigade, being held in reserve
AS a support. Further TO the left, Gen.
Kearney Joined his line OF battle on TO that
Of Gen. Sickles, while at the right Cen
Sumner held his men in preparation for any
service that might he required of them.
The works guarding the position held
! TO the front Of Gems. Heintzlman and Sumner
| we're hidden from the enemy by belt OF
woods, in which our rickets met theirs
and d sputed it's possession with them. On
| the further side of this wood, iii front oI
! HOOker's position is a swap extending q
short distance, until it joins on 10 peacl
orchard, on the frmer ground beyond
| Next 10 the peach orchard is an open space
| bounded on the further side by patch o
forest, by which the rebel works are screen
ed from observation. In front of the woods
the rebels have rihe-pits, in the further
edge of the clearing, protecting their ad
vance guard in the woods beyond on the
side toward us.
Pressing forwad through the woods il
front of their line, and so on through tho
peach orchard General Hooker's men drov'
the rebel pickets before them, until they
came upon the main body of the enemy a
their rihe-pits, on the further side clearing
beyond the trees. Here the battle ragged
6ercely for some time, the rebels stifly
maintaining their ground, until finding them
selves sOrely pressed by our men, and il
danger of beng fanked by General Kear
ney's troops on the right they were fsrceC
to give away before the fierce charge o
IloOker's veterans, which drove them iron
their riAe-pits and into the woods at thei
rear.