The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-07-05
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAW rK1E,g7F

interesting one. Ten miles below the White
mouse about two hundred brigs, barks and
scnooners were at anchor, with any quantity Of
canal boats loaded with Implements of war,
commissary and subsistence stores, On the
whole route down, steamers and tugs were pas
seo, having large numbers of vessels in tow, and
a. west Point. forty miles below the White
house, not less than three hundred vessels were
az anchor, while the numerous steamers and
tugs which had brought them down were prepa.
ring TO start up for the several hundred still up
the river
srArIkEKrs OF THE WOUNDED.
About Z O'Clock on Friday evening numbers
Of the wounded commenced to arrive from the
front of the lines With few of the most intel.
iigent Of whom had an opportunity of CONVEX
sing. Those engaged in the repulss of Stone.
wall jackson represented his rout to be most
quick and disastrous. He came down on them
expecting surprise, but found them all mo.
mensariiy expecting his approach, having been
informed BY Gen. Mcclellan two days previous
tnas ne was coming upon them. Instead
OF surprise the enemy received the first shot,
ana aiser two hours fight, retreated in confusion.
;. Ahe wounded from the fight which immme-
diateiy ensued represented it to have been
most terrific encounter, the enemy coming oat
from Richmond upon them in such dense massos
shas the shell and grape poured into them as
tney advanced made great gaps in their lines
which were Immediately filled up, and they
moved forward most determinedly. Their artii-
lery was SO poorly served that the damage to
our ranks was light in proportion. They still
moved on, and exchanged showers of MIME balls
which were destructive on both sides; but when
zen. Porter ordered bayonet charge, they re.
treated in double quick. though Gen. Porter
pursued them but short distance.
The enemy again rallied and approached our
lines q second time, when the same terrible
slaughter ensued. This time their artillery be-
ing better served, was more effective in the
ranks of our men. On coming to close quarters
they were again repulsed and driven back still
greater distance. This twice fought over battle
ground being literally strewn with the dead and
ayng. Zen. Porter then second time fell
back to his position, and waited nearly an hour
for the enemy to renew the assault Tbev how.
ever, finally came on in increased numbers, hav.
ing been largely reinforced, and were again re-
cived with shell and grape, causing great chasms
in their ranks, and one poor fellow who had lost
his arm assured me that he saw the loose arms
and portions of the bodies Of the enemy making
gyrations through the air.
A third time the enemy bore down most brave.
~ and determinedly on our lines, and this con.
fict was the most severely contested of the
whole, but when the bayonet was brought to bear
he fell back. and was pressed toward Richmond
fully mile beyond our original lines.
Again for the fourth time, Porter fell back
to his first position, when an order was received
from Gen. Mcclellan to continue his retropade
movement slowly and in order. So soon "a it
became apparent to the enemy that it was the
purpose of Gen. Porter to retire, the enemy
again pushed forward most boldly and bravely
when their advance was checked by the entire
reserve force consisting of the New York 9Th,
Lieut. Col Duryea; the New York 10th, Colonel
Bendix, and two other regiments under Colonel
Warren, acting Brigadier General, ID the e.
tire force Of regulars under Major Gen. Sykes
This fresh force held the enemy in check
while the force which had previously borne the
bruns of the battle moved steadily back and in
good order, carrying with them their wounded
and dead.
The enemy made fierce attack on the re-
serve, but cannon were posted at varions
points of the route by which they were retir
ing toward the Chickahominy, which occasion
ally poured in shot and shell upon them, and
checked their movements, and enabled the
troops to move back in the most admirable or
der At one time in this retrogade movement.
the reserve force of General Sykes charged
on the enemy with the bayonet and drove him
back nearly mile.
In this charge the gallant New York 9Th and
Col. Bendix's New York 10th drew forth the
plaudits of the army by their steadiness and
in which they however, lost about hundred
of their numbers, whose bodies it was neces-
sary to leave on the field. Cheers went up
along our whole lines at this gallant repulse,
which was at o'clock in the afternoon, and
the enemy did not again renew the attack du-
ring the balance of the evening, but turned
his columns down toward the White House,
which seemed to be the haven of all his hopes.
The division Of the enemy dispatched in this
direction was estimated at from twenty to
thirty thousand, cavalry, artillery and infan-
try. They started down at o'clock on Fri
day afternoon.
STATEMENT OF A PAYMAsTER.
In conversation with a paymaster, who was
with General Porter's Division when the battle
commenced, Ihave a very full confirmation
Of the statement Of this gallant soldier. He says
that being anxious for the safety Of the large
amount of treasure IN his possession he asked
Instructions, and was told to proceed toward
Savage Station, on the Richmond side of the
Chickahominy in company with the wagon
train then moving in that direction with the
knapsacks of the men and all the valuables
from the various camps of the division.
He joined the train and moved on, and des-
cribes the artillery reerves stationed along
the road to protect the retiring of the right
wing of the army across the Chickahominy.-
He says it was q most orderly movement, con-
Quoted slowy and steadily and that the only
evidence Of panic was among some teamsters,
who threatned to break their lines, but were
Instantly checked by q company of caviry who
were ordered to blow out the brains of the first
man who deserted his post or disobeyed the
orders Of the guards.
This gentleman left the Savage Station south
of the Chickahominy, at o'clock on Saturday
morning, and states that during the night the
entire right wing Of the army passed over the
river in perfect order, not losing wagon Of
the train, and only leaving such portion OF their
camps as was no. deemed worth removing as
they retired to their new lines. There had
been no firing during the night, though, at
5 o'clock on Saturday morning some heavy
cannonading was in progress on the extreme
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