Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-07
THE BATTLE OF THURSDAY.

SSs1SS9 1%SA4Ss
THE BATTLE OF THURSDAY.
Yesterday afternoon au engagement open
ed few miles northeast of the city, which,
we have no reason to doubt, is the begin
ming of the great conflict that is to decide
the fate of the capital, aud perhaps of the
CoGfederacy itself The caunonading till
an hour or more after dark: was quick and
heavy, exceeding in .rapidity and volume
that at Seven Pines. Not u word from the
field has reached the city. The reason
probably is, that the attack was made and
the fight rugged on the enemy's rear. The
city is confident aud calm.
LATER.
Information came to hand last night that
the attack was made by Gen. A. P. Hills
division on the enemy's position, near the
Meadow Bridge, about three o'clock. The
enemy recoiled, leaving battery, as is re-
ported, in the hands of our troops.
Retreuting about two miles, the enemy
made Il staud in their entertainments at
Mechanicsvile and offered vigorous resist
ance for two or three hours. But they
could not stand the impetuous onset OF our
victorious troops and again broke and made
for the main body of McClellan's army,
leaving three batteries to their pursuers.
Darkness put an end to the chase. We
have no reports of casualties. The battle
opens gloriOusly May this mornings sun
be our sun of Austerlz.
FROM THE L1NEs-TuE FIGHT ON WEDNESDAY.
This company was iu the fight which
took place on Wednesday,, GU the Williams
burg road. We are permitted to take the
following extract from letter from mem-
Der of the company, dated yesterday:
ave have had nothing 10 eat since yes
terdny morning, and then only IL slice of
bread and a cup of coffee to each of us.
we had 10 lie all day in the sun. The
Yankees were Smelling US most of the time,
but did not hurt US. About O'Clock p.
NJ. we were ordered to fix bayonets and
charge the Ynnkees-that is, four compa-
MES of our regiment (the Twelfth Virginia)
the other portion being held as a reserve
and support for our artillery. We had to
charge across wheat field about three
quarters of mile. The Yankees we're I'M
der cover, in n dense wood, and ut least
eight to our one.
We crossed the field with a yell, and so
quick aud unexpected was the movement,
that the Yankees broke and fed, but not
until many of them had been made to bite
the dust. don't mean that our battalion
did all this. We were molly aided bv the
| tolu NOTIu SuTOllud hiQ fLu L uS
woods were filled with the dead and wound
ed Yankees. None of our company were
killed, but seven were wounded Sergeant
Wm. Woodson, in knee; R. Edyson, through
the lungs (nortalIy); j. u. Old, in calf of
| leg; A. Cartwright, in small of back (se-
riously); John Leatmont, in arm; Sergeant
John Z. Laughton, slight, in leg; David
Wilson, in foot, Slightly. We took some
! twenty or thirty prisoners"
| We have been unable to obtain any fur
Their particulars of the fighting in the early
part of the day, aud, until the generals in
command concede some facilities to report
ers and correspondents of the press. will
have to trust to chance for whatever news
we may obtain from the lines,
The 4Sth North Carolina, alluded to in
the above extract, is new regiment. com
manded by Colonel Hill. The regiment
marched from the Capital Square, Wednes-
day morning about 8 O'Clock, and went in
to action soon after reaching the lines.
About twenty of the regiment were killed,
and a considerable number wounded, in
Guiding Major Hope, who was struck in
the right foot by ball.
Early. yesterday morning "Long Tom"
again opened on the Yankee breastworks,
north of the Williamsburg road, and de-
molished a considerable portion of the en-
trenchments. The Yankees fled in dismay
from the shells of this powerful engine.
The gun was manned, we learn, by Captain
Snowden Andrews Artillerists, the infant.
ry support being portion of Gen. Pender's
brigade.
THE GENERAL POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
-, FIRST IN THE FIELD.
In view of the meuacing attitude of the
Yankees and their degraded foreign mer-
cenaries in front of our city, the President
of the Confederate States has, we learn,
communicated to the heads of the different
Departments, a request that their respec-
tive employees should form themselves into
a battalion, or into separate companies, to
cooperate with our fellow citizens in the
defence of Richmond, in such manner, not
incompatible with the discharge of their
official duty, as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of War.
Yesterday the first organization to this
patriotic end was formed in the General
Post Office Department. AT an early hour
of tho day meeting of all the officers con-
nected with that department was convened
by the direction Of the Acting Postmaster
General, Hon. h. st. Geo. 0ffutt, and was
organized by calling that officer to the chair.
After eloquently explaining the object of
the meeting, aud communicating the wish
es ofthe President, a company was at once
formed, to which no name has yet been |
given, though we are informedit will prob |
ably be the Reagan Rifles. Tie following |
are tn" Officers elected: Captain, John L. |
,BaFfell, Alabama first lieutenant, B. Full. |
Ter, North Caroline; second do, ]. Frank I