Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-07-17
GEN, MCLELLANS OPERATIONS.
SIX BATTLES IN SIX DAYS.

SIX BATTLES IN SIX DAYS.
We give below an interesting account
of the battles on Saturday, Sunday and
Monday, compiled from the New York
Hcrdld Of July 4th.
a fearful crisis in the history of Amer
lea is past. AT last the Army of the
Potomac is safely sheltered on the banks
Of the James river, and we are permitted
to present some account of its DO Il mas
tcry movements. Six battles have been
fought, and three hundred thousand men
engaged. Twenty to thirty thousand Of
these are dead or bleeding attestations of
the valor. or desperation that animated
them. n retreat, or rather a strategic
movement, has transferred the scene of
operations to a distant point, and all spec
ulations based upon previous positions Of
the grand army are as vain as the conclu-
sions based upon its present arc bcwildcr-
ing.
We know that the army is safe 1t has
won great victories, though outnumbered
by an enemy twice its superior, and holds
its columns intact, the spirit of its men
still invincible and the faith of its off
GERS unconqucrablc. If ever the nation
should thank God it should be at this
time.
The particulars of the battle of Friday
are part known. Whatever may have
been designed or whatever may have been
ncccSsitated in the vacation Of the north
bank Of the Chckahominy, it was at least
certain that said mono occupation would
compel the evacuation of White House
and the York River Railroad, and there
fore oblige falling back to the James
river, as new source of supplies and a
new base OF operations.
THE RETREAT TO THE JAMES RIVER.
Somehow the rumor got wind at once
that the army was to move, and during
Friday night the teams went in long and
winding array towards Savage's Station,
whence they took their way over the
w illiamsburg Dad, and thence to White
Oak Swamp. Next morning the process.
sion continued, and the large siege pieces
that had reached White House the prcvi
GUS week went passing along, with am
balances, batteries and pontoon trains
all orderly, as if moving in furtheranc,
of the cherished plan towards the city o
Richmond. There was degree OF celcr
t ity in their advance that only those ac
; quainted with the state Of things coul,
remark, and the quartcrmastcrs had face
a little anxious, though they said moth
ing. That it takes much patience t.
to await the tardy march of an army al
4 know, even when the troops are free t.
go in advance, and the teams follow lcis
urely but when the teams take the rgh
of way, blocking up every foot of road
, sticking in the bogs and upsetting dow
the hills, the march is indeed devious an,
distressing. Such was the case with on
route on the several marches of Saturday
Sunday and Monday, when the tedinn
was more than usually apparent bccaus
of our anxiety to so forward.
TIE ORDER TO RETREAT.
n 1t was generally understood at dayligh
on Saturday also that the army was t
cvacuatc its line of entertainments. T.
do this with the requisite prccipiiancy
was necessary to move only the most es
sential baggage and leave behind every
thing that was ponderous or bulky. Th
officers were given to understand tha
they must discriminate between necessa
ries and luXuries, and the sick told tha
ambuances would be granted to but yer,
few, if any. The wounded were tolC
nothing, but the silence was ominious t,
them, as it told them that they were t,
be left on the contested ground in tn
G hands of hcartless traitors, while tn
army should be receding, column by col
umn, towards the remote and doubtlu
t James. The scene on that mcmorabl
Saturday morning can never be forgot
ten. White House resigned, cur suppl
depot cut off, part Of our line Of earth
). works deserted, and the army groupe
!; tcntlcss and eXpectant, in the open field
+ + sleeping after the labors Of the battle
S Hundreds Of soldiers were limping hithe
{, and thither. their arms in sings, askin
for their regiments. Hundreds Of other
started upon painful and almost hopcles
= piSrimages to the James, where the
fondly believed the Union gunboats
be, and felt that under their watchfr
ports there would be rest, safety and she
ter. The long line of levcred, staggcrin
people struck out for the river, and man
}. Il drop of blood spattcrcd the sand q
they filed through brook and wood, ovt
hill and dale, aervcd by the certainty thi
every football, ensured more directly the
F. deliverance. Some OF the wounded hol
bled ten miles the first day, upon crutchc'
and we saw one man with wound upo
one hip and the other ankle broken thG
y kept up with an ammunition WACO
through eleven hours. Tho ambulance
were crowded with men until the spring
{. bent flat upon the aXles. and very con
mon matter to see was several wounde
men sitting in the tail Of wagon wit
. bloody feet dripping upon the steps. A
day long the wagons went out in fogg
files, and the troops sauntercd towarC
the same ultima Male. Great seige gun
and greater pontoons went ringing in Il
cortege, and horsemcn, teamsters an
5, negroes We'd with each other in cursin
and swearing.
THE BATTLE OF PEACH ORCHARD.