The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-07-17

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the 9th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment.
The enemy followed slowly and cautiously,
as if he feared being decoyed into some
trap. The firing was not rapid, and we
lost but few men. Good order prevailed.
OUR FORCE.
AS has been previously stated, the rebel
force was estimated to be $4,000 men,
Our force consisted of MorelPs, NJ Calls,
and Sykes divisions, and Cooks Cavalry
Brigade, numbering altogether about 20,-
O0C.
Our forces was distributed as follows
General Mead's Brigade of the Penn
! sylvania Reserve troops, on the extreme
left, and near the Chickahominy. Gen.
Butter6eld's Brigade, the left at the right
of Gen. Mead's Brigade. Gen. Martin
dale's Brigade, the left joining Gen. But
ter6eld's right. Gen. Griffin Brigade
on the right of General Martindale's. The
division under command of Gen. Sykes at
the right of General Grifin's Brigade
Gen. Reynolds Brigade of Pennsylvania
Reserve troops at the extreme right of
4 the line, reaching to Coal Harbor. Gen.
fSeymour's Brigade of Pennsylvania Re-
serve troops held position in about tie
centre Of the column within supporting dis
tance of the force III front. Gen. Cooks
Cavalry Brigade took a position in the
rear of the extreme right.
Robertson's United States Battery, of
six pieces, Hart's United States Battery,
of four pieces, and Keen's Pennsylvania
Battery, of six pieces, took positions on
eminences at the left Aliens Massachu-
sets Battery, of six pieces, Martins Mass
achusetts Battery, of six pieces, and Grif-
fms United States Battery, of six pieces,
held positions in about the centre. At
the right were TidbalPs, Weeds, and Car
isles United States Batteries, a German
battery of four 0-pounders, and a battery
attached to the Pennsylvania Reserve
Corps.
At II o'clock NJ. the rebels fired the
first shot, from battery stationed on the
hill in front of Gaines house. 1t was a
solid shot, and struck in the woods at the
rear of Gen. Martindale's brigade, and be-
tween his advance and reserve columns
This shot was followed by several others
before any of our batteries responded.
At 1 o'clock, sharp skirmishing was
heard in front of the centre. BY this
we knew the rebels to be steadily advan-
cling, and expected every moment to see
them make their appearance on the brow
of the hill before our ine of defence
The firing become more rapid, but up to
this time we had not heard any yolleys.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE.
At about one o'clock, our guns began
to respond to those Of the enemy. The
skirmishers were already engaged in front
of the centre, and soon after they got to
| .Io ,Io1o % ba lines
The firing became more frequent as the
enemy's pickets advanced. The skirmish-
ers were at length called in, and took
their position in the line. BY far the
heaviest battle in which the army of the
Potomac has yet been engaged was now
progressing
At 2 o'clock, p NJ, on Friday, the
artillery on both sides were hotly engaged.
The infantry in force had not yet got into
the fight, but not many minutes elapsed
before they were also engaged. At one
time we could not have had less than
sixty guns in practice, and the enemy had
as many, if not more. The roar of can
non was truly awful. Shells were burst
ing in every direction, and dense cloud
OF smoke covered the entire field.
The enemy now advanced in columns
toward our centre. Meanwhile our men
stood firmly to receive the charge. The
rebels were gallantly repulsed; but at the
expense of scores of lives. Hundreds OF
the rebels were seen to fall, but their
places were quickly filled by others
Failing to break our line at the first at
tempt, the rebels sent over large force
to the right, for the purpose of turning
: our flank We Immediately strengthened
that eud of the column by change o.
position.
When the enemy had advanced to with
in about three hundred yards of our bat
5 teries, our guns opened with canister ano
l grape. The slaughter was terrible, anc
e the rebels were compelled to withdraw
Not only did the artillery do good execu
e ton on this occasion, but aisothe infant
:, ry, who kept up a constant fre. 1t wa
e near three o'clock, and during the hou
e following there seemed to be a lull IN th
S terrible conflict. The enemy was appa
g rent,y bringing down achievements from
e Richmond, Notwithstanding their fore
y already exceeded ours by $4,000. w
e also found it indispensable to have a lar
!. ger force. Accordingly, Gen. Slocum
e division crossed the river at Grapevin
bridge, and proceeded to the right OF tn