The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-07-04
Desperate Fighting
Before Richmond!
Mcclellan Changes bis Base Of
Operations!
GallRntry Of Our Troops!
NEw YnRK. Innn 20.

New YoaK, June go
The Tribune has issued an extra, da-
ted Battlefield, giving an account OF two
dog desperate fighting. A company Of
Bucktails were surrounded and captured
on the retreat Of cur right wing. Over
10000 men were engaged.
A severe and most determined battle
was fought on the right wing, Thursday
and Friday, which is claimed by some Of
cur officers as successful strategic move
ment, in which the enemy had inviting.
" been drawn and which would soon re-.
suit in the capture Of Richmond and the
entire rcbol army.
Tho attack was made by the enemy in
immense force, who crossed the Chica-
hominy near the RBilrond, above Me-
chnnicsyillc, on Thursday afternoon, and
fought d spcratcly, but were unable TO
drive our men single rod, though the
enemy were ten TO one.
The only forces engaged that day was
McCall's division. The battle lasted
from 2 10 0 O'Clock, 7. NJ, when the di.
vision was ordered back.
General Mcclellan was on the field
and expressed himself Satisfied with the
result.
FVLLER.-Aboui noon the enemy made
an attack upon Gen. Stoncmun's forces
in the yicini yol Htnovcr c. H.. probably
Tor the purpose Of accomplishing an out
flanking movement on the right and %
engage our attention in that dircction.-
Shortly Afterwards they commenced q
vigorous cnnnonadng from their works
on an om,ncnco opposite Mcchanicsvillo
about one uDd a half milo distant; also
from two batteries one above the other,
below they were replied to by Campbells
Pcnsylyunia battery ON picket duty one
on the Mcchnncs,illo road and another
from behind curthworks at the right Of n
grove,
About r. NJ. the encmy's infantry
rnd squadron of cavalry crossed the
ChickUhominy in immense force, short
distance above the Va. Central Railroad,
making rapid advance toward General
Nc Calls division, who were entrcuchcd
on high hilly woodland across Il swamp
rayinc about a mile IN the rear OF Mcchan-
icSvillc.
The first Penn. Rifles, Bucktuils and
Campbclls bOttcry were ON picket duty,
all OF whom except enc company fell
back behind the bros,works and rife
pits where the line of battle was drawn
up.
Company X, Of the Ducktuils, who
were ON picket duty beyond the railrond
were surrounded by the enemy and the
last that was known of them they were
trying to cut their way through. IL is
presumed the greater portion were taken
prisoners.
The enemy advanccd down at the rear
Of Mechunosvillc on low morshy
ground TO where our forces were dawn
, up behind rifle pits aud carthworks on
= an emihcncc on the northern side of the
Y ruvinc when the conflict became terri.
, BILE.
b The rebels with The most determined
, courage attempted TO press forward over
I the riry ground, but the bult l. aud grape
= shot fell among them like hail, mowinu
, them down. This continued til dark,
t when they withdrew.
The cannonading wus kept unpn both
| thc patio ccascd. Our forces werc
covered by eOrlhworks aud suffered but
slightly.
Late in ,hc I. NJ. the enemy mndc n
charge with cavalry and about 100 ol
them came rushing down aud attempted
10 cross the raylnc when their horses be.
euinc mlred. a squadron of our cavalry
song Their position made charge down
, INC MI, when the cavalrymen abandoned
th,ir horses and fed.
The Infantry fight was then renewed
and according 10 the statement of my in.
} ,9rnan!, Surgeon Humphrey, ofthe Penn.
Duch'ali Regiment, continued untilabout
, O'CLOCK a. NJ, when retreat was or.
dercd very much against the will of the
rem. Boys, who begged hard 20 be al
lowed 10 hold their position. The outer
forces then began 10 fall buck. portcrs
corps was somo distance below DR.. Gaines
residence.
oithc next days battle, the corrcspon.
ueh' says the cannonading and muskctry
was terrific.
Duryea's gallant Zouaves were living
Nat upon the ground Tor two hours, while
our batteries Were shelng the woods
over them. Finally towards night, the
enemy attempted TO break the centre line
IN front o. Duryea's zeuayrs.
The munsketry firing now became ter.
rlie, lasting about 20 or 30 minutes
Shortly afterwards an attempt was made
to break through tho right, which was re.
pulsed, aud half an hour later another
attempt was made on the LEFT with the
same result
The battle had been raging for some
hours, without any apparent change or
advantage on either side Reinforce.
ments oi artillery and infantry then came
steadily along over the bridge 10 the field
of battle.
The enemy now seemed to make their
last desperate, determined effort, and
eamo forcing our men back into the low
marshy ground between the hill and the
bridge, where they could have been
slaughtered by tens Of thousands before
they could have crossed that long mar
row bridge.
/, I, Wagons, artillery, ambulauccs and
men were hurrying towards tho bridge
aud panic seemed almost inevitable,
when strong guard was placed across
the bridge,
At the time when the enemy had al
most reached the main hospit | half a
, mile from the river, Thomas Francis
Meagher's lrishmen came up the hill
, stripped TO the bare Srms and were order
. I sd la trn Ia