Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-07-02

Immediately on Richmond itself, which
could be done and was executed on Satur-
day. 1t was a virtual surrender or vaca-
ting of long line of defence, heretofore
kept up, to Me9hanicsville, in order to
have the whole force within more effect
i've distance, also to allow the rebels to fol-
low up and, if, possible, to bag them
Gen. Mcclellan ordered Gen. Porter to
withdraw TO two miles this side of Gaines
Mills early on Friday morning, which was
done, the enemy following and thinking
they had gained the victory, our troops
slowly moving back in order, fighting as
they went, crossing the Chickahominy, and
reached the position designed for their oc-
cupation by Gen. Mcclellan; the rebels fol-
lowed IN great force, and by three o'clock
in the afternoon a general and heavy en-
gagement occurred here, lasting till seven
o'clock, when lgll took place, but the reb-
els again renewed it with greater fero2i-
ty, having been reinforced. Our brave
men stood the unequal contest like heroes,
and the she'll, grape and musketry did fear
full havoc. Our forces were increased by
Generals Slocum's, Palmer's, French's and
Meagher's brigades, and the rebels were
beaten badly, Neagle's brigade went into
the battle with their coats off, and sleeves
rolled up to fight like tigers
The ground which Gen. Mcclellan order
ed Gen. Porter to occupy and hold, was
occupied and held in the first part of the
day. Gen. Porter's corps only contended
against the rebels, but subsequently rein
torcements swelled our numbers to 45 900.
The rebels had 10000 under Generals
Lee, Hill, Anderson and Branch.
Among the killed are Col Black and Lieut.
Col. Sweitzer, of the cd Pennsylvania, Col.
John n. NJ Lane, of S3d Penna. Col Cane, of
the 22d Massachusetts, Col. Roberts, of the
lst Michigan, Col. M'Quade and Lieut.. Col.
Skellen, of the l4th New York, and Major
Patterson, of ED Pennsylvania.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Americana
WHITE HOUSE, June %.
| The events transpiring at this point, and
! in the army before Richmond during the
/ past four days, have been of such varied char
/ acter and thrilling interest, that ! scarcely
| know where to commence or end the record
! in order to make it at all understandable to
the general reader Many who were eye wit
nesses to these movements have fed panic
stricken, fully convinced that the whole army
! before Richmond has been destroyed, and
that Gen. Mcclellan has been out-witted out,
! generated, out danked and " driven to the
wall, where he promised to place the enemy.
| The evacuation Of White House was to them
! en- inexplicable mystery under any other con-
/ dition Of facts; but had they kept their eyes
! op' n in the early part of the week, they
would have discovered that the work of eyac-
I e;lnptlu ord opralv- mn
/ before any of the fighting on the right wing,
Us early as Tuesday, and that large Numbers
| OF vessels had left the York and Pamunky
I rivers and were moving rapidly around to a
new basis Of operations on the James river.
They might also have observed that all civil
ians were forbidden to approach the front as
early as Tuesday, under any pretense what
! ever, and that the immense stores of supplies
/ at Dispatch Station had been steadily reduced
/ for week, until the last barrel of crackers,
! barrel Of beef and bale of hay had disappear
ed before the great contest on Friday, which
| LEFT the way open for the enemy to approach
that point, which have every reason to be-
| lieve was designediy intended by Gen. Nc
Clellan to the mouth of the trap into which
they were being led, and hope and believe
to their entire route and discontinue.
| Before proceeding to the narrative of events
as they have occurred in the vicinity of White
House during the past few days, | will brief
u state that the whole movement of Gen.
Mcclellan, so far as the changing Of his lines
are concerned, and in reality the making of
his left wing his right wing, and withdraw
ing his right wing to rest near Savage Station
at the railroad bridge across the Chickahomi
ny, has been accomplished, throwing the way
open for the enemy to rush to his coveted
feast at the White House, where he found
nothing but an empty platter.
Whether this moven ent is good or bad, OF
what may be intended by Gen. Mcclellan tC
be accomplished by it, further than throwing
his left on to the James river and support
ing an attack on Fort Darling, it is impossible
at present to say. A day or an hour may
decide this point.