The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-11
THE NEWS OF THE WAR.

PARTICULARS OF THE DEFEAT OF McLEL-
LAN's ARMY-HIs MAsTERLY RETREATS RE-
MOVING THE DEAD AND WOUNDED, ETC.
The difficulty Of obtaining precise and rela-
BILE news from the seat Of active operations,
besides those which ordinarily exist, is due to
the essential nature of the situation itself, in
which an immense army of the enemy has
shifted his position and scattered his forces to
snch an extent that even our generals have
been able to get but dissolving views in the
change of scene and uncertainty Of movement
which have marked the wonderful retreat of
Mcclellan.
The skill and spirit with which Mcclellan
has managed to retreat are remarkable, and af-
ford no mean proofs Of his generalship. At
every stage of his retreat he has confronted our
forces with a strong rear guard, and has en-
countered us with we'll organized lines of bat
tie and regular dispositions of infantry, caval-
ry and artillery. His heavy rihed cannon
have been used against us constantly on his
retreat.
THE BATTLE OF TUESDAY.
The battle of Tuesday was perhaps the
fercest and most sanguinary of the series of
bloody conflicts that have signalized each of
the last seven days.
Early on Tuesday morning the enemy, from
the position to which he had been driven the
night before, continued his retreat in south
easterly direction towards his gunboats on
James river. At o'clock, a. m., Magruder re-
commenced the pursuit, advancing cautiously,
but steadily, and shelling the swamps and for
ests IN front as he progressed. This method
of advance was kept up throughout the morn
ing and till o'clock, p. m,. without coming up
with the enemy. But between four and FIVE
O'Clock our troops reached large open field,
mile long and three-quarters in width, on the
farm Of DR.. Carter. The enemy were discov-
cred strongly entrenched in dense forest on
the other side of this field. Their artillery,
numbering fifty pieces, could be plainly seen
bristling over their freshly constructed earth
works At 10 minutes before o'clock, p. m :,
General Magruder ordered his men to charge
across the field and drive the enemy from their
position Calamity they sprang 70 the encoun-
ter, rushing into the field a. a full run. In
stantly from the line of the enemy's breast
works murderous storm of grape and cans-
ter was hurried into their ranks, with the most
terrible effect. Officers and men went down
by hundreds; but yet, undaunted and unwaver-
ing, our line dashed on until two-thirds of the
distance across the field was accomplished
Here the carnage from the withering fire of
the enemy's combined artillery and musketry
was dreadful. Our line wavered a moment
and fell back to the woods. Twice again the
effort to carry the position was renewed, bu.
each time with the same result. Night, at
length, rendered further attempt injudicious,
and the fight until ten o'clock was kept up by
the artillery of both sides. To add to the hor-
rors, if not to the dangers, of this battle, the
enemys gunboats from their. position at Curl's
Neck, two and a-haf miles distant, poured on
tbs field continuous broadsides from their i'm.
mense rifle guns. Though it is questionable,
as we have suggested, whether any serious loss
was inflicted on us by the gunboats, the hor-
rors Of the fight were aggravated by the mon
stsr shells, which tore shrieking through the
forests and exploded with concussion which
seemed to shake the solid earth ITSELF