Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-07-02

at Old Church The enemy had fallen back still
further dariag the night, and HIP and Longstreets
division pressed him in front and left flank early
yesterday morning. Thus, by . strategy unparai-
leled fer its brancy, was Mcclellan circumvented.
Up to this writing have no ACCOUNTS of the bat
| tie that has been progressing that would justify
particulars, but Mcclellan and his main army was
reported retreating down the Chickahomny, bear,
ing off from "Stonewalls' guns in the direction OF
West Point where the gunboats were lying reas'k
to cover him.
1t was six o'clock when the enemy gave way, al
ter leaving their last breastwork battery Oh '
guns which was their best, mounting ee".y see.
guns Mcclellan retired burning up ms STORES at
the denots Of his lines From the top OF the capt.
to in the square, shafts OF wn,'e S,l'ohe couu NC
seen rising in the direction OF old Churcn ana the
White House AT first, this was tnousht 10 orig
nate from the firing Of cannon, snas coula not oe
hoard in the distance the wind also being contrary
t ,ter in the day it was ascertained to have been
caused bv the destruction by the enemy Of his i'm
ense stores off to the right of the Mechanicsville
pike on the farm of Dr.. Gaines.
The mutterings of the fight could be occasionally
heard through the report Of heavy guns out 1t died
entirely away as the scene OF the connect was re-
moved by the retreat of the enemy anu the ADVANCE
of the Confederate forces.
The retreat of McClean's army, and the pursuit
IF the Confederate army, has moved our base of in
formation concerning the fight, which, we learn,
was kent up at intervals with great severity; out,
tbrouoh the kindness of an officer from our lines,
we have been supplied with very intelligent pen
Gil diagram, furnishing the positions OF the retreat
ing and pursuing forces
Jacksul's army was represented as moving Gown
considerably tins side Of the Pamunkey for trus>el
bridge spanning it at the railroad, with the nten-
ton of outs ripping Mcclellan, whose forces were
making for the same bridge to secure it as eros
sin: before it was seized or burned hy jackson
Gems. Longstreets, A. p. Hills and d. II: Hills
divisions were pressing hard upon Mcclellan rear,
while Masruder and Huger, on the Ch'ckahominy'
held our right wing in the direction OF New Bridge
with portion of the enemy in front of them. This
was the supposed situation of the armies up to yes
ter Law afternoon As regards the BATTLE or series
of battles that closed the even'tul day we have little
that is reliable So too, OF our loss and that OF the
enemy, but it has been heavy-that on the enemys
side very great; but will not venture on figures.
1t appear to be- conceded that the enemy success
fully withdrew their forces from the position held
by them Thursday night, after the capture OF
Mechanicsviile, leaving behind, blind, some
skrmshers and battery, which. when charged
upon by the advance yesterday morning at daylight,
was found to be empty of men and guns. pur-
suit of three hours brought our forces upon tor
micahle battery of thirteeU guns at Gaines Mill,
near the New Kent road. Here occurred our
heaviest loss. The breastworks were situated on
bluff across mill dam, canal and swamp, with rifle
pits in front Our troops charged through and
over all with valor and determination that swept
everything clearing rifle pits and battery at the
point of the bayonet. The troops that did this
splendid act of gallantry' from North-Caro
llna-the brigade OF General Fender This
compllshed through terrific voeys OF muSketry,
SHE'LL round shot, grape and canister that piled the
ground with the valorous dead and wounded
In the retreat bodies Of cavalry were thrown for
ward on the Prospect road and the Tuckertown
road to intercept Them but it failed to succeed. We
hear 1t said thas McCican's retreat was conducted
in good order, and that the enemy carried forward
all of their dead and wounded. 1t was said few
prisoners taken however that may be, but
few have arrived in Richmond As far as oar lin.
tied knowledge extends this moment there is very
fortunate lack of general and commissioned officers
killed
We hear the light batteries suffered severely
PurcellS battery, Of Richmond Colonel Lindsay
Walker, went into the action of Thursday evenin,
with above ninety men, and brought out only thirty
or forty. Seventeen of their horses were killed.
The Maryland battery, Captain Snowden Andrews,
in the same battle lost five men killed and wounded,
and several horses. Doctor Hunter, of Mary land,
the surgeon, was killed. The Chesapeake Artillery
ordered to join General Longstreets division on
the right and was not engaged.
. We hear from the Appomattox river, near Peters
burg below Port Wathall, that fighting between
some of the enemys gunboats and our forces had
commenced The enemy had destroyed all the ship
ping at City Point. Several lives were lost
LATER-THE ACTION BECOMES GENERAL-THE STU
ALTON OF THE TWO ARMIES AT NIGHT.
We learn from Major John NJ. Danitl, of the
Generals staff serving with General Hill in these
battles, and who. about o clock last evening, was
obliged to leave the field in consequence Of having
had his right shattered by Mimic ball, that at
the time he left the field Hills division, which had
been engaged the whole day. and victorious through
out, was engaged in terrific battle with the enemy
near New Coal Harbour and were overmatched by
large masses Of the enemy. Just as the Major
wounded several large bodies of troops appear
ing on the field which supposed to be rein
torcements under jackson
Later accounts brought from the field Of battle
are deeply interesting. The reinforcements that
reached the field, and which were supposed to DC
under General jackson, were troops Of General
Lonsstreets division. General Jackson was engag-
ed on General Hills left during the day. but was also
in time to join the general engagement which ensued
about hive o'clock in the.evening
at this hour the action became general for the
first time on the Richmond lines No such collision
OF numbers has yet occurred in the history of the
! war. 1t is estimated that seventy-five thousand
| Confederate troops engaged with an equal if
not superior, force of the enemy. The scenery of
the battle field is described as awfny sublime, and
Its sights of carnage as exceeding in ghasness the
worst lmaSinations of the horrors of war.
June 18th, 1861
10 the Editors Of thesEhquirer:-
AS our as we'll as the Yankee M ners have on.