The Portland daily press., 1862-07-01
TEL EGR A PHO
TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
PARTICULARS OF THE
FIGHT AROUND RICHMOND,
FIGHT At VIXBURGH.
Landing Of Burnside.
RICHMOND ON FIRE.

PHILADELPHIA, June 30.
The following is the conclusion of the Balti-
more account of the recent affair before Rich
mond
Sinceclosing my letter from W bite House. | find
myself very Unexpectedly in Washington city,
and IN possession of most reliable information
from White House and other points on the pc
ninsula, nearly day later than is contained in
my letter.
II appears that telegraph communication be-
tween White House and Gen. Mcclellan was not
broken until near O'Clock on Saturday and
then the wire was cut at the dispatch station /
miles out. Tunstall station, four miles out, was
in our possession until O'Clock in the after
noon, at which hour the operator at White
House heard STANCE signal coming over the
wire; on going to the instrument he was herald
ed with what the Union soldiers call the rebel
national salute'l say, . you of a." this was
the signal given for final evacuation, when
portion of the infantry forces went Immediately
on board the steamboat in waiting for them
The last OF the transports was moved off by
steam tugs and few articles scattered about on
shore. The whole was of small value, and thus
OF the many millions worth of property here
few days ago, perhaps $4,000 worth was de-
stroyed. In the midst Of this closing scene in
the beautiful Chickahominy region, | regret to
have to state that some vandal set fire to White
House and it was entirely consumed.
The enemy made his appearance in considera-
BILE force at the White House at o'clock, and
though he neither found bread for man nor hay
for beast, was welcomed with heavy showers of
grape shot from the gungoats which were rang
ed in front of the landing. They were supposed
to be 80 900 strong, and unless they brought
their havesacks must have gone supperess to
bed. In the best of times found starvation
staring me in the face at White House. and
hope the rebels found no better fare.
The cavalry at the White House guarded the
departure of the last wagons and horses which
moved of at the final evacuation and Joined the
forces of Gen. Soneman who were moving in
the vicinity all day. After passing these trains,
securing their safety, Stoneman moved off in a
direction that am not at liberty to state.
Gen. Casey reborts that he lost not man nor
did he leave soul behind, not even contra
band. At 10 O'Clock on Saturday morning Col.
lugalls and Capt. Sawtee were before York
town with an immense convoy of vessels and
steamers, on their way to their new base of ope-
rations on James River. They would move
down to Fortress Monroe and wait the nstruc-
tons of Gen Mcclellan. A number are however
already up the James River under the protection
of the gunboats.
Since an early hour on Saturday morning,
Gen. Mcclellan has been deprived of his tele-
graphic communication with Washington. He
abandoned its use before the wires were cut,
doubtless being fearful that the enemy might by
placing magnet on the wires, read his orders.
Direct communication with Gen. Mcclellan is
now being opened, however, by the gunboats up
the Chickahominy, and will soon be right in this
respect.
PHILADELPHIA, 30.
The correspondent of the Baltimore American
thinks the object of Gen. Mcclellan was to aban-
don White House and draw in his in his right
wing across the Chickahominy, which he ac-
complished with little loss in comparison with
the punishment he gave the enemy, thus
strengthing his position, and changing the base
of operations to James river.