The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-07-17
lines, and short distance from the
THE POSITION OF THE BATTERIES.

EaStOn pennsylvania Dattery occupleu
positions at the rear of the rlfe-pits, so as
to command the lower road. The other
batteries of M'Call's division were placed
at different points alcng the left of the
linc We also had two batteries, of six
pieces each, to protect the right and CEN
tire.
At about o'clock the enemy attempted
to break our centre. To accomplish this
he made most vigorous efforts, but he was
boldly aud successfully met by Gen. Crit
fin, who arranged his men in excellent or
der, and encouraged them by his presence
and daring.
While the rebels were endeavoring to
force back our centre, the left of the col
unn was also busily engaged in keeping
the enemy from crossing the bridge over
the stream on the lower road. The Penn
sylvania Reserves fought brayely, and
their unhinching perseverance was the
only thing that prevented the rebels from
gaining ground in that quarter. The
enemy seemed to concentrate his whole
strength at first at the centre, and then
at the left of our line, but in each attempts
he failed to cross the stream. Our bat
teries did not spare the canister and
grape, and whenever an opportunity of
fered most terrible fire was poured into
the rebel ranks The Pennsylvania Re
serves, who were in the rifle pits, kept up
an unceasing fire upon the rebels on the
other side of the stream, and finally COM
PEELED them to abandon their original
front position at that end of the line.
At 9 80 =. NJ. the firing had entirely
ceased, the rebels had been repulsed, and
we held our ground Our loss was COM
paratively small, not exceeding $50 killed
and wounded.
AFTER TIE BATTLE.
The shrieks and groans of the rebels
when the battle was ended indicated that
their loss was heavy. The air was filed
with the walls of the wounded and dying,
and all night long the rumbling of ambu-
lance trains and the suppressed voices Of
those engaged in burying the dead and
caring for the wounded could be distinctly
heard.
By order of General Porter a strong
picket force was stationed along the lines,
and every precaution taken to resist any
renewed attack that the rebels might
make.
General M'Call and staff bivouac ked in
the open ar upon field situated near
the battlefield, and necessarily passed a
sleepless night
The silence of the night was frequently
broken by the discharge of picket gun,
and every one was on the alert for the
enemy, save the wearied soldier, who had
beeome exhausted from the nights effort,
and was indulgin9 in a short but sweet
repose.
THE MORNING.
At three o'clock the next day the sleep
ers were aroused, and whisper passed
from ear to ear that the enemy were on
the move. The picket firing became
more frequent, and it was evident that
the rebels were preparing to renew the
attack. Our men were again formed in
battle array upon nearly the same ground
occupied by them the preceding night,
and everything was ready on our part to
again fay the rebels.
That the rebels received strong rein
forcements during the night was fact
not to be disputed, and the event was
certainly not unexpected by us. Intima-
tions that the rebels intended to attack
our right had been in circulation for d
week at least and we had no reason to
suppose that so important a movement
would be attempted by light force. The
enemy came prepared not only to force u:
from the stream and the Mechanicsvillc
road, but also to drive us across the
Chickahominy. Later in the day. the
rebel force was estimated to be not less
than seventy-fve thousand men. The
force we brought to bear numbered about
twenty thousand. OF, course, to hold oul
position against such fearful odds was al
imposslbility, and the next best thing hae
to be done.
THE NEXT BEST THING.
At daybreak, finding the enemy was
rapidly closing on our right flank, Genera
Porter issued orders for the whole fore
to slowly fall back towards Gaines Hill
This movement was conducted in tn
most orderly and satisfactory manner
and had | not known the nature of tn,
movement, it would have been impossibl
for me to decide whether the army wa
advancing toward or retiring from tn
enemy. No hasty demonstrations wer
made, and every gun carriage and ever
wagon held its place in the column. On
accident only came under my notice, whic
was the breaking of the trail of one Of tn
ammunition wagons,