The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-07-09


hardest engagement that has yet occurred,
and must have great results. The loss on
both sides must prove fearful. Longstreet,
Hill, McLaws, Magruder, and others, are
h",ly engaged, and it is expected that by 8
p. NJ. the cn,my will have besn entirely
routed. The greatest enthusiasm nrevails,
and shells are flying in all directions over
tho country for miles.
We have it on the authority Of those who
assisted on the field that our loss in the nc.
ton of Tuesday amounted to between three
and four thousand, killed and wounded.-
Two trains Of four horse wagons, and many
private vehicles, reached the city abou,
noon yesterday, with their freight Of wouu.
ded. They were distributed among the Va.
rious hospitals.
Al the White Oak swamp, out of which
numbers of the woua ded hud 10 be carried
IT the arms Of the ASSISTANTS, muny of the
wagons got into the mire some stuck fast
and others were overturned in the efforts TO
extricatv them. Meanwhile tho battle
ragged in the distance.
WEDsEsDAY.-We have accounts from
our lines as late as 9 o'clock "Wednesday
night No fighting Of consequence had Ia.
Ken place during the day. In his r.,roat
Tuesday night the enemy abandoned some
of his artillery, and e large quantity of
stores. Twenty three transports are repor.
ted 10 the river. 1t is thought that por.
ton of MeClcllan's army succeeded in
reaching the river at some Of the landings
below Turkey island.
The situation represents the enemy ,rith
~ i,ro miles Of the rirer, and that the shells
OF his gunboais were falling within our nd
vance lines. A large number of transports
were III the river ut different points, among
them the Vanderbilt, aud it appears to be
probable that these forces are portion of
Burn-idv's command. the rumors, how.
ever, of the enemy's operations on tho river
are vague and contradictory.
From the Enquirer Of 4ih inst
The news on yesterday, from the lines
below Richmond, was uninterrupted with
the familiar repetition Of the accounts Of
artillery and Infantry. No lighting of any
consequence occurred. The Federal army
made MI attempt to get TO James river, and
portion of il, nttrr n win attempt TO carry
away something in the shape of arms aud
ammunition, managed TO penetrate the
murshes of tho ChIckahonin and reached
the James. A large number, under the
protection of nobody nt all, con'rived to
get over lo Epp's Island and there they are
Some got over on tho other side, bu: being
under no command ard completely disor.
ganized and demoralized. will doubtless Ls
speedily co"ped up and carried 10 Peters.
burg. The remainder of McCiellnn'a army
arc divin. about in The swumps OF The Turr
key Island region. Between five and six
thousand Of them were captured on yesier.
day. without any difficulty, and started up
TO the city in parties Of several hundreds -
Some two thousand were sent over to the
Chesterfield side on the pontnons above
Drury's Bluff, 10 be cared for ia or near
Petersburg. Before many hour. more we
must hear Of Aome definite settlement of
the question Of the "slun,on"
A report, entitled to credit, was current,
that Gen Lee had demanded peremptorily
the surrender Of the Yankee army. The
result OF this presumed demand WIS not
circulated with the report.
The advance Of our army over the deser-
ted ground Of the Yankee VAndals, develop
daily instances Of the most horrible brutal.
ity. Inspired with u bitterness intensely
bes,iAl, they have lost no opportunity to
visit their inhuman wrath upon the bodies
Of the living and the dead Of the Confeder.
ate army that have fallen into their hands
On yesterday, soms Of our forces, in pass
ing over the deserted camp ground Of the
iugiuVes, discovered three Louisiana sol.
diers hanging f:om a tree, while tie bodies
OF several Ge1rgians We're lying around mu-
tiIaIsd With tayonet wounds, and Legriued
with dirt. We trust that due Vengeance
will be visited upon the villainous wrelches
for this glaring violation Of ail the rules Of
respectable warfare. The black hay, II is
underatood, was raised amid their ranks, in
tneir last struggle, but it's effect, like all
the rest they may attempt to get up, fell
dead. the situation is now nearly as il
was on Wednesday. Tho eaemy are At
bay, withou, supplies, ammunition, aid, and
almost without ho"e.
From Richmond Wing Of 4ih mstl
Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock The
Yankee army was 1T and near W.stov.r on
Jnmes River, about twenty eight miles by
land from this city. Our van was within
striking distance and actively engaged harr.
a"sing their reai and flank. There had
been no battle up TO That time, nor did il
seem to be anticipated that there would be
during the day. The impression prevails
that considerable portion Of MeCleIIsn's
troops had got aboard the vessels in the
RIVER. The remainder exhibit evidences of
serious disorgsniza,ion. Many Of them