Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-14
TIE BATTLES BEFORE RICHMOND.

We copy the +, lowing from the Potomac Army Cor
respondeuoe" Of the New York Herald, dated Blanks
of the Cb.ckahOmiay," June 2l
The g.eaest excitement peryRded the other portions
Of the army and az time the entire centre was held
under orders 20 A portion OF the right under
Porter, and FraLkln ally marched 10 the Ohicka-
hominy WHEN their advance recalled. Du ing Saur
day afternoon and Sunday morning the sat breath
lcssy in camp, hearing the incesssnt voleys Of
non aud InGsketry ard reckoning the probable turn
c the battle by the changes in the direction Of the firing
The.epOrts were distinctly heard at the White House
nearly thirty miles away, and the first impressions there
received uasyorat lie to our The suffers and
pie bakers and vendes of newspapers there congega
ted we're At oLce stricken with dismsy They were, in
fact upon the point Of emigrating, and number Of
frame shantos or sheds in process Of erection we're
.orpsd for season. until the hlA reports recsabshed
things upon the old basis There is little doubt that
when fulhsory Of the battle OF Bottoms Bridge is
written il ever It will be found of the most san
Culinary and peculiar battles ever fought in modern times
The diversity of the yalor OF the several regiments
some fro the State acting poltroous aud some
heroes-the odd manner in which the engagement
commenced, and apparently insHpicabe way IN which
the tide oil u c-ts shifted more than all the mys
ry with which parts Of the action are enveloped, 50
that eve2 at headquarters completely lucid aud Rccu
rate account Of the action can no gleaned-these are
some OF the din ,ulles that III; the cdronicer but
enough is known to enstls to state that the battle
terminated glorously for the Uriou arms.
Gen sumner was slightly wounded in the scalp OF this
battle aud Cen Casey received painful wound 10 the
leg. About twelve hundred rebel cetd we're found on
the field The rebel Gen. Johnston is believed TO have
bsen wounded and there vague statements as TO
Two minor generals the Other side being killed The
rebel force engaged consisted OF divisions, or
ssvsl-tsnths Of hs Nh,is dsmT. They planned the at
tack after The branching rain OF Friday and cut The dams
he upper ChekahJa'ny, 70 eject the complete sep
lraOn the lett wing from the centre and right OF our
army. In this they almost successful ss both Bot
toms bridge and the taceut military bridge were al
mos. entirely destroyed aad the wstsr owe hINed the
dikes OF the creek and covered al! the surrounding
meadows.
The tIirades CT Daniel Sickles and Thomas Francis
agher did the best fighting OF the day, and We'd with
each other in gallant deeds. 6 n Mcclellan stated to-
day that The bylHs charges Of these too 6r9adss pers
the most stubborn, sIRoGEdTy and signal Of mCdsrn
times Again and again they advanced with the cold
STEEL and vigorously met By the enemy ln one
place on the field of carnsgo three men were found On
each side that had fasn by mutual thrus;s. WAC shall
say hereafter thai YOU lteers will not stand the bsyeneY
AT Bottoms Biidge for the first time, the autagon-
ss parted aud thrust Gudinchngy, and revived the IA
blad reminiscenc Of Wagram aud Waterloo
GeRsral Mcclellan crossed the military bridge below
Bottoms Bridge on Sunday afIeruOOn returning from
visit 10 the field Of battle. He wa obliged to dsmouDt
aud lead his horse across the drifting aud peons tim
brrs Ga reaching tie other side he expressed himself
as greatly delighted the general result, aud AZ head
sent 10 the several division commanders, and bJ Them
trsnsmrd to each regiment in the service, as follows:
Tee Division General safes, for the bene6. OF the
troOp thst the enemy have been epused at every point
Wh re they have appeared"
This announcement was received with glad cheering
that probably frightened the enemy "a 1t rang through
tie Olmpl AID re echoed across The creek.
Tbs grand army must now the Cbickahomiuy be-
fore he close Of the present week T5ere are indie tous
the! We will cross before this letter is mailed WHAT will
A.. rT.rfly Nv i'm
ia ths: shall fight aud tina. the pssslgs of the Chick
ahomuy ty the centre aud right wing Wi be desperately
contested. We shall upon six bridges and bal
loon ascensoBs have demonstrated the exstence OF for
t6cliioLs the opposite bluffs Dense smoke as from
score OF camps rises beyond the verge Of the woods
The enemy's pckets are posted within nu3ket range
OF our own, and from some points the move
msuts OF their columns with the naked csc. BY uight
the signal rockets go up we can even, IN the s.nes'
hear places the uproar Of their camps In fec! Ke
know ths. on Monday afternoon the enemy occupied in
force tie south baIk Of the ChekshoDiny and he does
fgst he must retreat ct once or be obliged to sur
render.
Toe testimony OF prisoners strengthens my belief
TIey all say that the rebels man 70 mako thsir last
stand before Richmond.
.'You have got me gentlemen" said young Washing.
ton of Gen Johlston's stsh nephew OF She late John
A. Washington, but you must fight like the devil before
yoI gel Richmond"
II We msy Judge from their recent fghtiug the enemy
mean 10 rely mEhy upon ths mUsket Ihey nave stsseu
frequently that outvie them with artillery, Que
PIECES sre Of better construction and riT
act AZ Bottoms Bridge, Fair 0sks 1.-THE latter heirg
the se Of the blt D they hurled column upon column
against Gu. f, ard obliged to resort TO ths same
mea s TO repuss aud discomf. them. II they wish
fair infantry fight we can accommodate them but as
she ground between Ohckahoniuy ald Richmond is said
to be favorable cavsly service, il Ia not imprCb BILE
that 9toneman and hs Dragons may have opp6;iu'
nifty TO distinguish themselves. or the number OF on.
bat ries forbidden 10 speak but 1t lie no; contra
band say that We afford tc plant field pieces upon
the whole stretch Of heights commanding tho Chicks'
homhy and reserve enough to g1t the greatest blse
Of modern timss. Our ammunition teams como 10 daily
densey laden We believe that the army Of the PENN.