Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-05
THE GREAT VICTORY.

OF fNe1T DSdG LET'S or me ItetI-iUcI6GNIS
Of the Battle Field.
TCoTresp0ndence Of the New York Times
Battle FIELB, Ecnday, June 2, 1S62.-'The
rebel army still occupied SIC cemps Of Cssey's
and COUGHS divisions on Sunday nofaiaS, with
3 strong picket force guarding the road facing
Snesd's house and the wheat field where our
esrthworkG were thrown up, extending from our
extreme left to the railroad Fair Oak Station
The distance from the point where our earthworks
were located 10 the edge OF the wood could not
have been more than four hundred yards. This
position the rebels held Until day dawned on
Sunday morning.
To our right On the other side Of the railroad,
the divisions OF Generals Richardson and Sedg.
wick were found, in semi-circle, with their left
resting on Gen. Hooker's right AZ the railroad,
and their left fankiDg the enemy These divisions
were composed of parts Of the brgedes Of Gen.
Burns, Gea. French, Gen. T. 1. Meagher, with
four batteries Of artillery.
Gen HooksI's division were camped in the
wood fronting sneaa's house, on the Williams
burg road, occupying the center, and a little in
advance of our right snd left wilgs On our left
the remaining portions Of COUGHS snd Gaseyls
divisions rested, with reserves Of fresh troops ex
tending to our extreme Left near the middle road
uuder q IN. EeVe8.
Gen. Heintzelman wsi on the ground at the
font as soOn az d ~ dawned, accompsp MED by two
Aids. Gen. Hooker met him and the two Gene
rails sat down al the foo: Of q tree behind our
breastworks, arranging plan for the days pro-
cesdingS
Gems Jameson, Keyes and sickiss arrived at
talked over as one Of no particular advantage to
the enemy, they had concentrated their n ain
force upon this portion OF oCr front lines and the
effect was more disastrous to them TAsty loss
Ia kiIEsd IN Saturday fight exceeded ours tlso TO
caE, and to their number woundet IL is Impossi.
BILE 70 form an estimate. Several Of their men
brought IN 6s prisoners gave their loss Ia killed
and wounded upward II three thousand. They
made desperate attack, ~ Is true, and gained
considerable ground besides q i4sge number Of
guns, camps, sqripnge, &c Al, trophies .sA;e5
fhsv Immediately seat 10 Riehplsnd to dszzte the
ewes Of It's pent-up Inhabitants, who doubtless
secretly wish to see the. city fall int fine bands
Of Mcclellan.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE Battle ON SUNDAY
Gen. Heintzelman, at a. m. , ordered recon-
nossance 10 be made by small force the left
OF the wood and to the right, toward the railroad
hec tenant, with two cavarymen, crossed over
the wheat seld behind Suead's house and was
about 20 penetrate he wood near the Williams.
burg road, when the ene,2y's pickets appeared
ct his front. He Immediately turned back and
reported to Gen. Heintzelman the close plo1itH.ty
OF the enemy.
In the meantime the other parties sent out came
in and reported the enemy In great force In front
Of our right ana lef, tanks.
Gen HeintZeln&n then ordered out Gen II ook-
er's division, part Of whcil had been left 70 guard
the camp and a certain position ca orr extreme
lsf.. The regiments Gen. Hooker bTo9g IL oq the
field were the five eg.ments com pfisng the Ex-
ceIsior brigade, under command Of Gen. ID, T..
Sick!eS, snd the 5th and 9th New Jersey regi.
uI--tS; Gru- Helm Ielulan having resolved 10 at
tdCk LaS enemy and cIlve them from the wood
TIE cattle.
IL was about a quarter OF s-ver when General
HeiEt4eiman ordered Gen. Hooker 10 Ss.eck the
rebels IN Eis front and drive them from the yoosX
The Excelsior Brigade marched out from their
camp in the woods to tie williamsburg road the
New Jersey 9th and eth following. The Excel
sior Brigade nled in the wheat Hetd IN frlpt OF
our earthworks, To the right OF the road whiis
the two regiments of New Jersey troops took .
position TO the LEFT. AS the Cd REGIMENT, Excel
sior Brigade, was forming In position TO the ont
Of the wood, the rebels opened rapid apd heayy
fire upon II, killing two or the privstes and
wouadIng about six Among those wounded at
the first Ere of the rebels was Lieut. Lawria (for-
me.ly an sid 10 General Sickles) and Captain
Nolan.
The n1e Of the enemy Immediate became stimuli
tanecus along their entire line.
The New Jersey troops fought splsndidly,
loading and FIRING without hinching from tER,r
position. General Sicklesi regiments did great
execution, advancing zt every fire upon the rebels
masked By the wood. However, il was plainly
TO be seen the enemy had every advantage and
At teGs resolved 10 clear .s goods at tAs Poiar OF
the 6ayonst.
cen. Siekies rode along the front Of his men,
In the midst OF an iron hail which the rebels
poured In, and gave orders for the ID regiment,
Col 9. Il. Hall, TO charge bayonets No sooner
was the order given than the inen hxed bayonets
Col Hall calamity led the cha'ge-one Of III.
motL briiIIdHtsrsT made ~ any battle. Nor a
Shfrksd or StTGg gEsG from ths yaaks
The rebels presented strong front to Tie CLEAN.
Ing baFsaes' or our men, not hundred yards
distant.
as the ID advanced on the double quick, cheer
ing and shouting, the rebels held back their fire
until our men were hardly one hund red feet from
their line, when they poured murderous yolIey
into the ranks Of the ID. 1t proved too low, and
few were killed or wounded
Immediately after the rebels fred this volIav
they broke ranks and fed through the wood A
Few OF their bTavest remained 10 resist our pas
sage, but they were soon moved down by the
stee! font of the gall mt ID Excelsior
The re OSIS made two tn attpEnnta In Aank
US on the lei ate. retreating from their centre
but they were beat bact With great loss, our
troops pursuing them for nearly tSo Uailes
Richardson s brigade, before the enemy's centIs
gave way, had q hard fight the ground was hotly
contested by the rebels. The 4th and 5th Excel.
nor regiments were sent to support one Of Rich
areSonis batteries, hut before the battery got In
fair working order the enemy began TO show
signs OF u retreat. Tbs rebel officers could be
heard distinctly urgiIg the meg 70 fight, but they
would run away. The Irish brigade fought
sp!endidly, and routed the rebels at the poIaf OF
the bayonet.
None OF our forces on the left flank particI patsd
In the fight The rebels were defeated and
driven back by HoSker's and Richardson's di.
visions.
Advance parties secured the woods on both
sides OF the Richmond road and succeeded In
capturing nearly $50 Of the rebels, among them
At IL O'Clock the firing On both side, ceased
The rebels had fallen back to beyond our original
lines, leaving guards stationed 70 watch our adj.
$500 pA0o ~ wing ihcAf "ouLUco Ou
field.
The enemy were 6rIyen from every position
they occupied by our troops. The main column
rested mile In advance Of their petition at the
commencement Of the light II.
At about IL O'Clock Gen Mcclellan rode up ts
the front, accompanied by his Staff and body
guard, and met Gen. Heintzelman seated at the
foot Of . tree Little Mac demGcssticalIy seated
himself At aide OF Heintzslman, on ths ground
when his STAFF grouped themselves, resting %
stumps OF trees and logs. There was the Prince
de J0inville, Count de Paris, and the Due de
Charities, forming select group oftnrse, convers.
Ing quite animatedly in French, and the other
memoirs Of McClellan's STAFF joining In with .
little English.
s'They hgh on Sundays always,n said the Due
de ChaItres, aliuding to the Rebels.
Gen. McClellaa had been seated probably q
bali an hour, convers.ng with Gen. aeinizelman,
when gen. Hooker rode mp from the extreme I'd.
yanced line gained thai morning, and az he was
dismounting from his horse Gen. Mcclellan rose
from bis seat, and, advancing, shook him warm.
y by the hand, and congratulated him and his
noble division In terms OF the hi hest praise. A
long conversation took place between them. IL
was plainly seen that no further advance was TO
to the 'front.'
AT little after one O'CLOCK General Mcclellan