Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-06-19

IaISeDOOuS:
HEADQUARTERS OF GEN. CASEY,
Seven Pines, Va, May 81, 1862. {
The advance division of The army OF The Potomac on
the left, under the command OF Brig. Gen. Sias Ca
sey, attacked to-day by overwhelming force of
Il e enemy and driven back distance Of two miles
Prem nnitory symptoms of attack had shown therp
selves for days previous and generally the opiB
ion III camp that the enemy conempia ed such move
meBt
Al the me- he attack made Gen. Caseys outposs
station The position gaind by the reconnaissance
made 10y Cen Negey aurd&y, the oath inst. and
General had orders to hold the nosition az all bszards
The rebel generals undoubtedly attack order
to prevent Us from completing the Notifications which
were building and also to feel cur strength Az learn our
exact position The outposts Of piches less than
mile from cur genera encampment, aud very close 10 the
! pickets Of the
In converting with pckets learn that they could
distinctly unusual commotion in the rebel camp
this morning, and evident preparations for attack,
and say they Immediately sent word to division head
quarters Of the fact but the enemy had attacked and
driven 10 pickets before the different brgadeS bad
started to support them.
They told by the rebel officer captured in the
morning that the enemy attack the after
noon and that they would drive US back before night all OF
which proved true.
About o'clock the enemy fred three shells into
camp after another, at intervals of about minute,
which wss, probably, signal that every
thing in readiness, and which caused no uneasBess
Within few minutes they upon pckets unaware,
and attacked them with great vgor and large force
Our pckets either killed. captured driven
quickly ard the enemy advanced rapidly possible up
on our camp in the meantime the regiments Of the diff
erent brigades had fallen line in anticipation CT
der to that effect which arrived and at c
| in double quick to the of conflict.
General Caseys camp situated in an open corIfeld,
alb ut mile square, surrounded all sides b. belt OF
woods and his pickets posted through these woods in
front of him distance nearly mile. In very short
time after the firing commenced the enemy had driven
pckets clear through these woods when they met by
forces coming TO their support and here the seveTe
fighting took place.
The musketry firing at this time surpassed anything of the
kind Witnessed and seemed whole brigades
yar fr0 of fha twill
bravery moving down the enemy at every dSoha ge but
the UGcant places ocere Immediately filed from their appa
remit uumberess reserves.
THE ENrREECuMExTs.
omitted to mention that General Casey had thrown up
in tie centre Of this open field nearly to completion quite
respectable sized fort Anked on ther side by encaes
rifle pits, extending nearly it, and which
at work upon when the firing anced. These
at once occupied by our rimen as the firing ew nearer
while batteries and A, of the First New York Artillery
commanded by Captain Spra and Lieut.. Hart sta
toned il front of this fort They did great execution til
the enemy right upon them when, what was left OF
them obliged to wihdraw, taking with them VIII It
they could Of their killed and wounded leaving several
of their guns in the hands of the enemy
The most terrible Of the fighting occurred just the
my got through the woods, and where reserves
were drawn up receive tbem The most desperate
age displayed here upon both sides, orr regiments
charging repeatedly the diving them back for
while when they would again. IN turD get the upper hand
and drive US before them.
The loss upon both sides this pout have been
fearful every inch OF ground iputed in the most
desperate and only ganed by overwhelming
numbers and by passing ever the bodies OF our dead and
wounded soldiers.
ranks perfect shower Of graz eani canister moving
down ia winrows but ill they steadily, step by STEP ad
charged upon batteries, and succeeded ia capu ae
guns which unable remove, owing the
horses having baeI Killed
TIE REBELS CArTURE OUR CAMPS.
The enemy in possession of camp and baC
Infantry continued them up closely possible
Our although compelled to fall back, cid 20 witbou
any syrpt HIS Of panic, but still quite hastily
The enemy captured eUery yI,ng belonging Casey di
vision excepting what thy had on their backs leaving
the baggage wagons and officers baggage had been
upon the men, who had left all their effects in their
The attack was made so suddenly and unexpectedly that
this time 6 O'clock P. NJ } while the fight is still going
and all is confusion il is impossible give the posi-
tion which each regiment held in the engagement
is impossible, at this time to give any reliable
count of the number Of killed and wounded in Casey di
vision.
20 The officers ALL as far could learn behaved th
gallant manner and their loss large. General Case
was in the hicket ofthe fight and was reported wounded
but afterwards earred that he escaped unhnT Genera
Palmer reported led and is generally believe to
true he the hckeat OF the fight and could not
found He may have been wounded and taken prisoner
General Negee had his clothes riddIed by bullets but es
capped almost mraculousy without any serious wounds
:, General Wessils is reported wounded.
~ division of Cen Couch was drawn up behind rife pits.
" GEN. ooUOHs
The battle ragged 6ercely here for time when Camera
Couch fell back, with considerable loss short distance
at but finally succeeded in making successful stand till tb
arrival of rentorcements from General Heintzaman who's
troops pouring in the railroad as left the field
and learn succeeded Jointly in checking the
retakng part of ground during day What
casualties were in Couchs division it is impossible lear
Of time writing dark and those who's
statements be relied upon still the field. lear
that Peck and Devens brgades actively engaged
suffered considerable loss but learn nothing reabl
A. from the balance.
at About four o'clock, word to General Sumner
up corps which encamped beyond the Cbcf
ahominy They crossed the bridge built by his troops aboJ
tn three miles above Bottoms bridge and designated by m
of the Grapevine bridge The last them
es about O'clock and marched directly to the from
where they will be ready for whatever tanspie in h
t. The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy
es they received the concentrated fire of batteries for
considerable time, besides the deadly voey poured in
at them by infantry.
be large number of our killed ana wounded must hay
fallen into their hands The object of the enemy in
opinion, to make strong reconnaissance, in order
NJ possible. If such the object OF the movement
emineny successful far the of day
concerned but what will transpire tomorrow remains
ad be seen.
We As night approached the field presented dreadful
mt pearanCe Long lines of ambuances could be CO
re- veying the dead and wounded from the field while the
that could obtain conveyances bepg carried
THE REBEL TACTICS.
It must be allowed that the rebels fought 0t qrea brQU
ru their loss must have been They
succeeded in playing the old dodge upon our oy d
ny bsg mag in Oi upon them en- dssSy voev
They succeeded in this way at one time in complete
silencipg the fire OF our batteries.
TIE FIGHT SUNDAY.
eh Flushed with their seeming victory of Saturday the
nd awoke with confidence Sunday follow up the
al movements sure of driving Us this time to Chckahon
" ny and beyond. But they had made the unfortunate
of estimating the sreagth OF by the
of our advance Most bitterly did they pay for the
ed tory, they by the trained troops of Heinzem
and Sumner, whose unyedng columns checked their fer
ASSAULT turning The tide of battle everywhere against he
and forcing them at the out of the bsyonet on owsr
be Richmond. Gle No. l.)
of the Sabbath left them little for rejoicing
e tring gain of Saturday Terribly did the rebels suffer