Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-28
OUR LEFT ON THE CHICKAHouINy

GENERAL REYEs' HEADQUARTERS, Nav "a
This morning a Reconnaissance was made In force
upon our left wing, for the purpose OF ascertain
ing the strength Of the Rebel troops in the neigh
boThood Of 6" the Pines, !" some eight and a half
miles distant from Richmond.
The reconnaissance was conducted by Bripa-
der General Naglee, and consisted Of infantry
and cavalry force. The 104th Pennsylvania, Col.
Davis, and the Sid Pennsylvania, Colonel Dodge,
consti! uted the advanced guard. Besides those
in the advance, there were engaged the 6th Pa.
Cavalry, Col. Gregg, and Battery II, LIST ". York
artillery, commanded by Capt. Spratt.
The advance was made to the right and left OF
the old stage-coach road leading TO Richmond
companies from the two advanced regiments be-
ing deplOyed as sklrmishers through the woods
on either side, as also companies from the Sth
Pennsylvania cavalry, who acted conjointly with
the infantry skirmishers from the same regiments
advanced In front, and short distance behind
these followed the battery alluded to and strong
infantry reserve
Atabout ten o'clock the command was halted nv
Gen. Naglee, a short distance this side Mr.
Higgins house. behind which the Rebels had
| two batteries planted, from one of which gum
commenced to play on us as we advanced. OuI
battery was Immediately got iato position. The
| 10Th Pennsylvania occupied the left OF the
| road, covered by dense woods, while the sgd
1 Pennsylvania were stationed on the right, SINH.
| Larry protected The firing was opened by the
Rebels with she'll, to which our guns replied by
4 quick and rapid discharge Of grape and shell
The shots Of the rebels fell far wide Of tae mark
while their shells, In many cases, did not explode
II u. "
| the shells were thrown with remarkable accuracy
and exploded just in the nick OF time, doing grea
1 havoc among the rebels.
The force Of the rebels was composed of 500 o.
i Stewards old cavalry and regiment of Tennessee
/ infantry, together with the two batteries named
comprising eight or ten guns. Our cavalry at on
| time made charge upon that Of the rebels, II
| which we completely routed them, with sever
| loss, number Of them being seen to relax thei
hold on the brides of the horses, which wer
subsequently, led away by the comrades Of tn
tween the lOith Pennsylvania regiment and tn
| Tennessee regiment, which was deadly In Its e1
| feet upon the rebel force.
About an hour after the firing Of the frst mus
ket, the morning was occupied by an exchange O
shots between the artillery force on either side
1 the Rebels shifting their guns from one point .
the other, just a. often N they were driven fror
the post occupied by them by the accuracy Of on
fire. Finally, unable TO maintain their positio
any longer, the enemy's guns Were moved to tn
| right and out OF sight.
Our skirmishers were again advanced, ant
| cavalry and infantry deployed through the woods
who drove In the rebel pickets as rapidly an the
were met. These being halted at Intervals, on
battery was again advanced, and shell, in Oh
way Of "feelers," were distributed with !. be,s
hand through the woods on all sides. Finally,
being reported that the rebel troops could not b
found for distance Of several miles beyond, II
| Reconnaissance was halted for the day.
At this time the rain was falling In torrents I'll
soldiers were standing in mud and water up ,
their shoe tops, and most, IL not all OF them, WEI
| dIenched 10 the skin.
The ground where the fight occurred was of
| marshy character, over which the troops move
, with the greatest difnculty. The retreat Of III
, | rebels was made 70 the right, on the railroad
where their principal force appears to be concer
| trated.
All the houses In the vicinity Of the Pines ha,
been vacated, several Of which were LEFT by q
occupants during the progress OF the fight. II
|, approaches 20 Richmond from this point, az
seven below 10, are by four roads, over which Il
Rebels made their recent retreat TO Richmond.
The loss In killed and wounded, on our side,
far less than was anticipated, while thar Of 81
1 Rebels must have been heavy.