Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-04-25

sar and its suferiDgs.
Night settled ovbr the coln6ntanss, Ge oc-
cupylng the Fsd6rAl euoampments, they mud
died togsthcr along sEd under the hsuks OF The
river
THE sLuoHD Days TGaT-RET1REMEhT TO co
RIRTH
Especial Corr ospondence of tie Pica;5ae.
CoklsTH, April 8, lS62.-As anticipated
trom intelligence received at late hour Sna
dsy night, Tie enciny received strong rein
iorce,nc.ts in the morning, and about o'clock
renewed tho eight. These reinforccmenls are
rrprosed TO nave been q division OF about
T GOA men from Crump's Landing, several miles
ae!n+. They were doubtless brought up du-
ring Tie night by the river transports, and
united with The msin column that had fed
the afternoon before. From tia hercsnsss
Of tho mornings attack, it is probable they
we're put IN trout. At all events, the attack
ing parties all had the Appearance Of fresh
lrorpa.
Ca. Bcaurognrd, however, was ready f1s
them, be having spent all the nigh in re-or.
CANNING and layl2s his plans for the following
dav. The attack was first made, apparently
upon our centre, where Gen. Sherman for
lnuriy had his headquarters, but where Gen.
Deauersaft now had his, and was vigorously
and succe 8fu!y rcpulsed. 1t WAS removed
upon our right, where the enemy received a.
,aoi as sunt, antl we're finally compelled to
retire. Still again it was renewed upon our
lett, with Tremendous fury, and still again the
eneaiy ,roru driven back. All thls while the
csnHu1sding was fearful and the roar Of mus
kerry unbruken saye for the LINE il Look to
orssnize Tho attacks, There vas, however, sn
incv.tsut discharge Of field artillery and NUS
kctry The whoic Llme ell slong our whole line,
Shells, :oun': ahot, grape aod Minnie balls
rainsi like hail upon the field OF cut their way
at random through the trees Huge branches
and uHdefgroT!h, sometimes large trur;s Of
tsnre, woIu mown down like grass befuss the
ac7tbo What with the crashing OF the tim
Der, the cracking Of musketry, aud the whiz
zig of shells aud bsls and the roar m arLIl-
lery, cno might thought all heaven and earth
engaged IN uUftsl combat
1t vas noT about halEpast 10, sud the enc
my were being driven back 1t all points. and
rapidly making their way again to the river,
aus bruy. boys pursuing, when new end VIC.
len. attack Hss made upon our extreme right.
As the whole force OF tho enemy ca the field
IN the morning had been driven back, Il vas
known that he must have received new rein
cereata, probably itom Busll, as after.
yards proved 70 be the tscI. These latter also
1ure well supplied with new artillery, which
Was served with Vigor, but at trs, the shots
few at random, showing the nuw reinforce.
meats bud not yet gotten the range. Every
whers their ahots flew Whizzing over the hsld,
much OF the lne doing but lIltls damage
The ARTILLERY, however, was wall supported BY
infantry, winch dealt death and obstruction
IL 20 our rxnks. Nevertheless, our brave iuen
On tie right, steadily reinforced by besure'
gard, sluud their ground Danlul.S, and Loon
compelled The eLemy 10 retreat.
About hall 81 hour after, and probably again
reinforced by ncwly arriving troops rotu Buells
COMMAND, tho eunlly made another fierce al
tack upon our crntre. This Vas probably tue
more vigorous and determined, tuat thar ell
caupmon,s from whlon they were driven on
Sunday, lag in tat direction. The comforts
ol we'll supplied tents, otter nisdt's dcepdh.
ing rsln, il huL sense OF homer, must tsse
tsnpted them 10 fight desperately to recover
them. An, thst they did 80, the Killed sad
wounded OF holn armlss will tesr Tltocsa.--
They Hurn, TOW eyer, again rst ulseh.
There WAS dow & pause OF aoothar hal hour,
except Tho cracking vi mrsks!ry an1 occasiousl
shots OF artillery, which never fully ceased all
along tn- lloe, when the most turiUus attack
of all sac Lnsde upou our extreme leIt. Tle
sne,ug had probably besu roinioicsd ~ ssve.
rnl thousand fresh troopa, s!so Of Rusii'S Gull,
maud, constantly Coming. Nos artillery, also,
aeelned 10 have been brought on the field, %
was apparent from lts random siIotG The
infsntry, however, pressed us s0rely, aud for
upwards CT an hour the conflict wss 1ne OF the
mos. severe recorded III history. Had it not
bsen !sr Ito timber sheltering the nun, whole
recilu.nt,, must Gavs been shot down On either
side. An il wac, the list of wounded, many .!
them slightly will provo very consideraole.-
But our mcn stood their ground brayrl5, ED
agau repulsed the enemy, aud drove them
back, in light again, 10 the river.
And here may remark, that i'll theso sue
csssce attacks and repulses is t. be Hesn tie
superior lighting qualities of our troops. Most
Of Them had been in the fight the day before,
and vert much fatigued. Many OF each reg
msnt, indeed hsd been wounded, Or complete
~ worn out, aud were unable to jim their
comrades in tins, the sccondaiay's tight Onr aln'
munitiOn, also, in many cases, espccaly nrtisery
snmuutiun, CAV. OUT and had to BE- renewed
while the fight was going on. Nevertheless,
our hravs army hold its ground firmly, ana
kept thu constantly reinforced enemy st osy.
More, it repused them whenever they renewed
the attack, aud compelled them 10 best re-
treat
TWAS noa, however, only about ono clock;
eeI.rG Lighting hours were still before ns;
and BIoll's fresh men, numbering 30, 700 in
all, we're still Coming IL. Gen. Beauregatd
knew there MAS limit to human endurance,
even Of uun who, like OUR oTh, had yet never
th.n,ght Of setrsat, and after praper cnnsulta-
ton, thought il Wise 10 retire. Before giving
the order, however, be directed the rear to be
cleared, the roads put III order, and artillery
IL be plsn.d st several prominent points, TO
p;otect the retreat, This Was done In excel.
lent order, aud our brave men, Alter tEo days
hsri fighting, and only before overwhelming
uutntefs vi fresh troeps, fell back without any
confusion whatever, keuping tile enemy ht bay
and burning tauir !snts, baggage sud stores,
as lLey retired Never beiure, probably, did
an army retire in ouch good order, which Is
perhaps tho reason the enelDy did not pursue,
though, Doubtless, they wers content With re-
gaining their old camping ground.
Unfortunately ior us, another heaTJ rain
cams ou lasl night, the roads were again
flooded, Sid uisde difficult both for artillery
.u.l Infantry. Napy ut our aen, also, must
bs7e suffered ss7ersly from the branching
rain. Everything, however, came N this
morning lis good order, the nsn loob cheerful,
tho sun shines out warm khd every thing looks
bright assin. Gen. Besursgard Ia a.so here,
sctire, visilant and patriotic IS every, viso
rously reorgaaizing and preparing for anothal