Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-07-07
lIore DetaiIs Of the TerribIe BattIes.

More Details of the Terrible Battles.
From the correspondence ofthe Cincinna-
tt Commercial, land which is the most intel
Igible connected account of the six days
fighting we have yet seen,) we quote the
following details of the terrible battles
which have drenehed the soil of the PENN
sula with blood:
THE vALoR AND WORK OF THE SOLDIERS.
Oh my countrymen you cannot compre-
hend the tolls and trials of your devoted
soldiers during those days of murderously
unequal eombat-eonfict not simply with
superior masses Of disciplined soldiery-
but contention against insidious thirst,
craving appetite, enfeebling heat, over
powering fatigue-and after fighting and
marching, and privations by day, and suf-
fering by night and fighting by days sue
eeeding nights of fhgting and harrassing
xigils, against fresh forces - 1P0ii
them in 0verpowerlng masses, till exhaust
ed nature almost sunk beneath such fear
full Yisitations, to be pressed to the immi-
nent verge Of despair, was almost too much
for human nature to endure. Oh what
glorious spirit Of devotion to country, that
inspires men to conquer such distress.
tell you, people, the soldiers Of your army
have won title to Immortality. Whatever
fate betide them, their ehildrens children
may proudly boast, ~ Our Fathers were Of
the army of the Potomac"
There is q record of sOrroW-it is soften
ed, too, by great pride,-to be made how
your brethren watched and pressed the
enemy for months and how their leader
begged-and was not relieved-fOT power
to conquer; how day after day they fought
and bled-can you forget Fair Oaks, and
the weeks Of watching and fighting in view
Of the spires of Richmond ?-hOw they
fought and conquered on Wednesday last:
how they fought and won on Thursday
how thew resisted and beat back the great
surging tide of the foe on Friday, but after
deeds Of heroism they were compelled to
yield to overwhelming power; and how on
Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday and
Tuesday they marched, and suffered, and
fought as if every soldier had the soul Of
hero in his frame, until at last when ma
lures energies almost exhausted counseled
with their fears they still stood stagger-
ing but uncomfortable, and met the sum-
uOuE 10 MLuN dD II II " GAg a pA4NAAIt5N " DD
enioyed. These were scenes to move the
strongest heart But hhow cruel, friends,
that such brave souls should be pressed
almost to the very brink of ruin. They
stood up still, with want pressing them,
with fatigue crushing them, and at every
summons to the field they followed the old
flag with cheers, like the songs of Gods
There was a moral heroism displayed by
those worn men that will make our histo-
rvs pages shine with splendid lustre.
THE SCENE AT MECHAEICsvILLE ON THURS
DAY.
The fight was opened with artillery, at
long range, but the enemy, finally discov-
ering our superiority in this arm, fore
shortened the range, and came into close
| conflict He was evidently provoked at
his own ineficiency, since his shell were
not destructive in our intrenchments, while
our gunners played upon his exposed ranks
with fearful effect. The fight seemed to
| increase in fury as it progressed, and it
/ finally became the most terrific artillery
combat of the war. ] had been accUstom-
ed for months to the incessant roar Of
heavy guns, but until that period I had
/ failed TO comprehend the terrible sublimity
/ Of great battle with held pieces. The
uproar was incessant and deafening for
hours. At times it seemed as if fifty guns
exploded simultaneously, and then ran off
at intervals into splendid file fring-if I
may apply infantry descriptive terms to
cannonading But no language can de-
scribe its awful grandeur. The enemy at
last essayed q combined movement, Pow
erful bodies Of troops plunged into the
valley to charge our lines, but our men,
securely posted, swept them away ruth
] lessly. Again and again the desperate fel-
lows were pushed at the bFeastwOrks, only
to be more cruelty slaughtered than be-
fore. Meantime our force had been
strengthened by Griffn's brigade, which
increased the volume Of infantry FIRE, and
Martindales brigade came up to be ready
for emergencies. At dark it was evident
the rebels had enough-much more than
they bargained for.
AT GAINES MILLS OK FRIDAY.
I Gems. Butterfeld and Martindals were
upon the extreme left. Here the fight Eai
tsrri6eon Friday. The correspondent says
a FTERGE ATTACK,
SuddenlY the eTerlnsting roar Of mus
~