The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-06-11
THE BATTLE BEFORE RICHMOND.
DETAILS OF THE ENGAGEMENT.
Correspondence of the \. y. Times.
FNLp or BATTLE BkFuRE RiCuMoNp,

A BATTLE before Richmond has at last put 10
'ho test the rebel boast as TO what they wuulI
do with Gen. McCiellnn's army when they shuu d
geJit hey ond the reach of the guuqboats, Though
he advantage vi Il sudden movement against
.e we,kes, point in our lines < we the enemy q
empnrnty success, the fnnl result has not been
such as to afford encouragement TO their dis.
heartencd md dcmural'z d TROOPS or occasion
any fears IA TO our ulumate possession of the
rebel capital.
The attack commenced shorty before one
o'clock on Sunday, on the lett wig OF our army
on the south side of the ChipkahOminy, where
the advance position was held by The Division OF
Gen Casey, much the weakest in the army, com
posed almost enire'y OF raw regiments, und tc-
duced by disease to an effective force oil 5000
men.
IuE POSITION HELD ny GEN. CASEY.
Was on the Williamsburg Stage Road, within
tx or seven miles of Richmond, and on u line
90 extended at the front that the troops required
TO maintain picket guards of sufficient strength,
mlde no Zig ght drnt' on his weakened forces. -
The rgh. OF the lnc = hrld bv his First Brig
ade, under Gen. II. N. Naglec, as brave aud val
liant an officer ~ is tn be found in the army ON
the Potomac. Gen. Nrglec's pickles. extended
aorCs3 the railroad, Cunning parallel TO the
Williamsburg road about mile to the righ' !
to near the sixth mile post from Richmond ana
so on further to the right and little to the rear
un within short dlstarce of point on the
Gbickahomny, where Gen. Sumner had thrown
bridge across the stream, and was hourly ex
rec'cd TO cross to complete the liuc OF plckets
10 the river.
The center of Gen, CAsey's position, held by
the Second Brigade, Gen Wis-ell's, formerly
Gen Kein's,) expended from G II Siglprs ncI
t. the lett short distance across the Williams.
burg Road whore it joined the Third Bigatc,
Cen Pslmcrs s're'chng some distance iur her
IN the lett, and joined the lines of Col. Couch.
who guarded the left fink, the main portion ol
his force heu9 u shogt dsrnupe to too rear OF
Casey, on the Williamsburg road,
NATURE OF TUE GROUND.
The position occupied by the main body OF
these Two Divisions, was clearing about Qua
mile -qnarc, surrnundtd d on the leIL and front by
bell Of forest, in which Gru, Caseys picket-
re Stationed. On tho right wooded swAmp
divided the CleaF:rg tram similar opening IN
tn forest, along the railroad, which was ocou-
pied by Gen. Naglee with his brigade. Just be-
yond the woods 20 the front were similar clear
ngs with woods on their further side, where the
= hes iay concealed their pokcis occupying the
edge of Tho forest, and separate from our p,ckefs
the wId.h OF the fields, forming sort OF neutral
ground between he two armies, over which each
kcp close watch lest hi8 neighbor should take
possession.
the ENEMY ACCOMMODATING
Step by s,ep Gen. Casey lad pnshcn on to this 8
point, overcoming such opp s,riOn as met him,
until iC became evident hut the rebels had resch-
el the limit of their retreat, aud further advance
Cluid nor oe yentur, d wiJhOut the ri.k OF geu-
G al engagement, for which the p'Is were not
yet RIPE. Oar proximity to the rebels was cSi-
druLly Auuu}Wg 20 them, and on Tnor-dAv, and
agan on Eddy, they made an uu uccess'uI az
temp, with iarco OF "a few huuntod, 80 d'Vs ~
tie p.clpts aud dl.coger whtt ~ Schi,f waa pot
ting behind the belt o! woods shecring Grrer
Al Casey from their view. Their attack was res
olutcly met by the pickefs, who f Il back on the
reserves, and held their glound, defeating the
purpose of the enemy.
Mranwhile Gen casey was actively at work
securing his 1-itins, large number Of men be-
log kept at work digging : g. pits and telling
r-e9 for abltrs A similar lne Of defensive
works had been commenced and partially uccu-
pied at Gen. Ca-et's fbrmrr pa-ltiIn, ~ the Srv-
en- Pu's. thrte miles firther 20 tna rear jus!
back Of these was iue vi 'trlh-W' rkS cOnSlTue-
ted by Col. Couch, und more carefully dui.hed
Failing IN the two at empts 20 gather inform
ton by forcing back Gen Casey's pickets, tho
ebels app ,rrnty resolved upon an adV-uce n
torce upon rhr l-f. wing oi the auny, douht'e-i
r-olve1 10 drive It beyond the ChickahomiHg
should the opportunity offer, aud put themselves
in position TO urn Gru. NcGlelltn's left fl nix.
STORM on FRIDAY RIGHT.
| Daring the afternoon Of Friday terrific thun
| der storm arose, continuing most of tho nigh
with uninterrupted severity, deluging the eart
with rain, conver ing the spopgy roii in'o an a
most impIs-ahle bog, and Faising The waters q
the OhckshOminy 80 as 10 carry away one q
two bridges that Gen Summer had prepared 70
his p,sssge, aud somewhit disturbed the iouI
da iOhs of the Other
Toe broad sheets Of lightning that night, an
The unusually large camp hrrs, glesmug 10 Oh
pitchy darkness, seemed TO iIlumiuat+ our pos