Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-07-02

| Yesterday morning. Thus, by strategy uhPara,-
| leled for its brancy, Mcclellan circumVehteu'
Up to this writing We have no accounts VI '.e "a
tie that has been progressing that wouiu IuSu'y
particulars, but Mcclellan and his man army was
renorted retreating down the Chickahomny, bear
ing off from "Stonewalrs" guns IN the direction OF
West Point where the gunboatS were lying reaoy
TO cover him.
1t was six o'clock when the enemy gave way, af-
ter leaving their last brcaStwOrk battery OF thirteen
ouns which was their best, mounting heavy siege
guns Mcclellan retired burning up his stores at
the depots of his lines. From the top of the capt.
toll in the square, shafts OF white smoke could be
seen rising in the direction Of Old Church and the
White House At first this was thought TO orig
nate from the firing of cannon, that could not be
heard in the distance the wind also being contrary
but later in the day it asccrtaned to have been
caused by the destruction by the enemy OF his IN
menSe stores off to the right of the MechanlcSvllle
pike, on the farm of DR.. Gaines.
The mutteringS of the light could he occasionally
heard through the report OF heavy guns, but 1t ded
entirely away as the scene OF the conflict was re-
moved by the retreat OF The enemy and the advance
of the Confederate forces.
The retreat of McClcllan's army, and the pursuit
of the Confederate army, has moved our base of III
formation concerning the fight, which, we learn,
was kept up at intervals with great severity; out,
through the kindness of an officer from our lines,
we have been supplied with very intelligent pen
Gil diagram, furnishing the positions of the retreat
ing and pursuing forces.
Jacksol,'s army was represented as moving down
considerably this side of the Pamunkey for truS>el
bridge spanning it at the railroad with the nten-
ton of outs ripping Mcclellan whose forces were
making for the same bridge to secure it as eros
sin. before it was seized burned by jackson.
Gems LongStreet'S, \. P. Hills and ID. II. Hills
divisions were pressing hard upon McClean's rear,
while Magruder and Hugcr, on the ChlcEahomlny,
held our right wing in the direction OF New Bridge
with portion of the enemy in front of them. This
the supposed situation of the armies up to yes
ter lay afternoon. AS regards the battle or series
OF battles that closed the eveniul day we have little
that is reliable. So, too Of our loss and that OF the
enemy but it has been heavy--that on the enemy's
side very great; but we will not venture on figures.
1t appear To be conceded that the enemy success
fully withdrew their forces from the position held
by them Thursday night after the capture OF
MechanicSville, leaving behind, as a blind some
skrmishers and battery, winch, when charged
upon by the advance yesterday morning At daylight,
was found TO be empty of men and guns. y pur-
suit of three hours brought our forces upon for
midable battery Of thirteen guns at Gaines Mill,
near the New Kent road Here occurred our
heaviest loss The breastwOrkS were situated on
bluff across mill dam, canal and swamp, with rifle
pits in front. Our troops charged through and
over all with valOr and determination that swept
everything, clearing rifle pits and battery at the
|
! splendid act of gallantry were from NorthCaro
lina-the brigade Of General Fender. This was ac-
! compshed through terrific vOlleyS OF mu>Ectry,
she'll round shot, grape and canister, that piled the
! ground with the valOrous dead and wounded.
| In the retreat bodies Of cavalry thrown for
! ward on the Prospect road ami the TuckertOwn
road to intercept them, hut it failed to succeed We
hear 1t said that McClcllan'S retreat conducted
| in good order and that the enemy carried forward
! all OF their dead and wOundsd. 1t said few
/ prisoners were taken; however that may hc, hat
! few have arrived in Richmond. As far as our lin
tied knowledge extends this moment, there is very
fortunate lack of general and commissioned officers
! killed.
/ We bear the light batteries suffered severely
I PurcellS battery, OF Richmond. Colonel Lindsay
Walker, went into the action OF Thursday evening
with above ninety men, and brought ont only thirty
or forty. Seventeen of their horses were killed.
/ The Maryland battery, Captain Snowden Andrews,
in the same battle lost five men killed and wounded
and several horses. Doctor Hunter, of Maryland
the surgeon, was killed The Chesapeake ARTILLERY
ordered TO join General LongstreetS division on
! the right, and was not engaged
We hear from the AppOmat;nx river, near Peters
/ burg, below Port Walthall that fighting between
some of the enemy'S gunboatS and our forces had
; commenced The enemy had destroyed all the ship
ping at City Point. Several lives were lost
LATER-THE ACTION BECOMES GENERAL-THE STU
( ALTON THE TWO ARMIES AT NIGHT.
! We learn from Major John VI. Daniel, of the
/ Generals staff serving with General Hill IN these
battles and who, about o'clock last evening, was
/ Obliged to leave the field in consequence OF having
had his right arm shattered by MIME ball. that at
the time he left the field Hills DIVISION which had
been engaged the whole day, and victorious through
out, was engaged in terrific battle with the enemy
near New Coal Harbour, and were overrnatchel hv
large masses of the enemy. Just the Major was
wounded several large bodies of troops appear
! ing on the field, which supposed to be rein
! fOrcements under jackson.
! Later accounts brought from the field Of battle
are deeply interesting. The rcinforccmeatS that
reached the field, and which We're supposed to bc
under General jackson, were troops of General
LongStreetS division. General jackson was engag-
ed on General Hills left during the day, but also
in time to join the general engagement which enSued
! about five o'clock in the evening.
At this hour the action became general for the
first time on the Richmond lines. No such collision
of numbers has yet occurred in the history of the
war. 1t Is estimated that seventy-fve thousand
Confederate troops were engaged with equal, if
not superior, force of the enemy. The scenery Of
the battle field is described awfully sublime and
Its sights of carnage as exceeding in ghastIiness the
! worst ina ~inatiOnS of the horrors of