The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-12
Opening and Close OF
the Battle.
SOMETHING FOR HISTORY
Mcclellan and the French
Princes.
OUR SICK SOLDIERS IN RICHMOND
THE REBEL WOUNDED,
Sc, Sc, SC.
INTRODUCTORY OPERATIONS.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF TIE BATTLE.

INTRODUCTORY OPERATIONS.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE BATTLE.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY POTOMAC,
SIX MILES FROM RICHMOND, Va, June s. 1852
The battle of Fair Oaks, fought the afternoon OF
Saturday the last day OF May and the morning of Sun
day, the first day OF june without exception, the
greatest battle of the Larger than that fought in
front of Williamsburg this peninsula the 9th of
May 1t also surpassed in extent and Importance the bat
tie Of Ptsburg Landing West The battle of Fair
Oaks has clearly demonstrated the utter inability Of the
rebels to defeat the Union Army of the Potomac 1t was
the enemys battle not ours. He chose his own time
and place for the assault; formed his attacking lines
and supporting columns Of tho very flower OF
tho rebel army, led by the most distinguished
representatives Of Southern chivary and threw them
with furious force and almost unprecedented petinacity
against the poorest division in army Afterh sud-
den dash it seemed though the enemy might yet
really be triumphant because he had captured eight
pieces of artillery, had driven hack advanced dvi-
sion In considerable disorder and pouring his flank
ing forces with their fearful enladng fire down the
right and left of General Reyes corps but before the
had set that evening tho better portion OF those troops
materially assisted by of splendid soldiers
had arrested the progress Of the enemy with fearful
Of life, while on the succeeding Sabbath morning he was
pushed at the point Of the bayonet from tho ground he
mad momentarly taken, and signally defeated
THE RETREAT THE EMMY TOWARDS RICHMOND.
For the sake Of continuity in the statement it is
proper to remark that when the enemy evacuated his
proud position at Yorktown just month ago. IL was
his avowed intention to fall back to . defensive no
beyond the influence Of our gunboats within the borders
OF the Old Dominion 1t understood that this new
defensive line would DO formed the low lands and
marshes through which the Chickahominy river runs
The rebels had said In peculiar parlance that they
going to give us "shuckrg" the banks Of the
korn
treat towards Richmond, they burned all tho bridges
over it, 30 as to prevent swift pursuit. Therefore,
when army reached that point absolutely ne
cessary for to pause awhile for the purpose con.
srucing bridges well for the passage troops and
artillery as Tor the transportation Of supplies Although
some places at low water the stream was fordable
bridges indispensable for the passage of the art
asry and tho transportation OF those supplies Several
bridges were constructed principally by tho regiments
composing General woodburys Engineer brigade. That
work consumed considerable time. Of Indeed
apprshend that the Of the people scarcely fully
realize the inDumerabe difficulties connected with the
moving OF army Of such magnitude as this whore
has carry every article Of subsistence for and
horses along the country over which 1t marches.
THE TlAxyuL on FRIDAY LAST
was prelude TO the battle Of Fair Oaks on the
evening OF Saturday and Sunday. On Friday afternoon
could in the convuion OF the elements the ndca
lions Of the furious Storm and those who were out Of
camp other than the most pressing military business
hurried beneath convenient shelter before broke upon
The clouds moved in stately grandeur across the
sky. IL was magnificent 20 them; and situated as
are surroundededby all the paraphernala Of warfare
1t reminded Of OF large bodies troors falling
into position previous TO attack upon an enemy At
lsngth between four and five O'Clock first drops Of
rain FELL large significant drops, and came
down in torrents The air highly charged with cleo
trcity and the ghtnngs flashed the thunder ro-
ed 1t fsarfuly magnificent Sometimes the first sharp
OF the thunder followed by repettions
seemed like thu discharge Of artillery While the tenn
pest opening the rebels firing with artillery at
. Union regiment which they saw crossing an open
space relieve mother regiment picket, and when
the sharp crack OF the thunder heard difficult
sometimes for artillery olcers to distinguish
tween the reports the ensmys and Of heavens art
lery Then the electricity in tho dir would frequently
break In such TO sound exactly like tho
dring Of musketry. Now and then there would be q
tremendous burst Of thunder louder far than the report
OF heaviest ordnance. Morasts rather religious
enthusiasts, ON the Northern side, would say that
10 was jehovah pouring ont the walls Of His
wrath upon the rebels while those on the Southern sdo
would argue that Heaven maniiesting its indignation
st Yankee invasion Of Southern soil and an intended
desscraton Of Southern homes At all events the sorn
continued rage with great fury, the rain descehed
the lightning flashed and the thunder roafed great por-
ton Of the night and several serious casualties among
them few deaths were reported in the morning.
mg0 SWELLING OF THE oncKAHosnsy
the immediate effect Of this tremendous storm was 20
swell the Of the Chckahominy, This
let me say rises away up north Of Richmond and
flows in asoutheastery direction until 1t emptes into the
deeper and wider waters Of the James The chckahomny
10 about quarter OF mile wide at that point The
mn In hat
and Longs bridges. For several miles further the
Chickahominy scarcely be called river Its proper
designation IL q swamp with several channels running
through IT, Its width varies at different points from two
20 three hundred yards TO aquarter or hall mile il 10
skrtsd both sides with trees, sad in some places Is
completely overgrown with thsm that IL IL impos
sbls TO see Bottoms Bridge is q central point
because the Williamsburg and Richmond road crosses il
Al that place. Boar Swamp adjacent the right and
white Oak Swamp on the left All the meadow lands In
that vicinity are marshy and after a rain storm ike
cha. W felt on Friday last the waters in the Chick
ahomipy rise several and overflow the in the
vicinity This was the anticipated effect Of the storm
on friday last The Chickahomny said to be higher
on saturday and Sunday than II had been before
while tho secoud storm, Monday night and the sub
s.qusnt rains have swollen II st until to-day
crossed the whole valley Of the Chickahomny wa,
submerged.
THE ENEMY DETERMINE 70 ATTACK w.
portion Of our army having previously crossed thu
swamp, was At FIRST believed whom the enemy had at
tackei Ms that the assault bad been suggested after the
storm have described II was supposed that tho enemy
believing that the bridges would be washed away, had
concluded that BY determined attack he would be able
20 destroy the whole left wing or the Union army.
Subsequent information, however, shows that the
n,ovamcnt had been planned previously General
Johnston, shortly prior 10 tho attack, had made
Reconnaissance in force, "spied out" our position,