, 1862-06-05
The Crossing Of the Chickahominv
by our Reinforcements.
Desperate Nature Of the Fighting.

~~H~
Gen. Naglee's pickets extended across the
railroad (runniDg parallel with the Williams
burgh road, abou. mile to the right) to
Gear TIC sixth nlile-post from Richmond, and
so on further to the right and a little to the
rear until within short distance of point
on the Chickaho1nipy, where Gen. Sumner,
had thrown bridge across the stream, and
was hourly expected to complete the line Of
plckcte to the river.
The centre Of Gen. Casey's position, held
by the I'd brigade, Gen. Wasse1l's, formerly
Gen. kelns',j extended from Gen. Na.lee' 5
lire to Int left Of short distance across the
Wi1liamEburgh road.
GEN. wAssELL's BRIGADE.
Brjeadic1 General Waseell
s5!h eInsylyan'a-tol ]: .. II. Howell.
1t2d dPeunEyivania-Col H. II. Lehman.
9G'h New 3ork--Col. J. Fairn1an
The Sd brigade, Gen. Palmer's, stretched
some distance further to the left, and Join
ing the lines Of Gen Couch, who guarded tic
Lett flank, the main portion Of the force being
short distance to the rear Of Casey, on tic
W1lianlsburgh road.
GEN. PALNER's BRIGADE.
Br!eadiez General Palmer.
estL New York-Najor Mann
git Git New N York Totk-Lieut Liz; Col; DeForrest.
s2G New }ork-Iieut Col Anderson.
33d New fork-Llcut. Col. Butler.
ARTILLERY OFFICERS.
Bates 1st Nsw York Aralery-Col G. D. Bailey.
fth Independent New York Ba!tcrY-Capt,
Ncgan-
sIh Independent New York Batrery-capt.
Eattery Capt Bates.
Battery E-Capt. Spratt.
TIE POSITION THEY OCCUPIED,
The position occupied By the main body Of
these tHo divisions VAS j clearing of ABOUT
one mile square, surrounded on the left and
tie front by L belt Of forest, in which Gen.
Casey's pickets were stationed. On the right
T. wooded swamp divided the clearing from a
similar opening in the forest, along the rail-
road which was occupied BY Gen. Nag!ee with
bis brigade. Just beyond the woods to the
front were similar clearingE, with woods on
their further side, where tie rebels lay con
cealed, their pickets occrpYing the edge OF
tne forest, and separated from our piekets by
neutral ground between the two armies, over
which each kept close watch lest his neigh
hor should take possession.
1.-The position Of Gen Casey and other Gen
Grals, the nature Of the grounds, &C., will be
madt clear by refcTenc to The map ACCOM-
pan3 ing this account TRDuSE.1
4. Step by step Gen. Casey had pressed on to
this point, overcoming such opposition as
met MIN, until it became evident that the
rtbcls had reached the limit Of their retire It,
and further advance could not be ventured
without the risk Of = general engagement, fol
which the plans were not get ripe. Our
proximity to the rebels was evidently annoy
lng TO them, and Oh Thursday, and again On
Friday, they made an unsuccessful attempt,
with . force Of q few hundred, to drive in Tue
IieEets and discover what mischief was plot
tirg behind the belt Of woods she1tering Gen,
Casey from their view. Their attack was res
olnteiy mel by tic pickets, Who fell back on
tie 1es.rses and held their ground, defeating
the purpose Of the enemy.
Meanwhile Gen Casey was actively at work
stcurlpS Lis position, d large force of men be-
ing puey, under the skillfuI direction Of Lient.
+. W West, of his staff, digging rife pits
and telling trees for aba1tis. 4 similar line o]
defensive works had been commenced and
Partially completed ct Gen. Casey's former
position At the Seven Pines, three miles fur.
ther to the rear, and just buck Of these was q
line ot earthworks, constructed by General
Couch, and more fully flushed.
TEE REBELS ATTACK IN FORCE.
Failing III the two attempts to gather iufor.
n,ation By forcing back Gcn. Cascy's pjckets,
the rebels apparently resolved upon au a,z'
rance in force agai7ast the left aeing Of the aYav
doubtless determined 10 drive it beyond tie
th.ckahomlny, should The opportunity Offer
and put themselves in . position to turn Gen
McClcllan's left flank.
:, DURING the afternoon Of Friday. 4 terrific
thunder storm arose, continuing through mosi
OF the night with uninterrupted severity
deluging the earth With rain, Converting til
snoreS soil into nearly iull,assab!e bor. aud
raising the waters Of the Chickahominy SO u
ncr had prepared for his passage, and some.
what disturb the foundation of the other.
Just before the storm had reached its fury
there was some skirnishing between the artil.
lcry On both sides. This commenced again in
The morning, several shots flying over gu,
camp, indicating that the rebels had in some
way gained mort correct idea Of our posi-
tiou.
Shortly after noon the grand attack COM
nlenccd, Gen. Cascy's pickets being driven In
AL alorg the front, after a spirited resistance
the rebels advancing in force along three
roads-the ,Williamsburgh road, to our left
mile Road,'' as it is called, on the ri.ht. With
tls feeble division greatly weakened by extcn,
sion, Gen. Casey lad no backbone to onnosf
TO this sudden attack His troops we're in
mediately formed into position, the thret
orjgades maintaining their relative position:
on the right, LETT and centre, and as thorough
preparations were made for resisting the at
tack as its suddenncss would admit df: Re-
gans New York battery was stationed Just It
the right Of the Nilliamsbur.h road. Bates
battery Of Napoleon guns further to the len
across the road, and Fitch's battery three Of
tour hundred yards to the rear, the last send.
lng its shell over the heads Of our troops at
The enemy beyond The fourth battery WIS
near the railroad, further to the right
The enemy commenced the attack about oue
?. H., showing their whole force against len
Casey's position, with the evident design O.
causing panic in his ranks.
The most terrible Of the fighting oecurrel
just as the enemy had got through the wood:
snd Therc our reserves were drawn up to re
cslyc them. The most desperate courage ,sas
displayed here upon both sides, our reei
ments charging repeatedly upon the enemy
driving them back for . while, when tho,
would again, in tu1n, get the upper hand anee
It must be allowed TINT the rebels foueh
with great bravery, and their loss must have
been very severe. They again succeeded il
playing the old dodge upon our troops, b. dis
playing fag OF truce TIL they got within 20 oof
range, and then pouring in upon them dead
y 1ol1ey. They succeeded in this way at ont
time in completely silencing the firc Of on:
batteries.
TIE yigor With which the enemy pressed
forward to the attack, indicated the conf
dence Of superior strength. A battalion O
two regiments pressed ogainst Gen. Naglce o.
the right, another fell en- Gen. Wasscn At til
centre, and thild On Gen. Palmer to tn,
left, pouring In at once a fire hot and heavy
| and advancing with great resolution in 1ace o
| the steady fire Of canister and grape frou
| the guns in front, and she'll from those fur
ther to the rem, moving down their ranks il
| all directions. The rebels had but little ii
tillery, and we're evidently disposed to max
| coed their deficiency By pressing to clos
quarters with their superior force, to bea
| down at once by weight of numbers the fecbl
| skeleton regiments Of three aud four hun6re.
men who composed the advance division.
| Most Of Gen. Casey's Troops were throw
forward to the edge Of the woods in front q
his position to meet the advance Of the ret
| els, . few regiments being left behind the pa,
italy completed rife pits, short distance
the rcar. Thus division, nearly new to Wal
fare, was suddenly exposed, in IN opsn leli
to the heaviest Of fire from IN enemy corere
to considerable extent By the woods throug
which they were advancing. Terribly tt
| tempest ragged, the air almost growing THO
| with uluskct balls, officer after officer fell, {
w5s borne from The field q wounded maa tt
men dropped By gcores, and the usual numbs
Of weaI.jointed ones we're falling to the rea
But in $ pIte Of the rapid Trimmings Of the
1anks,. tile regiments generally held the
ground until the enemy succeeded in Tushin
around on the left flank, and poured in al e]
h'ading fire from TINT direction, against wllic
The rittc~p1ts were no protection, The ski
rounds OF ammunition with which they ente
ed the fight were nearly exhausted, and I
! more WAS at hand.
Meantime one of Ceu Couehra hrfpade