Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-07-04
,.o-,1 h. eoon arisipg above the horizon,

The general impression in Petersburg was that
tb;s firing was caused by a fierce battle, sup
posed to have been raging on the right wing OF
our army. betw Ohickahominy and James
rivers, where probably Mcclellan, in his retreat
through White Oak Swamp, had been checked
by our forces sent forward for that purpose
The express" learns that all the gunboats in
the river disappeared from City Point Monday
morning. They may have left to protect the
retreat of the remnant Of the great Yankee
army.
TIRE RATTLE ON TuEsDAY-ANoTHER VICTORY
MOVEMENTS ON YESTERDAY.
The battle on Tuesday, at White Oak
Swamp, continued with great fury until alste
hour in The night. The enemy in their despe'
ration had massed their artillery in ponderous
batteries, and clustered their infantry so as TO
send forth tremendous volleys. Their sphere
of action wss necessarily limited, but their
fighting, like that OF any other desperate men,
when driven to extromities, inflicted severe
loss upon the portion Of our army engaged in
attack upon them. The issue was long doubt.
full. but our forces were determined. to do all
that human energy and courage could, and,
long after night hsd closed around them, were
at length successful, driving the enemy from
his position, and capturing some fifteen or
twenty OF bis guns.
The LOSSES on both sides were very severe.
Several of our regiments were sadly ~decinated,
and among them the. already glorious Third
Alabama. As an instance Of tho severity Of
the engagement, it may be mentioned that The
Metropolitan Guard, Of this regiment, entered
the fight with some forty men, and lost in
killed and wounded, thirty-six. The four who
escaped aud some twelve who are sick in this
CITY, are all that rcm.in ofthis dashing company.
MANY who arrived from the field on yesterday
detailed whatever particulars Of the fight they
were ablo to recount, but as observations OF
individuals on the battle field is necessarily
limited, and generally no two observers are
capable OF telling the same story, we will spa'e
our readers the ~inaiction Of such crude odds
and ends OF tho engagement as wore current
from such sources. 1t is sufficient to know
that the field was contested with great spirit
for a long time, and that victory and the spoils
at length crowned the Confederate arms.
The dronching rain Of yesterday put 3 stop
to active operations in the field, but our troops
were not idle. Our positions were strength
ened, and the situation Of the enemy rendered
less hopeful than ever. Ample preparations
were msdo against any emergency which might
arise pending the issue with the hemmed in
enemy. A large portion of our forces have
not as let been engaged, and should reinforce
mcnts be sent up to Mcclellan, they will meet
.rsception which will doubtless astonish them.
4 report, from q source Of high responsibility,
was current, to the effect that sixteen Federal
transports were landing troops on anne river,
below our position. it is more than probable,
however, that this is q mistake. If any such
stsa uers are in tho river, their purpose is
doubtless to aid McClellan's army to escape.
| All Of the available force OF the Federal army
Of the east is now with Mcclellan, and it is
scarcely probable that. the "army Of the West"
has bean drawn of from Corinth, with Beau.
regards army in the neighborhood. 1t Gers
tsiuly has not had time to bave been 80 drawn
| Oft.
The movements and combinations Of tho
Federal army, for tLeir intended grand de-
scent on Richmond, are very clearly indicated
by the Northern intelligence published in the
News Department of to days Enquirer, bear
ing dates Of the 9th ult, and the lst instant
They prove that the entire Federal army of
| Virginia were either on the Chickahominy, or
on their way ,hither, at the opening Of the
fight, and this proof is substantiated by the
fact, we have captured Major General Nc
Call, who commanded a division Of these
reinforcements. The advices Of the lst tell US
that the Northern press and people are in a
state Of great anxiety and suspense because
the press had been completely muzzled within
the past few days, and nothing concerning Of
fairs on ths Chickshominy was allowed to DO
published. Ere this, no doubt, the truth has,
in sone subdued and partially disguised shape,
flashed from the ying telegraphic wires before
the heightened faces Of the people OF the
North.