Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-07-04

The New York Tribune has issued an cx.
ira, dated Battlefield" giving anSaceount
Of two days desperate fighting A company
OF Bucktails was surrounded and captured.
Retreat of our right wilma. III, 600
men engaged. All civilians ordered away
from White, House. The following is the
account: wv
:" A severe and most determined battle was
fought on the right wing Thursday and FRI
day, which is claimed by ysome of our Off
COOS as a successful strategic movement into
which the enemy had been unwittingly
drawn, and which viii soon result in the cap
ture OF Richmond, and the entire rebel army.
The attack was made by the enemy in inn
mcnss force, who crossed the Chickahominy
near the railroad above Mechaniesville, on
Thursday afternoon and fought desperately,
but were unable to drive our men a single
rod, though they were ten to our one. The
only force engaged that day was McCals
Division--the battle lasting from two tilfnins
p. M, when the Division was, ordered back.
-f"General Mcclellan was on the field and
expressed himself satisfied with the result.
II 81 q Ga faif ADDITIONAL. a .a .aT
Thursday about noon the enemy made an
attack upon Gen. Stoneman's forces, in the
vicinity of Hanover Court House, probably
for the purpose accomplishing an outlank
ing movement on the right and to engage our
attention in that direction. Shortly after
wards they commenced vigorous cannonading
from their works on an cminence opposite
Mcchanicsville, about one and half miles
distant; also from two batteries--one above
and one below. They were replied to by
CampbeR's Pennsylvania batteries, on picket
duty, on the Mechancsville road and another
from behind earthwerks at the right of a
grove. ...-
About D. m. the encmy's infantry and
squadrons Of cavalry crossed the Chickahom-
my in immense force, short distance above
the Va. Central Railroad making rapid adj
dvance towards Gen. McCalls division, who
were intrenchcd on hilly woodland across
a swamp ravine, about a mile in the rear OF
Mechanicsville. The first Pennsylvania Ri
files Bucktails) and Campbell Pennsylvania
battery were on picket duty, all of whom,
breastworks and rifle pits, where a line Of
battle was drawn up. Co. H. of the Buck
tails, who were on picket beyond the railroad
were surrounded by the enemy, and the last
that was known of them they were trying to
cut their way through. 1t is presumed the
greater porten were taken prisoners. g.
The enemy advanced down at the rear of
Mcchancsville, on low rharshy ground, to
where our forces were drawn up behind rifle
pits and carthworks on an cminencs on the
north side of the ravine, when the conflict
became most terrible. The rebels, with the
most determined bravery, attempted to press
forward over the miry ground, but the bull
lets and grape shot fell among them like hail,
literally moving them down. This contin-
ucd tin dark, when they withdrew. The
cannonading was kept up on both sides till
9o'clock p. IN. when the battle ceased.
Our forces were covered by earthworks,
and suffered but slightly. s.... ....5
Late in the p. IN. the enemy made charge
with cavalry. About hundred of them
came rushing down and attempted to cross
the ravine, where the horses became mired.
\ squadron Of our cavalry, seeing their pos
ition, made charge down the hill, when tho
cavalry mcn abandoned their horses and fled.
The infantry fight was then renewed, and &C
cording to the statement OF my informant
(Surgeon Humphrey, of the Pennsylvania
Bucktail regimenD continued until about Z
n. m when retreat was ordered, very much
against the will Of the Pennsylvania boys,
who begged to be allowed to hold their pos.
ition. The outer forces then began TO fall
back. Porters corps were some distance be-
low Dr. SralneS residence.
Ofnext days battle, correspondent says
the cannonading and muskesry was terrific.
Duryec's gallant Eouaves were lying upon
the ground for two hours, while our batteries
were she!Iing the woods over them. Finally
toward night, the enemy attempted to break
the center line in front of Duryce's Louaves.
The musket firing became terrific, lasting 20
or 80 minutes. Shortly afterward an attempt
,-oe IL, Ia lrn,l- 4brnurh tho riuht which
wss repulsed, and half an hour later another
attempt was made Oh the left, with the same
result. ta. :.1 ..s ...
f. The battle had then been raging for some
hours, without any apparent change or adj
vantage on either side. Reiniorccmcats OF
artillery and infantry then came steadily
along the bridge to the field ofbattle. The en-
envy then seemed TO make their last desper-
ate, determined effort and came, forcing our
men back into the low ground between the
hill and the bridge, where they could have
been slaughtered by tens Of thousands before
they could have crossed that long, narrow
bridge Wagons, artillery, ambulancss. and
men were hurrying toward the bridge, and a
panic was almost inevitable, when a strong
guard was placed across the bridge,
At the time when the enemy had almost
reached the main hospital, half mile fren,
the river, Thomas Francis Meaghers Irish
men came over the HILL stripped to the bare
arms, and were ordered to Ego in" They
gave yell and went 10 work, and the result
was that the enemy fell back to the woods
and thus matters stood up TO II o'clock yes
terday Sunday morning
At dark an attack was made along the
front Of the entire lire, and was renewed al
"a. M, in front Of Generals Hooker, Kear
ncy and Sumner, without any material result
Another correspondent says Of Fridays
battle; Twice all along the front did the
rebels attack our lines our rifle pits and re
doubts. Porter with fifty cannon, and Sum
ner's, Rockers and Ayre's. guns moved
them with death harvest. Their loss ir
killed and wounded was horrible.
Under date of Friday, midnight, the same
correspondent says: Ten guns were taker
from us by a sudden flank attack, covered by
the thick smoke which hung around. Coun
lie Paris captured a rebel Major, who belong