The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-06-12
+ ELE CIR APHIC.

TELEGRAPHIC.
A Desperate Battle and Federal Victory Before
| Richmond.
| WASHINGTON, June l.
The following dispatch was received at
the War Department this p NJ:
FIELD OF BATTLE, June l, II NJ.
We have had desperate battle, in which
the corps of Gems. Sumner, Heintzemau
and Reyes were engaged against greatly
superior numbers. Yesterday at one clock
the enemy, taking advantage of terrible
storm which flooded the valley of the
Chickahominy, attacked our rig ght flank.
General Casey's division, which was in the
front line, gave way unaccountably. This
caused temporary confusion, during which
their guns and baggage were lost; but
Generals Heintzleman and Kearncy most
gallantly brought up their troops and
checked the enemy, and at the same time
l succeeded BY great exertions in bringing
across Generals Sedgewick's and Richard.
sons divisions, who drove back the enemy
at the point Of the bayonet, covering the
ground with his dead. This morning the
enemy attempted to renew the conflict, but
was everywhere repulsed We have taken
many prisoners, among whom are General
Pe.tigrew and Col. Long. Our loss is
heavy but the enemy's must be enormous.
Excepting Gen. Casey's division the men
behaved splendidly. Several fine bayonet
charges we're made.
(Signed) GEO. B MCCLELLAN, Maj. Gen.
During the whole of the battle this
morning, Professor loves balloon was
overlooking the scene at an altitude of 1000
feet. Telegraphic communication from the
balloon to Gen. Mcclellan, and in direct
communication with the military, was Sue
cessfully maintained, Mr.. Parks2ring, of
Philadelphia, acting as operator. Every
movement Of the enemy was obvious, and
instantly reported. This is believed to be
the first time balloon reconnaissance has
been successfully made during battle, and
certainly the first time the telegraph station
has been established in the air to report the
movements of an enemy and the progress
of battle. The advantage to Gen. Nc
Clellan must have been immense.
New York, June 8.
The Times correspondent, speaking of
the battle on Sunday, says, terribly did the
rebels suffer on this and on the previous
day, from the we'll directed fire of our
artillery, piliDg the ground with the slain.
Terrible also to them were the frequent
charges of our solid columns, pressing
them back, step by step, to the last point Of
endurance, when they broke and ran,
ineloriously leaving behind them many of
their men and officers as prisoners on our
hands.
Our losses in this battle were about
5000 in killed, wounded and missing.
Memphis Taken.
Special to Missouri Democrat says, our
forces occupied Fort Pillow on the 4th inst
at about Z o'clock, A. NJ. The rebel
forces all retreated across Hutchie river.
They kept up continual FIRE until all their
forces escaped, They then applied the
torch to all their gun carriages and all the
bales of cotton which they had used for
breastworks. We found twelve guns at the
Fort, part Of them spiked. 1t is impossi-
bic to give full particulars at present, as
our forces had just landed when the dis
patch boat left.
Our gunboats have passed on down the
river and are supposed to have passed Fort
Randolph.
10P. NJ, 6th.-There is hardly doubt
that our feet is now at Memphis. The
ram Queen of the West left our feet after
they bad passed Randolph, and there is no
obstacle between them and Memphis.
The steamer Platte Valley has just
arrived from Memphis. She reports al!
quiet. The city surrendered to the Federal
Aotilla without resistance.
Our Fleet Before Richmond.
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of
the Philadelphia Press, under date of the
5th, says, from City Point l learn to-day
that our war vessels in the James river,
above City Point, have run the batteries at
Drury's Bluff, and it is rumored that the
Monitor has passed through the Instructions
sinking the rebel gunboats about Rich
mond. If this be true the Monitor is at
Rockets. A number of powerful gunboats
nave been sent up the river within the past
two or three days, and our feet now before
Richmond is quite formidable, consisting
Of at least six vessels armed with the very
best of naval ordnance.
Texas for the Union.
The Tribune editorally says, We learn
through a private channel, in which We
con6de, that the Unionists of Texas will
soon be heard from. We understand that
their arrangements for restoring the State
to the Union have been greatly matured,
and that they have before this thrown the
old flag to the breeze under the lead of
Gen. Sam Houston. We cherish strong