The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-13
The Rebel Accounts OF the Richmond
Rattles.


Sir John Falstaff's report Of the famous bat
tie of Gadshill when "we four set upon some
DOZENS" has hitherto served the rebel chroni-
c'crs as model for their accounts OF the con-
hicts of this war. Our troops have often
beaten the rebels on the field, hut never III the
reports of rebel generals or rebel correspond
eAts. Beauregard, unable to annihi.ate US
with the sword took especial pains that we
should not escape the pen. By the time that
one of our glorious successes bad filtered
through the rebel censorships and reached the
rebel press il was transformed into an over
whelming defeat. A favorita mode Of report
ing battles on the part Of the rebel editors
has been to take the account OF one of the
HERALD correspondents. and by simply trans
posing the names Of the victors and yanquished
throughout, change the whole article into q
glowing record OF rebel bravery and rebel
victory. The pen has been much more power
full than the sword in achieving rebel triunphs.
In yesterdays issue we reproduced, from
recent Richmond papers, the rebel reports Of
the great battles on the Chickahominy. We
recur to these reports because they contain
more truth than we have been accustomed to
find in rebel productions. They admit the
frightfu slaughter Of the rebel troops They
acknowledge the failure of their plans for the
destruction of our gallant army. They do not
very greatly exaggerate the number of Union
prisoners captured. They oaly claim, with
extraordinary modcsty, that the rebels have
raised the siege" Of Richmond. They confess
their superiority in numbers. They concede
that our generals outrival their own in military
science In word, while occasionally erring-
as in oonfounding our Seventh (Steuben) Vol
unteers with our Seventh New York; Militia
regiment-and while repeatedly asserting de-
liberatc falsehOods, in order to sustain tie
spirits Of their readers, they have yet managed
10 state more facts and less fiction than we
have ever found in any other rebel reports.
TIE Richmond Dispatch says that the North
Carolina and Georgia regiments, under General
Ripley suffered severely" and "did not sue
coed in taking" the batteries attacked. In
regard to another position it states 1.-THE at
tack Of our men was impetuous and daring; but
the loss was great; for the foe were so screened
hy their position it was impossible to get at
them properly" At the battle of Gaines
Mills, the Dispatch says that !" the federals
swept the whole face of the country with their
numerous artillery, which would have ami
hilatcd our whole force IL not screened in the
dips of the land and in gullies to our left"
!" The infantry and artillery fire that assailed
the three (rebel) brigades was the most terri
BILE On secord." Again, ct Garnetts farm, the
DipsscA says -" The Eighth, in sivsnce,
charged across ravine and up hill, beyond
which the Yankee intrenchments lay. They
gained the first linz Of works and took posses
sion Of them but, it is proper to state. this was
unoccupied at the time by the Yankees. The
fire Of the enemy was murderous, and as soon
as our men reached the brow Of the hill rapid
volleys Of grape, canister and musketry were
poured into them It was found almost impos-
sible to proceed farther; but the attempt would
to fall back. which was done in good order,
still under fire." Is it wonderful that, after
telling 30 much truth a. this, the rebel re-
porters should relieve themselves by a little
romancing about " the panic Of tho fsderals,"
the wounding Of General Mcclellan, the "fe-
deral loss Of twenty thousand" and the cap
ture of General Sumneri
Nor is the Richmond Examiner less honest
in its account Of the battle OF Malvern Hills.
OF the charge made by Magrnder's troops
upon our intrenchments the Ecomi,pr says -
"Gallantly they sprang to the encounter, rush
ing into the field at full run. Instantly from
the line Of the eneny's brcsstworks a murder
Gus storm Of grape and canister was hurled
into their ranks with the most terrible effect
Officers ard men went down by hundreds; but
yes undaunted and unwavering, our line dash
ed on until two-thirds Of the distance across
the field was accomplished. Here the carnage
from the whitening fire of the enemy's com
bined artillery and musketry was dreadful.
| Our line wavered moment, and fell back to
| the cover Of the woods. Twice again The effort
to carry the position was renewed, but each
| time with the same results. Night at length
| rendered further attempt injudicious." We
consider that plain talk for rebel paper. But
the Examiner confesses moro general defeat.
Referring 10 previous article, IL says-"lt
will be recollected that il was stated, with ex-
| act precision Of detail, that on Saturday even
ing las. we had brought the enemy to bay ON
the south sido Of the Chickahominy, and that it
only remained to finish him in single battle.
Such, in fact, appears to have been the situa-
ton then. The next morning, however, it was
perceived that our supposed resources OF gene
ralship had given us too much confidence; that
the enemy had managed to extricate himself
from the critical position, and, having massed
his forces, had succeeded, under the cover OF
the night, in opening way to the James river.
Since this untoward event the operations Of
our army on the Richmond side of the Chicka-
hominy have been to follow the fugitive enamy
through country where be las had admirable
opportunities OF concealment and through the