The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-05


fatigue duty From these various causes this division
thousand Elective men.
GENERALS STRENGTH.
General Longstrset, as We have said, left Richmond
with the whole effective force Of his command-sx bril-
gades-purposely to drive across the Chickahominy
Other troops also and number OF prisoners state
the force IN the fed al fee divisions They advanced
down the Williamsburg road, and thus the whole brunt
of the first attack fell upon Gen. Casey.
HOW THE FIGHT BEGAN.
II was about noon when first heard the scattered
fire OF our pckets in front. For two three days be-
fore there had skrm hes between the pckets
the road in front, and tn was mistaken for another
affair OF the same kind, and thus soms time was lost;
for instead OF the dispositions that should have been
made, regiment simply ordered out-the One Hun
drsd and Third Pennsyvma-to support the pckets
This regiment went out quickly, formed near the
road and almost stumbled upon the enemy advancing in
line OF battle. Before the had loaded their
pieces the One Hundred and Third received full and
steady voey from the effects OF which II did not re-
cever. That Hre-deiivsred almost As complete
surprise, and which our men could not rsturn-cut
down, perhaps onenfth Of the regiment, and demora-
LIKED the remainder. No moro service was had
from the One Hundred and Third that Gay,
and, what wasworsc, the men began to stream to the
with the old story Of cut to piecss It ought TO
be crime punishable with death in army for any
soldier TO say that his regiment cut 10 pieces " II
Is shbboeth with many in which they beast their own
disgrace, though in this It was somewhat different
or course, this Of had good effect upon The
spirits Of their fellows and thus the day begun 10 mis-
fortune
FORMATION OF RATuE.
But that volley who 1t annihAatsd the regiment,
also quicker than courier could carry the news the
mistake that had been made and that the enemy was
upon us. Casey's force turned ont in hurry and
frmsd and Colonel Bailey Of New York Caseys Chief
Of Artillery had the enemy line under his FIRE before u
had gotten through tho first WOOD and before the line
was completely formed.
ARTILLERY. :
spratt's battery, which was posted in a field 70 tbs
right the road and the edge Of the wood and Re
gans battery which also in the same field, between
spratts and tho house b. got into action Immediately,
and were supported by the Ono Hundredth New York
the road the left BY the Eleventh Maine andone Hun
bred and Fourth Pennsylvania their right and by the
Nnetysecond New York in the Both batteries did
splendid execution but the ensmys line advanced ST.
lently and steadily receiving the e with apparently
perfect coonsss and firing in return with great effect
Im REsEzs ADVANCE ZINE ORDER
As the enemy's line came into fire Of our infantry
regiment after regiment gave to then in nns style;
bat stlI though there was many gap in their limos.
there was break. Fire after fire tore through their
ranks but could break them, and three rsgi.
ments engaged At that point fell back, . HttA shaky,
perhaps, bnt stin in order.
on VENICE
spratts battery was composed Of Napoleon guns Four
hundred yards In front Of the place whore was posted
there was rather dcult ran fence, which the rebel
line had TO cross An they M 70 IL the four Ma.
polsons played upon them fearfully with grape and
canister They could not pass the fence Every time
that they up 10 the new discharge tore their
lines ssundsr moved wide gaps through their forma-
tion and hold them there beyond the fence They did
not pass the fence until spras crepe and canister were
gone He could not be supplied again. for the wagons
were beyond the ehickahomhny. 30 the rebels passed
the fence sprat with his four Napolsons fell back
20 the redoubt.
ANOTHER BATTERY ~ DANGER
Resans battery stil maintained ne aercs nre. But
now the ensy dressed his line the most perfect
nsr, and came for that. Should he have . few more
psscssf Nos Are could prevent ~ ead the are Of The