Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-04
THE BATTLE oF THE CHrcKAHomINY

The New York TImsJ publishes letters giving
accounts Of the battles Of saturday and Sunday,
from which the following 10 taken:
POSITION uF GEN cAsKYs COMMAND 4
The attack commenced shortly before O'Clock
on Saturday, on The left wing oftbe army, on the
further Of south sid of the Chicnhominy, whefe
the advance position was held by the division Of
Gen. tsssT, much the weakest 10 che army, COM
prsed almost entirely or raw regiments, and re-
duced by disease to an cbecrve force 81 some
o GOO men W ~
The position held by Gen Casey was on the
Willismsburgh stage road, within six or seven
miles OF Richmond, and on line so extended at
the frcnt that the troops required TO maintain
picket guards or sufacIent strength made no
slight dTaft on his weakened forces
Our proximity 10 the rebels were evidently an
ncy AZ TO them, End on Thursday, and again On
Friday they made an unsuccessful attempt, with
"a force Of few hundred, 20 drive In the pickets
and discover Whist mischief was plotting behind
the belt Of woods shelterfng Gen. Casey from
piche,s, who fell back on the reserves and held
their pround, defeating the purpose Of the enemy,
who then apparently resolved upon an advance
in force against the @ sps the . 5s
homIny, should the opportunity offer, apd put
,hernsflye' In position to turn Gen. Acciellan's
left fank.
Daring the afternoon Of Friday terrific thun-
night, with uninterrupted severity, deluging the
earth with rain. converting the spongv soil into
nearly impossible bog, and raising the waters
Of the ChickahOmtny so as tn carry away one or
two bridges Gen. Sumner had prepared for bis
passage, and somewhat disturb the foundations
Of the other. --.' o. 7.-s
The broad sheets of lightning that night. and
The camp iles OF unusual size, cleaning In the
pltchv darkness, seem - illuminate our posi ton,
ard may possibly have assisted the rebels in get
ting an ideS OF the caring Of things. Just before
the storm had reached Its fury there Were some
diminishing between the artillery on both sides
This commenced again IN the morning, several
shots flying over our camp. indicating that the
rebels lad in some way gained more correct
Idea OF cur position.
THR ATTACK on SATURDAY.
Shortly ar;cr aooh The grand attac k commenced
Gen. CaSeY's pickets being driven in all along
toe front, afte, a spirited resistance, the rebels
advancing In force along three rOads-the WILL
liamsburg road, To our left, the railroad In the
centre, and the 'Sine mile Dad ~ as il 10 called
With lis feeble division greatly weakened by
extension, 6 IN Casey had re hsok hone TO oppose
TO this sudden attack But ne thought Of YIELD
ing his eToEnd entered the mind Of the old SOL
dteI. Hts troops were Immediately forns into
postionst the three brigad5 maintaining their re-
lltivP pnsifcnS on the right, len, and centre
aud IS thorough preparations were made for Re.
sisting the attack a. Its suddenness would admit
Of Re9Hn's New York Battery was stationed Ius,
e. the right OF w ilitamsourgh road, Bates Bs:-
tesvC Napoleon guns further 10 the left across
the road. and Fitch's Battery three or four hun
u
over the heads OF four troops al the enemy beyond
The fourth battery was near Tie railroad, further
70 the right -EF. a.-sEss.s
ward 10 the attack indicated the confidence Of
superior strength A battalion Of two regiments
pressed against zen, Magic on the right anoth er
fell CT Gen. " asset at the centre, aad the third
eH Gen. Palmer 20 the len, pouring In at once
fire bot ard heavy, and advancing with great
resolution IN face Of the steady fire OF canister and
gTdTC fEOm the guns IN froat, aud shell from those
fGrihrF 10 The rear, moving down sheir ranks In
all directions. r.- -ss.. .a..
TIE rebels had but lille artillery, and were
evidently disposed 20 make good the deficiency
oy pressing 10 clote quarters With their superior
force, 10 oear down 81 oace by weig ht Of numbers
the feeble skeleton Tegi menis Of tErae and four
buRiHed men wac composed the advanced a..
vision
Most Of Gen. Csssy's troops were thrown for
w1td 10 ;Se edge OF tie woods IN front Of his
position 70 urct the advance Of the rebels a few
reg men'S being LEFT bea.nd the partially com
plrted he- pits short distance to The rear Thu,
division, nearly new TO warfare. was suddenly
exotsed, IN an open 1e!d, TO the heaviest OF are
from an enemy covered 10 a Considera bic extent
ey the woods through which they were advanc-
ing
Terribly the tempest ragged the air growIng
thick with muske' balls Otacer after orhcer fell
or was borne from the field wound ed man; the
mel dropped By scores, and the usual number Of
weak JOINED ones were falling 20 tie rear. But
Ia spite II the rapid thinning 81 their ranks the
enemy succeeded in rushing around on the left
Hink, and poured IN an snn!ading IRE from tha.
difecto1- a-2'as: which -Lr ri1e-pts Were no
protection TIE siXty Tr4Eds az ammunition
with which they entered the light Were nearly,
Sbsusts.t, aud no more Was at land.
Meantime one a Gen. COUGHS brigsdes com.
mslded by Gen. AbsrrrOnbie, was ordered no 10
the support Of Gsa NaEle Oh the right General
DsvvnS OF the same division sustaining General
" asset on tae center, and Gen. TeCk with the
remaining brigade supporting General Palmer on
the lefI .. $500
" then Gen. Casey's troops were forced 10 give
way, the T, hels fell on th.se brigade ~ COUGHS
division, WHO disputed every inch OF ground 10
q! sustained b. General kearnPv, pres sing up the
W iNiaUseurg road with reinfotcements to meet
them, supported b. the division OF Gen Hooker
tu his FssT- Pressing Tapldly forward, General
hearneY advanced s!1GS the Williamsburg road
70 " 'Gn short distance Ct our origin.l position
where ae biEousCked for toe nigEt IN font Of the
enemy
j; was aloag this Williamsburg rosd that the
main attack was II ads, and her our troops Were
forced Ssek -: Ea.f mile or more before the ar
IVA! q Us"tE-- helnt&slman's corps, the feeble
UTSGcCs a. t-sF division, averaging less Than
two tEcus-ad men, being mpia:eiy broken I'D,
uacY o: the oEicers allied, wounded or missing
and TIE pr'yiits scattered through tie woods aud
along tls rC1i. BrsveiT snd well did General
Casey d. his dnty, pressing on to tie ext enc
mont AID Cheering on his E!en, regardless Of the
storm Of ace and hail tina; ragged about him
Co. Bailey, chief OF artillery vsaS shot early In
u
and causing his death after short period Of in
ssut.o'iry- AlJ Van Vsikeuterg, the second in
eoSnmsnd Of tnr ist New York Artillery, was
k-!Sd, 40 I!slt Wm. Ramsey T9uRdrd, willis
ever battery bu: che lost IT. quota Of men, and
some Of them lost nearly a.! their Lorses Bates
Battery Of Napoleon guns-i2-pound brass pieces
~ 4lch Wa 10 tie iIOnt, thus deprived Of loco
mOSOE and stack fast IN the mud, was Jeff be-
HAD IN the !eSTeInen; of troops but not until
Gen. Maggie had taken IL upon himself 10 see that
several of she pisces were spiked. On sddiuon 10
tbiS, one 3-IncG ParTou gun Of Battery was
d!Satied Dy shot, ara fel! into the hands OF the
enemy. TIE PeaESylv Reserve battery, OF
COUGHS G'Vis:vn, also los; one Of their guns
tht>e GtEht pieces % ordnance constituting cur
sn;fe .css - q; IS could Ieara.
ssS srNSsR's ADVANCE
Meantime General Summer lad succeeded In
bringing lis loops across the C.ickahominy
aud was sdvsnctng O. the light 20 maintain our
position there, wEeTe lsss ground had been lost
After several days Of labor Gen sumner had
thrown two bridges across tie creek between
Bottoms Bridge and New Bridge, where local
reports held Il TO be impOssiblc 10 find any
fcuntacca fcs piles - support the superstruc-
tune. 0ne ~ tLese bridges was some two miles
above Bottoms Driage, the other mile further
up The stream. The lower OF these Yves carried
away dCr!ug the heavy storm Of Friday nigAt,
and Gen Suianer wa Obliged 10 depend upon a