The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-11

and this conflict was the most severely con.
tested of the whole, but when the bayonet
was brought to bear he fell back, and was
pressed towards Richmond fully mile be.
y0nd our original lines.
Again, for the fourth time General Por
ter fell back to his first position, when "a
order was received from General McCle an
to continue his retrograde movement slowly
and in order. So soon as it became appa.
rent to the enemy that it was the purpose
oil. General Porter to retire, the enemy again
pushed forward most boldly and bravely,
when their advance was checked by the en-
tire reserve force, consisting of the New
York Fifth, Lieutenant Colonel Puryea,
the New York Tenth, Colonel Benediz,
and two other regiments, under command
of Colonel Warren, acting Brigader Gene
raj, and the entire force of regulars under
Major General Sykes. This fresh force held
the enemy in check whilst the force which
had previously bore the brunt of the battle
moved steadily back and in good order,
carrying with them all their wounded and
dead.
The enemy made fierce attack on the
reserve, but cannon were posted at various
points of the route by which they we're re-
firing towards the Chickahominy, which
occasionally poured in shot and shell upon
them, and checked their movements and
enabled the troops to move back in the most
admirable order. AT one time in this retro
grade movement the reserve force of Gen.
Sykes charged on he enemy with the bay
onet and drove him back nearly mile. 10
this charge the gallant New York Fifth
and Colonel Benedx's New York Tenth
drew forth the plaudits of the army by their
steadinsss and bravery, in which they, how
ever, lost about hundred OF their number,
whose bodies it was necessary to leave on
the field. Cheers went up along our whole
lines at this gallant repulse, which was at
three o'clock liz the afternoon, and the enemy
did not again renew the attack during the
balance of the evening. but turned his col
umns down towards the White House, which
seemed to be the haven of all his hopes.
The division of the enemy dispatched in this
direction was estimated at from twenty to
thirty thousand, cavalry, artillery and in
fantry. They started down at three o Clock
on Friday afternoon.
In conversation with paymaster who
was with General Porter's division when
the battle commenced, have a very full
confirmation of the statement of this gallant
soldier.
This gentleman left the Savage Station,
south OF the Chckahominy, at seven O'Clock
on Saturday morning and states that dur
ing the night the entire right wing of the
army passed over the river and only leaving
such portion of their camps as was not
deemed worth removing as they retired to
their new lines. There had bean no firing
during the night, though at two o'clock on
Saturday morning some heavy cannonading
was in progress on the extreme left towards
the james River, which soon ceased, howe
yer, and at seven o'clock all was again
quiet. The railroad was in operation all
night on Friday after the battle and the
last train that left for the White House
took its departure at seven O'Clock and met
no interruption on the way down.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
WASHINGTON, June 29.-Since closing
my letter from the White House l find N.Y.
self most unexpectedly in Washington city
ton from the White House and other points
on the Peninsula, nearly day later than is
contained in my letter.
END OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
1t appears that the telegraphic communi
cation between the White House and Gene
raj Mcclellan was not broken until near
i one O'Clock on Saturday, and then the wire
was cut at Dispatch Station, eleven miles
out. Tunstalls Station, eleven miles out,
was in our possession until four O'Clock in
the afternoon, at which hour the operator at
White House heard strange signal com.
ing over the wire. On going to the instru.
ment he was heralded with what the Fede-
raj soldiers call the rebel national salute
Il say, o you Yankee -of -" This
was the signal given for the final evacua-
ton, when portion Of the infantry forces
Immediately embarked on steamboats, 10
waiting for them, the last of the transports
was moved off by the steam-tugs, and the
few articles scattered about on shore, even
some damaged hay, was fired. The whole
was of very small value, and thus, of the
many millions of property here few days
ago, perhaps not $4,000 worth was de.
strOyed.
10 the midst of this closing scene of the
beautiful Chickahominy region, regret to
have to state that some vandal set FIRE to
the White House, and it was entirely con-
sumed. This doubtless arose from the ri
dicuiOus teachings of recent grave Sena.
tOrial debate on this little cottage.
| Correspondence OF the N. Y, Times, 18th.
THE TROOPS FIRST AssAILED.
The troops first assailed were the Penn,
sylvania Bucktails who were doing picket
duty. and were so unfortunate as to have
two of their companies surrounded, and one
Of them, company K, is made prisoners !;
the Captain Of the company, Caytain IT.
vine, escaping to tell the story. From their
rife pits and earthworks, McCall's brave
men held the advaciHg rebels in check for
near four hours, when they were reinforced
by the brigades of Porter's corps, and the
fight continued three hours longer, the reb-
els being repulsed with heavy loss, our men
under the protection of the earthworks sufs
fering less. The loss of this days fight
being summed up amounts to some three
hundred