Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-06-11
GREAT BATTLE BEFORE RICHMOND
Particulars Of the Enraz,men.

v" D"'u sues. Ihe battle was opened by the
enemy making an attack on Gen. Casey ,:
INislon, which was encamped beyond the
Seven Pines, on the turnpike leading over
bottom Bridge. and within seven miles oi
richmond. The attack was made by General
hlii'S Division, composed of five rebel bri-
gadeS, the troops being in the M st part from
virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. A
/ Dont O'Clock the enemy fired three shells
! into our camp, one alter the other at inter.
! Vals OF about a minute, which was probably a
! signal TO their forces that everything was in
/ readiness, and which caused no uneasiness in
/ our camp from the frequency of its occurrence
! OF late. Within a few minutes they came up
/ on our pickets unawares, and attacked them
/ with great Tigor and large force. The fight
I here was disastrous. Gen. Casey's troops
were folced TO retire before superior num-
I bers, leaving al their equipage and two bat
/ teries on the field Colonel Baly, in endeav-
orIng to save his battery. was killed.
Casey division felhback to the Seven Pines
where the division OF Gen. Couch was drawn
up behind rife pits. The battle ragged fercely
here for time, when Gen. Couch fell back
with considerable loss, a short distance. but
finally succeeded in making successful stand
uli the arrival Of reinfOrcements from Gen.
Heintzleman, whose troops were pouring in
on the railroad / left the field and, learn.
succeeded Jointly in checking the enemy, and
retaking part of the ground lost during the day
upon both sides, our regiments charging re-
peatedly 10 the enemy, driving them back for
a while, when they would again in turn get
the upper hand and drive US before them. The
loss upon both sides at this point must have
been fearful, as every inch Of ground was
disputed in the most desperate manner and
was only gained by overwhelming numbers
and by passing over the bodies of our dead
and wounded soldiers. Our batteries at this
lime were pouring into the rebel ranks a per
iect shower Of grape and canister moving
them down in winrows. but still they steadily
step by step advanced till our lines commenc.
ed TO give way when ihey charged upon our
batteries and succeeded in capturing seven
guns which we we're unable to remove owing
to the horses having been killed. The enemy
were now in possession of our camp and had
turned our guns upon our retreating columns
while the infantry continued TO follow them
mp as clasely as possible. Our men, although
compelled TO fall back, did so without any
symptoms of panic, but still quite hastily
The enemy captured everything belonging to
Casey's division expecting what they had oD
their backs. leaving them without tent or a
blanket to cover them The supply of COM
missary stores was very light in camp, and
all the baggage wagons and officers baggage
had been sent to the rear two DAYS before |
So that our loss falls principally upon the men
who had left all their effects in their tents
The regiments comprising Casey's brigade |
are mostly comparative new troops and have
been reduced very much from sickness since |
they have been on the Peninsula. The whole |
division could not have numbered more than |
5000 effective men, while the force of the |
enemy was from thirty 10 fifty thousand. The !
officers all as tar as | could learn behaved in |
the most gallant manner, and their loss is /
large. Gen. Casey was in the thickest OF the |
fight and was reported wounded but after
wards learned that he escaped unhurt.
Abou. four O'Clock word was sent TO General |
Sumner 10 bring up his corps, which was en-
camped beyond the Chickahominy. They
crossed the bridge built by his troops about
three miles above Bottom'S Bridge. and desig-
mated by the name of the Grapevine bridge.
taking position on Gen. HeintzIeman's right.
Here they encountered Generals Longstreet's
Rains and Hughes's Diyisions-the flower of
the rebel army. The fighting was desperate.
every foot of ground being hotly contested,
but our soldiers were two much for them |
The enemy would stand maufully at distance |
OF sixty yards and be fired at but they were
afraid of the bayonet, and in every instance
that our men charged they were victorious
The loss OF the enemy must have been very
heavy. dS they received the concentrated ire
Of our batteries for considerable time, be-
sides the deadly volley poured into them by
our infantry. a large mum Der of our killed |
and wounded must have fallen in their hands
The object Of the enemy, was to make a strong
reconnaissance, in order to feel our position,
and, if successful, to drive Us back as far as
possible. If such was the object OF the move
nent, it was eminently successful, as far as
the events Of to day are concerned.
From prisoner | learn that the advance of
the enemy consisted of Mississippi and North
Carolina troops, under the command of Gen.
Rhodes, and supported by 80, 900 men.
As the troops under Gems. Heintzleman and
Sumner were seen coming up the railroad
and turnpike al doble quick every one seemed
10 feel relieved and felt sure that now the
lay was ours, and that the enemy, although
successful, would soon be driven
pack beyond our former lines. As night ap-
,roached the field presented a dreadful ap-
learance. Long lines OF ambulances could be
een conveying the dead and wounded from
he field, while those that could not obtain
were being carried by their COM
ades. Most of the wounded officers wsre
.arried back TO the House occupied by Ger.
where their wounds were dress
ID, and every attention paid them TO make
hen comfortable, while all the outh ouses and
ents were used as hospitals for those unable
0 get in the house. Our surgeons did their
Utmost TO mitigate their sufferings-
About dark a train consisting OF six or seven :
ars was loaded with wounded and started for ,
he White House, where they arrived about I
0 O'Clock, and the wounded carried on board
be steamers prepared for the purpose. The
tesmers were provided with every convent ,
nee and luxury for the wounded, with kind :
nd faithful female nurses. One cause of the :
Isaster to Gen. Casey's division was owing ,
0 the great number of officers sick and unfit
OF duty. Some of the regiments went into
ction with only one field officer, and very few e
contained their full compliment OF a
ffceTs. The division has suffered more from \
ickness than any other on the peninsula,
RON the fact of its being composed of troops