The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-27
OPENING OF the GREAT MTTle.
gEAFY ENGAGEMENT ON THE
left OF OUR LINES.

.onr city was startled, late yesterday evcp,ne nv
,sroris Of heavy ordnance, and by one consent n
va. universally announced that the Great ga,t,.
as at las, opened and that thf greatest and mos,
paoaeatous contaie, of the agc was fully inaurur.
s,ei Az Tar rs we can ascertain al late ho.r of
,ash, appears that our forces attacked the enc.
nv with unparalleled fury a, Mechanicsyiile. and
taom the sudienness cf the attack. the enemy were
soiaiy non plusscd and driven frcm three large re.
d'nbs in rapid succession. seixng the guns and
lafaing them with terrific effect upon the foe. -
This accomplished. our forces advanced and
captured two lines q. entrenchmeu,s and Geld
works, taking everything before them in esllan,
syle. Cooperating with the movement on the
extreme rish, and rear Of the enemy, our Generals
crossed the Chickahominy at two points viz, hv
The aeehanic.ville bridge and Meadow bridge a,
scsins the enemy with srea. dash and araor
driving in their ou,pos'S and ascending the opno.
;e hills, seized the batteries erected ,bereo and
fully commanding the future movements Of our
forces in crossing the stream. In doing this. the
fspdiiy of movement was such that the enemy
was sn"r"pered, and lost a monster battery which
! .'ncycd our troops 10 the right and left Of
Tie TX River Railroad. This ACHE yemen, in
i-lf is Of incaculsble .yalue, and is eoaivaen, to
HfINFh
VT understand. led the advance down the Meadow
Bridge road with brigade Of North Carolnians.
sni on crossing, were Instantly reinforced bv
cher troops of Gen. Hils division. The mn.
msTous feliworks and batteries opposed to their
aivsnee were assailea by our men in the coolest
aAd most nonchalant style imaginable, and while
ndving The heavy masses of Feie-al infantry before
Aiem, were ably seconded by our heavy guns, which,
numbering with terrific noise threw large shells
ihek and fast upon the enemy's chosen positions
and G nps, thus preventing our first forces from
hius ovsrpo~ered by the swsrming hories Of Nc
Cellans hireiings. While these brilliant move.
meu;- were progressing in the neighborhood of
Neaiow Bridge. our troops beyond the Mechanics
vile Bridge formed a junction with them. thus
forming a perfect Gordon with others operating
ffom the village of MeehancsvilIc itself Our
line being perfect, general advance took place
hat The brave Conioderates had not progressed
far ere they were encountered by the Federals in
great force. nd terrific fight ensues: hut onward
pTessed our infantry and artillery. until at 9P.M
when the heavy cannonading ceased it was gene
rally known that the enemy had been driven fully
ihres mile having experienced great loss in eyerv
SHAPE but particularly in artillery Purcelrs ba,
As
To first corps that crossed MechanicsvlIe bridge
and orered fire on The enemy. At Mechancsve
the heavi.s. fighting is said TO have taken place q,
Watts's farm, but resulted magnfcentlv to us All
The heights beyond Tie Chickahomiay are in our
possession. thus ensuring the safe and speedy trans
prta'ion of troops and munitions the other side
From the late hour u. which we write, it is i'm
possible TO obtain particulars of the sanguinary
engagement OF yesterday, but the facts stated are
ea1-'antially correct. while much more was effect
ii hY the forces engaged than The most sangline
c'H.l have expected or predicted. The enemy
""re totally routed whenever they made a stand
batteries. enrenchmeIts. field works camps and
ims were captured with great rapidity, and our
'ass is much less than could have been imagined.
IN all likelihood. the engagement today will prove
e general one at all points, and let us revcrentIv
hope that the God of Battles will smile propitious
lr upon our efforts, AMI crown our forces with
comIltte and glorious triumph over malignant and
relentless eneniies