Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-07-11
Correspondence of the New York world.]
The Great Battle Of Monday
Last.
Bloody Rcpulse of. the. Enemy

| The Great Battle Of Monday
Last.
Bloody RcpuIse of the Enemy
! Ox BOARD TRANspoRT, lanes RIVER, a
Tuesday Evening, July l.
Events have culminated. More his :
tory has been made. Physical nature
demands rest, but duty and the public
demand facts. Another terrible battle
has been fought. Our weary worn,
half famished troops, whose nobleness s
has never known an equal, have again
/ added to their fame by honoring their
ascountry.
MONDAY MORNING.
Yesterday, while Porter was pushing
5for the river, sHeintzleman and Summers
corps moved down the Williamsburg
road towards White Oak Swamp. The
enemy Immediately got up his columns
and followed. He seemed to spread
himself out like a fan, for before noon
he was found to be advancing uponsey-
cry road leading from Richmond-the
Williamsburg, the Charles City, the
Central and the New Market, as well as
from the direction of Bottoms Bridge.
- OUR PREPARATIONS.
All the indications were that the en-.
emy premeditated fight. Mischief was
In his eye. Every time his artillesists
thought they saw Hhite-topped Haaya,
''hang would go the angry cannon and
some poor teaIaster would imagine his
I day ofJudgment had come -
/ Gen. Heintzelman had charge, of the
column by seniority, and made the dis.
positions for the day, so as to ef1ectually
prevent any fanking movements, and at
the same time protect all'the approaches
and give ample room for the transpor
tation to get out of the way, which had
been moved from White Oak Swamp,
and were being FASTENED towards james
river-with all possible speed, and yet
without confusion.
THE POSITION
Our position in the battle was as fol-
lows: Keys had taken possession of the
road leading from White Oak Swamp
to the river, and Smith was placed on
it in his rear, so as to prevent any
moyeu ent ON the right flank, at the
same time holding the road to Long
Bridge. Next on the left was Summers
corps, of Richardson's and Sedgwick's
Divisions. Connecting with Sumner on
the left Gas you face Richmond) was
Heintzelman's two Divisions of Eve
proven heroes-Kearney and Hooker.
Slocum and Mccall in reserve. Though
but little time was given for prepara-
tion, yet our line,. though fully three,
miles long, was reformed SO as.to pre-,
vent the enemy from passing either: of
our tanks by any of the foursroads by
which he advanced. ,ssks
THE AcTfoE. s
I have mass of facts concerning the
movements, disposition aud details of;
regiments aud brigades before me, but
want ef time, and almost entire physi-1
cal exhaustion, will compel me to make
the details brief.
Generally speaking the action was a
fit counterpart, in severely, to those al u
ready fought, and adds fearfully to the
list of casualists, now already swollen
beyond belief by the dreadful contests
of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
last. -
| have the same magnificent action of
our troops to record; the same self-sac-
ri6cing devotion was exhibited; the
same bravery and unainching vafors m
rank and file; their charges; their sre-
pulses; their losses and their gains.
THE ATTACK on SUMNER.
The fight opened with artillery about
two O'Clock. The firing was not very
severe at first, and seemed.divided about
equally between Sedgwick and the
wagon trains About three O'Clock an
advance in large force was made against
=Sedgwick's and Richardson S fronts,
and the action becan hot and bloody.
The enemy attacked this corps from two.
positions, right and left. Siocum,s Di-
vision was called to the assistance of
the right, and the action on this part Of
the wing, though lasting from until
nearly 6 o'clock, was finally successful
in every respect, the enemy being effect
allysrepulsed with enormous loss.
Tale after tale has already been told
ofthe bravery shown by our men. It
needs no further elaboration. Without
a single exception this part of the battle
was conducted both by troops and lead
ers, with all the yalor that flesh and
blood can summon.
HEsATTAcK ON SMITH.
While Sumner was gallantly engaging
the enormous force in his ssfront, dem
~, trot 4 h., q
enemy against Smiths fortifcation on
the extreme right, but it needed only
a dashing charge from the Vermont
Brigade to repuise and drive him dis
continently back. -
THE ATTACK ON HEINTzELMAN.
But Heintzelman with his brave COLI
umns had by far the severest part of the |
fight. He was sorely pressed all after
noon, and the engagement here contin-
ued with great severity until nearly dark.
He fell back about half a mile fora bet
ter position, so thatthe lines during the
latter part Of the action presented the
shape of a curve from left to right.
ItWas only the superior qualities of
men, under the head Of such veterans as
Hooker and Kearney, and the excellent
field infringement Of Heintze lmaa i1nkz
self, which saved the dayon that part of
the line.-They were sorely pressed
time and again, and the same tactics
which have been the reliance of the
enemy in all its previous principal bat
ties, were broughtinto requisition again
on this occasion. -.
The rebel generals seem to be utterly