, 1862-07-07


right TO the other side Of the river, and then
destroyed oil the bridges above tho one
which crossed just at the rear Of Smiths di-
vision.
! hare 20 Idea that Il was originally de.
signed by Gen. Mcclellan to make stand IN
the right side Of the Chickaho1niuy, but TO |
quietly withdraw the force on that to the !
other side. We had thrown up but few earth |
works, only two Of which we're mounted. I
Five thirty pound Parrots we're mounted on |
an earthWork near Gai4es' house, and tivs
more Thirty -two-pouud Rodmans were placed |
in position behind IN earthWork near H5gan's
house.
On Wednesday he opened these guns on the |
enemy, keeping up the re . from ten q n; tl4
to the rebel batteries on the bluff across the
river opposite Gaines house. This bluff was
lined with open and masked batteries, and
believe that to have taken possession Of the
the whole army. This Was the strong point Of
the enemy, and he could have held 1t against
terrible odds. During the fire Of Wednesday
we succeeded in dismounting one Of the enc
ny's heavy guns.
tillery on both sides were hot1y engaged The
infantry in force had not yet gone in the fight
but not many minutes elapsed before they
we're also engaged.
At one time We could not have had less than
-
many, If not more. The roar Of cannon was
truly awful Shells were bursting IN every
direction, and : dense cloud Of smoke covered
the entire field.
The enemy pow advanced in columns toward
our centre. Martindale's brigade stood firmly
to receive the charge, as also did the 5th New
York Zouayes, who were On the right Of Mar
tindnle. Tie rebels were repulsed, 6nt at the
loss Of numbers Of our brave men Huadreds
of the rebels were seen to fall, but their places
rera nnipt1V f1Jfef he cf}ars
Falling to break cur line at the first attempt,
the rebels sent over a large force to the right
for the purpose of turning our flank. We I'M
mediately strengthened that end Of the column
by change Of position.
When fhe enemy had advanced to within
about three hundred yards Of our batteries,
our guns opened with canister and grape.
The slaughter was terrible, and the rebels
~erc compelled to Withdraw. Not only did
Eion, but also tie infantry, Who kept up q
constant fire.
It was near three o'clock, and during the
| hour folio Tirg there seemed to be- q luil in
the terrible conflict The enemy vas apparent
| 1y bringing down reinfoTcements from Rich
! 1aond, Notwithstanding. their force already
| exceeded ours by over 5o,oo0.
| We also found it Indispensable to have a
larger force. Accordingly, Gen. Clocuars
| and proceeded to the right line. Trenches
! and Meaghe1's bligadcs subsequently crossed
over on the same bridge and took positions
| further to the Left.
The enemy had made two charges and been
| repuIeed IN both. XII.
It vas now approaching o'clock, and the
enemy vas preparing to make Z charge on the
! left wing OF this portion Of our force. With
| this view he seemed to have concentrated the
larger portion OF his force on the hill directly
opposite the Gaines House. He had besn
largely reinforced by fresh troops, and seemed
determined to make one morsyigorous effort to
| break our line. The rebels descended Gaines
Hill six columns deep and ia compact order.
This mass Ct men gave OUT artilleris.s on the
lefta splendid opportunity for practice, and
was opened upon the advancing columns
An immense weight Of canister aud grape
wa6 thrown among them, and hundreds O
| their number were seen to bite the dust. TIKI
rebels, however, were not checked by our ar
tulery and onward they came toward our left
Gen. ButterGeld, with uplifEed hat, spassst
from one to the other end Of his brigade
cheering and encouraging his men, calling
upon them to fight li1ze soldiers, and, II nect
be, dc Ike soldiers. The conduct Of Gen
c'!cited the admiration Of every one who sa
, him. The presence OF Gen. Ma7tindale anon!
) his men sgemed TO inspire them with doabl
, zeal, and they fought like men who were fight
, , ing for the noble cause OF country.
Every man stood at his post resolved to d
!
! t volleY was exchanged, but neither side VA
: | yered. At last tue rebels poured tremer
,, dous yolley into our ranks, which thinne
them out to an alarming extent. After
while, the superior numbers Of the rebels ais
:, began to tell, and it became evident that GU
troops would soon be obliged to give ,ya]
!, The troops under command of Gen. MEGA
: were nearly exhausted, having been in th
= battle Of the preceding day, and hayiog p1ssee
the night without sleep. Our men tougt
, 1 nf 4 3yr,,,1 9kf1
9 ties. One man could not contend again
= three, aud come cut the winner. IT
: left wing began to fall back. The cent
: and right Of the column were ecassAri
. forced to DO the same, and our entire lii
L The enemy seized upon the auspiciot
4 moment, and, with furious yells, rushed 70
ward upon our broken ranks. The horses d
- tached to the batteries on the left we're near
= all shot conscquf ntly many Of the pieces h.
: | to he abandoned. Teamstars and ambulan
drivers began to whip up their horses, and t.
y to get up another Bull Run. Some portions
l. cavalry were ga1lopipg hrlter-ske1ter, and CO
~ :. fusion among the infantry would hive taxi
=. place, had not the officers leyelcd their pisto
y and threatened to shoot the first man tn
:" ran
But to contend longer was useless, We b
lost cur position, and all attempts to rally t
l. men for the time were vain. The comma
1e tor the troops to retire in order across t
QI AulChiuUIH4ut "d5 f,itCA1 AEA IA4C 4CS ttl1GA
r, commenced moving in that direction. It "
el nearly dark. The fight had been despera
IL and the enemy did not seem inclined to prs
le hard.
&c With the assistance Of the reinforeernes
u previously mentioned, aro1her line Of bat
I'd was formed, about half 4 mile IN the rear
~ the first position. The object, however, u
he more for the purpose Of covering the retrt
id than for renewing the contest. The battle
It. ended.
to Throughout the day Gen. Porter was up
&C. the field, and gave his commands in mah,
ce as cool and defnitc SIS ii the spectacle bef
to lin was nothing but game Of football. I
disaster cannot be attributed to inefficient
Fas fcers or cowaraly men, but simply to the
io Of our being oyerpowered in numbers.
ne MOVEMENTS OF OUR LEFT WING.
nd THE RETREAT 70 JAMES R1vER-EvESTs
,es sATCRDAY-C1lASGE uF POSITION DY OUR
nd TIRE FORCE.
Lu5 Early in the morning on Saturday cur
ge- tire force which had been engaged the day
ms fore, left the east side Of the Chickaholr
ar and crossed over to the opposite side.
On, bridges, four in number, were then blown
,he and batteries were planted on Trent Hill
the command the river below.
red At 10 O'Clock a. H., it was discovered
the rebels were crossing the river at
my Bridge, from the vest side, aud were ascent
the | Gaines Hill in large numbers. From til
ing was inferred that they intended to move 70
It 5 towards bottoms Bridge and cut off our
BE- road and telegraphic communication. I
the they had not done thus before was surpris
1c1 | for they certainly had free access to that
ellis lion Of the Peninsula.
ode No attack was made during the day.
we enemy was probably busi1y engaged ia b
ts- ing the dead and attending to the wo1n'
use They had not only their own but.ours to att
to. We we're obliged TO leave our kil1et
ted the field Of battle, also those Of our 9ouu
he who we're not able to walk away.
idly Gen. Mcclellan had removed his headq
ar ters from Trent Hill on Friday mora
'ur- and has located In field near Savage
The lion.
4th On Friday afteraon at 6ge o'clock a traI
tin | cars left SaTage ..Station for the Whiteho
aud The cars, nine OF tcu in number, were fl
9Th with wounded soldiers, ,aud got sofe1y throl
also | although much apprehension was telt
stul them. The train returned during the nj
aY's and carly in the morning proceeded agal
the Whitehou6e with another lot of VOL
7rcc ed. It then came back to Sayage's, aud
was preparing to make one more trip down y
.ny | the telegraph wire was found to be cut
On Dispatch Station to be in possession OF
rves rebels.
ver- We immed ediately sent down II force tx
the stroy the railroad bridge which was don
ter. pouring turpentine on the timbera and
hole igniripg it.
the In the afterpoon 5foralls division left I
liled Hill, where they had been since Friday nj
not and marched to Savage Station, arount
r au railrosd and the W11iamsburgh road, and
WAS | ceeded over road running between e
ilga- Oak Swamp ard Bottoms Bridge. They
kept ed st point near Charles City until the
the day, when they we're joined bJ other por
elled of the army.
ition On Saturday night orders were given {
| nd Bh