The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-07-09

offis intfenchments with strong batterv.-f
IL was altogether propable the enemy would 4
attempt n drive him back. The afternoon 4
v..<sN earshg auay YEARLY without serious |
Demonstration. aud We had begun "a aus |
peet the enemy Of some sinister design in
remAinineasO undem0nstra:ive. liz waspro-
b. by iour or ATeoc CLOCK, however when. \
without pfemonision, strong force pressed
stronglyupon Gen. Burns picket line. He
sent word instantly 10 Hancock 90 prepare
Tor action. Ths wac sigilast. but he 4
had hardly received the message, before q
rsssl battery Of heavy guns opca.d furiou-
storm Of SHELL upon h.pl. A moment later a
strong ergade Rrsssrce.f upod III pickets.
pressed them IN irresistably. and dashed
at his battery. Ban as ala a.
work. Hk piekets hrd ALLEN back 20 their
strong supports, and warm baltic was in
progress ia the woods. The bullets ratified
briskly among our camps, but the combsfsnts
/ generally rmained invisible from dc main
line OF battle. The scene was nov exciting
in the highest degree Burns was workings
dozen Napoleons and Parrots: Smiths bat
teTics were hurting shells fast and furious,
and the rebel guns were bowling away a.
meIrily The air was filed uith bursting
shells aud sufused with sulphurors smoke,
while the forests were 0bscured with musket
mist. Our picket reserves, however. held
their ground maniully, and the enemy was
bfiskly driven back, our lads yelling AT them
triumphantly. Hancock was victorious after
a bitter fight. in which two Georgia resi.
ments we're almost cut 10 pieces Our loss.
though act half 80 great as that OF the
e-emy, vas not uiling. Am0Rg the priso-
neFs captured by Hancock. was ono of the
smartest and most mischievous Of Southern
politicians. Col J. Y. {. Lamar, Of the let
Georgia regiment. once member of Congress
His Lieut. Colonel was also captured
But appgehensions about Potter's battle
had distressed officers all along. IL seemed
apparent that ii the enemy defeated him,
rnin threatened us from the rear. An attack
in front indicated a disposition on the part
OF the rebels TO force the issue We now dep
recated. Ii was grateful relief to drive
them back In front so easily. All our cup
ports had been seat to Porter. We had no
more than men enough 20 hold the front lt
would have been madness 20 have contcnded
with an equal force of disciplined troops in
front and rear There would have been no
alternative bat hasty retreat at the sacrifice
of most of our eqaipage aud the siege train.
, with the hatchery of thousands Of our troops.
+ By this time. sunset. tidings of gloomy
I character had been received from Porter.
, Not much later the extent Of our misforfunss
, was partially comprehendei by officers. For
, the first ume we heard whisper ola serious
! determination the part OF General Me
/. Clellaa to chance his base eifopergfions q,
: to James river. N vas considered a most
o critical movement especially tder conn
Q pulsion. You have already heard some. and
YOU will hear many more explanations OF
4 this calamitous but necessitous plan. but
sincerely believe Ii never would have been
attempted but tor the attack on our righ
i, wing This question, however. Wall he the
subject Of controversy, i shall. therefore
!, withhold consideration Of l. Ia detail unti
!, more favorable conditions offer. -
PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT
r Even before Porter had been driven back
d | was struck with the singular operations a
z general herdquarters | discovered tina
. they we're being removed 10 Sayage's station
e and competent officer explained gray ell,
n that IL sas thought adv sable to 20 there
it although il was in the rear Of our icf wing
+ After dark there were other omnous symp
Il toms: general officers confdeJ 10 their staff
y their fears Of coming disaster. Even wit
It the best disciplined troops. and under favor
C able auspices to change plan OF operation
10 in the lace OF an enemy, ~ regarded by mill
II tary authorities as ono of the most dangerou
+ enterprises In our situation il was cas-
u OF desperation. With our force, We ooul'
lie not hold our positions against an enemy Il
Il front and rear longer than Supplies on han
T. would last An attempt 20 cut through line
)f of entertainments and powerful redosbts
sr defended by numerous and desperate enc
nv, would have been madness. We had nG
"a hope OF reinforcemcnts. Besides, il was nos
IS too late for them 10 form junction with u:
10 either b. the Rappahanlock route or b
=. York river. since they would bs cut OF ines
r itably There was but cue extremely peril
G Gus alternative. The army must fall bae
- on James river A hope was entertaIne
@ that the enemy would be deceived into III
= beliefthat we designed 70 fall back 10 IN
al White House. Preparations were according
rs " begun. Porters command crossed IN
a river without opposition During the nigh
VI our bridges were blown up and the crossing
10 we're bsrrieaded and defended. heyes' line
a which was on the extreme left resting upo
d. White Oak swamp. was prolonged. and on
n artillery aud transportation trains were OF
at dercd TO prepare 20 move forward. The
- night Gen Casey was aiso directed To dcstro
OF all public yrcporiyat tho White House tina
Is could not be removed, and to transport oh
el -ick and wounded to a place OF safety, to r.
tire himself. and reoin the army on Jane
Nv river. Friday night was thus actively an
e. moanlnlly passed. The troops were ieuo
liz ant OF the status, and il was desirable 20 COZ
IA ceal the truth from them Ia was feared N
to enemy might attack on Saturday. and ever
e, preparation was made Ia resist succcssfull
Is Dun. defeated right was disposed on Trent
4 bluffs. where the enemy's crossing uilg@ b
l. successfully opposed. and By daylight cu
n main body of supports. after severe nigh
lie resumed their original position. The nigl
ia of Friday, June q. was gloomy. but u va
IL felicity itself, compared with those OF Sssn
DO day. sunday. Monday aud TUESDAY. I
D. Saturday morning doomed upon rs hot
ge and cheeriesslv. Until nine o'clock not n
re sound OF a hostile gun disturbed the drea
or silence. The profound stiffness OF morniu
10 became so oppressive ihst the dull report
- a masket on the borders ~oald have bee
IL. comparative happiness. About nine 0 cioc
re this anxiety Vas relieved by an awful Cal
be nonade opened upon smiths position FRO
A. two forts in Garnets held. a battery at ~
nj John PoItors cid position. aud another b
L. low IL. on the left bank of the ChickahoU.n
IN raj isC ais en,ronchments and compeilir
As him 10 abandon the strongest natural pos
N don on our Whole line. The Gre was teri
~ ble can describe It. lines fairly by con
A. mriug II with tia right lines and angles OF
a. chess board Smith fs.l back 10 the wood
lev hundred yards. and threw uP breas
IN works out OF range The enemy. conte
"A With his success, ceased firing, and quiet "
q not disturbed again that day. The ssien'
a. OF the enemy was explained 70 me that ME
~. bv a negro flave. who had escaped from
a. master st headquarters IN Richmond.
81 Ianst cent nv l4Ckenl