The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-12


position the flank Of the Thirtyseventh New York.
which guarding the adjacent earthworks to the
south and north In accordance with General Heinzel
mans Instructions messengers were also despatched by
General Kearney hasten General Jamesons brigade,
which was the tete du pont at Bottoms Bridge
Generals Heintzcman Kcarnsy and Berry, accompanied
by members OF their stats, proceeded Immediately to
the front, well 70 assist in rayng the waverng lines
Of tho other troops direct the movements OF their
own now going into action. Generals Hsintzeman and
Ksarney reached the field about three O'CLOCK and with
General Reyes and other present. their per-
sona efforts to great advantage in inspiring soldiers
with confidence. At this time the enemy still pour
ing In upon us their multiplying numbers, which were
sweeping round TO the right and left we'll down the
centre, and Cen Couchs command beginning to
manifest the unfavorabls nalsrce calculated to be
caused by the demorazng conduct OF some OF General
Oaseys Still 1t should not be forgotten that those SOL
diers for tho NEST part fought bravely could pos
sbly be expected; that they comparatively raw
troops, and that they being borne down by much
more numerous forces As Gen. Kearney arrived
on the field. Gen. Casey said to him in language near
as can remember-"General, the enemy have my late
camp in front; you 1t, the day will still
be ours"
GENERAL BxRRy's BRIGADE
Then II was that Gen. Kearney, accompanied by Gen.
Berry. led the gallant Third Michigan into action
moved into tho woods 70 the left at engaged
the enemy not only checking his progress in that neigh
borhood, but compelling him to retire before tho excel
lent aim and deadly nre OF Western soldiers Pre-
sently the Fifth Michigan, Col. Terry, came up, and
was conducted by Gen. Berry to the relief
Of tho Third, which was thon partially
licved while the Fifth nobly continued the work
which the Third had CALAMITY begun. Colonel Champ
lin was wounded In the hip, and valuable officers
also fell upon the field Colonel Poe had collected his
gment from where 1t had been guarding to the
White Oak Swamp, the loft and rear and moving
up To- the scene OF conflict
Five companies led by Colonel Poe in person into
action the right OF the Richmond road and did excel
lent service while three companies had been detached
by order Of General Hentzelman form line
the road and prevent the progress Of tho fugves At
the same time part Of General Jameson's command,
which was moving up, deployed for the pur-
pose. General Hentzenan had given orders to drive
them back at the point Of tho bayonct, and General
Kcarney, believe, had given instructions to artillery
officers to fire on them. The instructions not re-
garded in the light Of positive ORDER and the artillery
officers did not nre. Had they done SO, the OF
Kearney would not have been without precedent, al
though the circumstances subsequent Information has
developed them would hardly justify such an extreme
alternative. Georgey, Commander-inChef Of the Hun
garian forces when Kossuth President turned his
and Mar shall vase pointed his guns the tmid column
which falling back when led the assault Of Tara
gona These measures productive Of good results.
But, as have already mentioned doubt that the cir
crnstances would warrant harsh course in the pre-
sent instance. ~t
/. GENERAL JANEsoN's BRIGADE
General Jameson at the head OF his fine command,
having moved up the railroad far Savages station
Captain McKeever, General Heintzeman's Adiutant in
ed i'm tn leav hat wit
and move of to the left and up the Richmond road while
the Fourth regiment and the Fifty Pennsylvania
Colonel Campbell, should continue up the railroad and
report TO General Birney who II will be subsequently
seen had been previously ordered up the railroad 1t
must have been after Ave O'Clock when General Jameson
had gotten his command on the field ready for
action. By order Of General Heintzelman,
the Eighty seventh New York, Colonel Dodge,
despatched TO the right Of the Richmond road to support
General Peck, whose command like all forces the
field still actively engaged The One Hundred and
Fifth Pennsylvania, Colonel Mcknight filed of the Rich
mond road to the left to the edge of the woods and
ing up pathway skirting it, but covered by the tim
Der, and, depoyng to the left joined the command Of
General Berry, which doing effective service.
Scarcely had secured its position in tho fallen timber
before tho Sixty third Pennsylvania Colonel Hays, ar
rved and placed tho right and left OF tho Rich
mond road 10 the same fallen timber Now II was that
of the batteries in the again fred into OF
meu in tho rife pits. General Kearney, with
his accustomed impouosity, was dashing down Tho
road to correc. the error. Just he lcav
ing, the men in tho rife pits were firing In
their This strange proceeding arose from
the fact that heavy squads Of skrmishsrs were
pressing towards them proonging the ensmys line Of
battle the right while at the time equally heavy
masses Of skirmshers we're coming down in front and
running round to the left. regiment in the centre
broke TO the rear. General Kearney, endeavorng to
rally them, exclaimed "My boys, this is the wrong road
TO Richmond; the enemy on the other side. Follow
me-, and succeeded in establishing them in action
At this time the enemy steadily advancing about two
rebel brgades being seen in line, with the heads of
columns appearing in the rear Stragglers and others
who awaited themselves OF opportunities to carry off the
wounded--and there many such humane volunteers
that perod-wcre rallied by number Of generals
and when the enemy and defantly planted his
battle flag before them, they held him in check for
time; but the rebel force kept coming on like
avalanche. The Thirty-seventh New York, Colonel
Hayman, which had been partly In reserve was
orderd into vigorous action The enemy met the
with determined courage Supporting columns could
be observed wheeling into line and bearing to the left
with the evident design Of cutting portion Of army
OF by the White Oak Swamp, while other forces
coming down on the right in the direction Of the rail
road. There general and determined move along
the whole rebel line. The commands OF Generals Berry
and Jameson "two Generals from the stout state
Of Maine gradually moving forward, killing large
numbers Of the enemy, while Of the troops
in General Reyes corps, which fought bravely notwith
standing the implications against the whole command by
Of bad conduct ofE few also ked hundreds of
rebels, the ground in front OF their positions fully
ested next day. Those two commands moving
onward like a machine, the left gradually sweeping
round the rebels retiring before II; when driven
upon centre the cncmy down with fearful fury,
and central force gave way. At this time Gcnera
Jameson, with portion Of one Of his regiments and
rart Of Colonel Poes, charged body OF rebels but
they were finally compelled to retire Thus, in order to
prevent being cut or IL necessary for the left also
retire. Generals Jameson and Berry's troops having
done tremendous execution among the enemy retired in
splendid style though they had lost quito number OF