The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-11

right and rear. As this dispatch Of Gen, Nc
ClelIan and the one Of the President in reply,
are dated Immediately previous to the "seyen
days battle, they are given here in full.
Received 9,5Op, m.
McCLELLAN,s, June 25--6.15 p. m.
have lust returned from the field, and find
your dispstch in regard to Jackson. Several
contrabands, Just in, give information con.
frminp the supposition that Jackson's advance
is at or near Hanover Court House, and that
Beauregard arrived with strong reinforcemen:s
in Richmond yesterday / incline to think
that jackson will attack my right and rear
The Rebel force is stated at 200, $50, including
jackson and Beauregard. Ishall have-to con-
tend against vastly superior odds nthese re-
ports be true; but the army will do all IN the
power Of man to ho.d their position and re-
pulse an attack. regret my great inferiorify
Of numbers, but feel that am in no way re.
sponsible for it, as I have not failed to rep
resent repeatedly the necessity OF reinforce
ments; that this was the decisive point; ana
that all the available means Of the Govern.
ment should be concentrated here. will DO al
that . general can do with the splendid army
have the honor to command; and if it is de.
stroyed by overwhelming numbers, can at least
die with it, and share its fate. But if the re-
suit of the action which will occur to morrow,
or within short time, is disaster. the re-
sponsibility cannot be thrown on my shoulders;
1t must rest where it belongs.
Since l commenced this, have received adj
ditional intelligence confirming the supposition
in regard to Jsckson's movements and Beau
regards. shall probably be attacked tomor-
row, and now 60 to the other side OF the Chick
ahominy to arrange for the defense on that
side. feel that there is no use in me again
asking for reinforcements.
GEO. g. MCCLELLAN, Major General
Hon. E. M. STANTON Secretary Of War.
The answer Of the President is as follows:
'.WAsHIHGroN, June 20, 1862.
Your three dispatches of yesterday in relation
to the affair, ending With the statement that you
completely succeeded in making your point, are
very gratifying.
The later one Of st P. ~, suggesting tine prob.
ability of your being overwhelmed oy ZooooU
men, and talking of whom the responsibility will
belong, pains me very much. give you all
can, and act on the presumption that you will
do the best you can with what. you have; while
you continue, ungenerously think. to assume
that could give you more If would. l have
omitted, I shall omit, no opportunity to send you
re. endorsements whenever possibly can.
A. LINCOLN.
| Major General MCCLELLAN"
BATTLE OF NEcHANIcsvILLE.
| On the afternoon of the 26th of June, between
2 and o'clock, the enemy, in considerable force
made q vigorous attack upon the troops OF Gen
McCall's division, stationed at Mechanicsville
consisting of the two brigades of Seymour ant
Reynolds The action lasted until nightfall
when the enemy were repulsed. Troops wer'
sent up by Gen. Porter to the assistance OF thos
engaged; but they were not in the battle, thougl
some of them were in position to support tn
right of the line.
About IL o'clock, that night, the troops wer
ordered to fall back to Gsines's Mill, which wa
accomplished without loss.
BATTLE OF GAINEs's MILL.
On the 9Th, the battle of Gainess Mill wa
fought, principally by the troops under Genera
Porter Our forces there engaged were from
q, OOQto $4,000; the force of the enemy bein
from Two to three times that number. The enem
we're in such superior force that, although GU
troops fought with exceeding bravery, they wer
driven back with loss of about 900 men, j
killed, wounded and missing.
Gen. Mcclellan was questioned as to the polio
of leaving the right wing, consisting ct only aoot
! sc, 600 men, to meet the attack of the superie
force of the enemy, instead of Withdrawing it
the right bank of the Chickshominy before th
battle Of Gaines's Mill. His testimony on thi
point is a. follows:
Question. Whatever might have been the II
tentions of the enemy, as the attack was to ha1
been made by him, would it not have been bette
to have placed both wings of our army on th
same side of the Chickahominy prior to the ba
7 tie of Gaines's Mill?
Answer. do not think they ought to ha'
been brought to the same side of the river betol
they actually were.
} Question. What advantage was gained by lea
, ing the right wing of our army to be attacked b
a greatly superior force?
Answer. It prevented the enemy from get
: ting on our flank and rear. and, in my opinion
enabled US to withdraw the army and its mate
rial.
the right wing of our army at or about the TIN
l the left was engaged, which saved our flank fro
attack and enabled the army and It's material
: be wthdrawn4
Answer. BY desperate fighting they inficte
I 40 great loss on the enemy as to check b
r movement on the left bank of the river, and gay
: us time to get our material out of the way:
RETREAT OF THE WHOLE ARMY DECIDED ON.
: During the night after the battle of Gaines
!; Mill all our forces were concentrated on Il
i right bank of the Chickahominy, and the ne'
o day the movement to the James river was de
' termined upon Gen. Heintzeman testifies th
the night after that battle he was sent for
+ Gen. Mcclellan; that he found everything pac
J, ed, ready to leave; that Gen. Mcclellan sa
t there were two things to be done-to coDcer
J, trate his forces and risk all on battle, or
withdraw to the James river; that if be risked
}. battle there, and was beaten, the army was DE-
stroyed. Gen. Heintzelman advised him not
!. risk a battle under such circumstances, for
e that army was lost the cause would be lost; tn
e it were better to 60 to the James river al
o await reinforcements. Gen. Mcclellan repli'
: .ha. he was of that opinion himself, and that W
# determined upon. That night, ct 12:20a. n
n Gen. Mcclellan tele0raphs to the Secretary
e War that he lGen. McClellan) is not responsib
n for the result, but feels that the Government b
not sustained his army
:. To this the President replies on the 2Stb:
is eff you have had drawn battle, or reppls