Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-09
THE BATTLES ON THE PENINSULA

THE BATTLES ON THE PENINSULA
The Republican publishes az furnished by the Gov
ernmeut,'' the following preliminary report by General
MCCLELLAN Of portion Of the operations Of the Army
on the Peninsula:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Camp At Berkeley, (Va.) July Is 1862
GENERAL: Without waiting to receive the reports Of
all the subordinate commanders, submit the following
very bsf narrative Of the operations Of this army since
the 25th ultim0.
On the Gath Of June received information that sp.
peared entitled to credit that Gen. jackson
Fredercks Hall with his entire force, consisting Of his
own division with those Of Ewe and Whiting and that his
intention t. attack right flank and in order
to cut off communication with the White House. and
to threw the right wing of the army into the Chickahom
ny. Fortunately, had few days before provided
against this contingency by ordering number of trans
ports to the James river loaded with cOmmissary
termaster aud ordnance supplies therefore felt free to
watch the enemy closely wait events and act according to
circumstances feg that If cut of from the Pamun
key could gain the james river for rear base.
placed Gen Stoneman in command Of the cavalry
the right enrrusng to his charget the picket duty towards
Hanover to give the earliest possible nfor
matcn Of advance Of the enemy from that direction.
o. the 25th Gen. Heinz directed to drive in
The Enemy pckets from woods in his 'front.' in order
to give command of the cleared fields still further in
advance This was galanty and Handsomely done under
stubborn resistance, the brun of the fighting falling
upon the division Of Hooker. Just the line
gained was called from the field by intelligence which
teod strongly to coofrm the belief that jackson
Immediately repaired to the camp Of Gsneral Fir
John Porter, commanding the right of the Chcka-
homny, to obtain further norm.tion and arrange the
movements for the morrow. On my arrival found that
there was strong probability OF Jacksons advancing,
although not certainty of t therefore Determined to
lave heavy guns battery and to retain McCalls
division in its str0pg position Beaver Dam creek
Mochancsvlle, posting merely small Outpots to watch
the crossing Meadow Bridge and Mechsncsve and
to give Mccall immediate notice Of the enemys approach.
roUp IN ha hAtA in
ready to act according to circumstances The centre and
lett Of the amy were also 10 be held in readiness to
pue any attack the assistance Of the right
Ii had long before been determined hold the position
OF Beaver Dam creek the event of being attacked
that side for the that the position innsi
caly very strong on- less liable TO be turned
either flank than any position ia advance of it. and brought
the army In more concentrated and manageable cOnd
ton The natural str-ngth of the position had been
what increased by slight riae-ps and Telling little timber
in front Of It with the exception of epauments for ar
ery Gaines and Hogans houses to act against the
enemy batteries on the right bank of the Chickahominy
there other artificial defences the left bank
that rtream Our position the right bank of the river
had beeu rendered reasonably against assault by
telling timber and the construction of slight earhworks.
Measures had already been taken to secure the Of
White Oak Swamp.
The right wing under the command Of Gen Fitz John
Porler, consisted Of the divisions # More Sykes, and
Mccall, with large part of the cavalry He had
ten heavy guns in the battery the bauks OF the ChcAa
hominy.
Such wss the state of affairs the morning Of June &c
double my numbers, but great my confidence in
the conduct Of the officers and the bravery, discipline and
devotion of my men, that felt conented calmly to await
the bursting of the coming storm ready to profit BY any
fault Of the enemy, and that could exricae the
army from any difficulty in which it might become nvoly
ed No other course was open to for my information
in regard to the ns of the enemy too meagre
10 enable me to take decided course.
had not long t. wait During the rfternoon Of the
aeS the enemy crossed 2 10 ;sveTs columns. IN the vicinity
Call 10 hs position at Beaver Dam creek His repeated
efforts constantly repulsed, with but little loss
sde but with great slaughter the part Of the
my. The contet ceased here about r. NJ, the enemy
leaving full posesson Of every part of the field Of
battle During the action Mccall supported by The
brgades of Martiadae and Gra, Of the division of Mo-
rel While going there sharp affairs
pckets on the centre and le but nothing OF serious
nature.
BY this time had certain information that Jackson was
rapidly aiysncpg in strong force from Hanover Court
house. and that his advance guard had probably pirhc
pated in the battle Of Beaver Dam creek This rendered
that position uutenabe therefore determined still fur
ther t. concentrate the army by withdrawing Porers
command to position Ganess Mill where he could
rest both bic ank The Chickabominy, and the
most important bridges over that stresm The wagons
and heavy guns we're withdrawn during the night the
troops falling back to hrr position early the
ing The enemy attacked Seymours brigade continuing
the guard Of the division Of Mccall but sharply
repulsed and the movement not farther molested
In ihs of the morning OF the 9th received in
tegence that LoDgreets corps was at Mechanicsvie,
ready to down either bank o the Chickahomny,
according to circumstances This intelligence, and many
threae ug movements Of the enemy various parts Of
the centre and l placed limit the amount Of the rein
forcement ,abe for the support OF Poter Urd.r he
circumstance it imp0ss BILE to withdraw him to The
right bank Of the Chckahominy by dayilht The enemy
were close upon him that the attempt would have IN
sured the loss Of large portion Of his corps and 10 any
event. tn alb ndo1mep of his position at That Tim would
have placed right ink and at the mercy of the
enemy 1t was nscsesary to fight him where We stood To
mold our poson nt any cost until night and IN the mean
time TO perfect the arrange for The change Of base to
the James river
In the report of Gen Porter will be fund detaled de-
scption Of the field Of battle at aDess MILL and the cir
cumsances Of that eventu contest credabe alike the
energy of the and the yaor OF the
paravely small band that epelej the attacks Of hsenor
massss I vii; suiice for the purposes Of this
port, to state that The action commenced about p NJ
and that during the afternoon ordered up the vision
Socum to the support OF Porter and soon after the br.
eades # French and Mesgher, Of chardsons divs on
The latter not engaged At later period two br
gades OF Pecks division ordered forward but az
their not needed, they did not cross the
Chckahomny The contest continued, with varying for
tunes until dark when the enemy discontinued his attack
During the night the final withdrawal OF the right ing
the Chickahomoy completed W thout difficulty
and without coninso portion OF the regulars remaining
the left bank until the morning Of the 2sth Early
that mornng the bridges burned, aud the whole
army thus concentrated on the ght bank Of the
Chckahominy
During the battle Of Gaines's Mill the po iton OF O. n
Smith warmly attacked, but the enemy was at oace
repulsed wi h loss 81. ,e. N2a
In tbs Of the night Of the 9th Gen. Reyes was
ordered to cross the White Osk Swamp with the Fourth