Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-22

with loss of -433 in killed, wounded and
missing. In the course OF an hour after Ca
sey's division had been driven back, the re:
ulainder of our forces were swept back from a
mile and halt TO two miles from Casey's frs,
line, when the enemy were checked. and the
lighting ceased for the day.
During the battle Gea. Sumner, whose corps
was on the left bank Of the Chickahominy, was
ordered by Gen. NJ 'Clellan TO hold his forces
in readiness to cross. Gen. Summer not only
did that, but at once called out his forces and
moved them until the heads Of the columns
were at the bridges ready to cross, thereby
saving between one and two sours. When
the order came to cross he imm iately NOV
ed his forces in the direction Of the fe Id
of bsttie. came up with and engaged the ene-
my, and relieved the pressure upon the troops
engaged upon his left.
RoUr OF FAIR OAKS.
The next day, the lst of June, the enemy
attacked Gen. Sumner at Fair Oaks. General
Hookcr, who had been ordered forward The
day before by Gen. Hcinizeman with one halt
Of his division, hearing the firing of the enc
my upon Gen. Summers forces, proceeded al
once IN that direction and engaged the ene-
my. In short time the enemy were repuis-
I'd, and fell back iu confusion. There WAS no
communication between the farces nnder Gen.
Sumner and those under General Heinz Re Inn an
{Hooker's), but each fought as he deemed best
under the circumstances. Gen. N Cleiian tcds
uih The main part Of the army the left bank
Of the Chickahominy. -4ffer the fighting ucas orer
he came across 10 The right bank OF the rirer,
HooKER's RECONNAISSANCE.
On the morning OF Monday Gen. Heintzel-
man ordered Gen. Hooker to make recon
noissancc in force. which he did. advancing to
within fonr miles of Richmond. meeting with
no Resistance except littlc from the enemy 3
hsi "a Jnfc hv fspp He.iD
zeinan OF what he had done. Gen. Mcclellan
ordered The troops 10 be recalled and occupy the
position that had been held by Casey division
The officers engaged in that battle, " ho hav q
been examined. testi ify that the army could
hare pushed rtght on TO the City of Richmond
,cifh htfie resistance; that the enemy were very
much broken and demoralized, throwing away
arms. clothing. &c, that might impede their
flight. Gen. Mcclellan seems to have contem-
plated an immediate movement upon Rich
mond, for, the day after the battle, June I'd,
he writes To the Secretary of War:
.sThe enemy attacked in force and with
great spirit yesterday morning, but are every
where most signally repulsed wirh great loss.
Our troops charged frequently on both days,
and uniformly broke the enemy. The result
is, that our left IS within tour miles of Rich
mond. / only wait for the river to fall to cross
with the rest of the force, and make general
attack. Should / find them holding firm in u
very strong position, l may wait for what
troops can bring up from Fort Monroe. But
the morale of my troops is now such that can
venture much. / do not fear the odds against
me. The vict ory is complete and all credit is
due TO the gailantry of our officers and men, -
The movement was not made, however, as
General NJ 'Ciellan states, because of the high
stage of the water and the bad roads.
MORE REISroRcEaESrs.
On the 9th of June, M'Call's vision of
Gen. M 'Dowell's corps was ordered TO join the
army on the peninsula. On the 9Th of June
Gen. CIellan telegraphs: 81 shall be in per-
feet readiness to move forward and take Rich
mond the moment that NJ Call reaches here
and the ground will permit the passage OF ar
tillery.'' On the 10th and llth OF June Cen
eral M'Call's troops commenced arriving at
the White House.
Preparations continued to be made at Wash.
ington TO send down by land from Fredericks-
burg the remainder of Gen. NJ DowelFs corps,
he being directedto Cooperate fully with Gen.
NJ 'Clellan, bnt retaining an independent COM
msnd. This does not appear 20 have been in
accordance with General M'Clellan's wish
es; for. on the 10th Of June, he tclegraphs
to the Secretary OF War:
ssIt ought 10 be distinctly understood that
NJ 'Doweli andhs troops are completely udder
my control. received telegram from him
requesting that NJ Calls division might be
placed so as to join him immediately upon his
arrival. That request does not breathe the
proper spirit; whatever troops come to me
must be disposed of so as to do the most good.
do not feel that in such circumstances as
those in which 1 am now placed Gen. M'Dow-
ell should wish the general interest to be sac
rificea for the purpose of increasing his CON-
mand. Ii / cannot fully control all his troops
want none of them, but would prefer to fight
the battle with what 1 have, and let others DO
responsible for the results
On the 18th of June, Gen. Mcclellan tele-
graphs to the Secretary OF War that he has
received information from deserters TO the ef-
iect that troops have lett Richmond to re- en-
force Jackson; that the movement commence
ed on the Sth; and that if re-enforcements
have gone to Jackson, they are probably not
less than 10, 900 men; that he cannot vouch
for the truth of the statement, but that it
seems pretty certain that il is believed in
Richmond and among the Rebel troops. To
this the President replies, on the same day,
that the information is corroborated by a dis
patch from Gen. King at Fredericksburg, and
ssIf this is true, il is as good as re-
enforcement to you of an equal force"
On the same day General Mcclellan tele-
graphs to the President:
"a general engagement may take place at
any hour. An advance by us involves q bat
lie more or less decisive. The enemy exhibit
g every point readiness TO meet MS. They
sertainIy have great numb bers aud extensive
works. Ii ten or. fifteen Thousand men have
left Richmond to re-enforce Jackson, it Illus
trates their strength and confidence. After
Tomorrow we shall fight the Rebel army as
soon as Providence will permit. We shalI
await only favorable condition of the earth
and sky, and the completion Of some neces-
safy preliminaries.o
STRENGTH oE THE ARMY.
The returns of Gen. Mcclellan to the Ad-
infant Generals Office give the following a.
the strength of the army on the peninsula
Dn the Goth of June. Present for duty. 49,
lG2 al dufu irk and in zXr IL 22a