Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-30

nav,ng Oren struck ny smell, ana ms sabeT
by ball, attended by his aids. who were
falling at his side, he attempted to rally the
infantry around a flag planted in the ground.
He succeeded. but only for few moments
the percipitat1 retreat bore him away. For
tunately. night came on; and, after having
lost mile Of ground, we found the fresh brig
AIDES 'f Msagher and French drawn up in
good order. They uttered loud hurrahs. and
a few guns again put in battery opened fire.
on the enemy, who stopped before this final,
energetic resistance.
As tho last cannon shots of this battle were
firing, n sharp fire was heard near Fair Oaks,
ates were attacking the Federal works. But
this attack, which was doubtless only dem
on 'tralion, was vigorously repulsed. The day
had been severe in the chief engagement, that
of Gaines Mill. thirty-6ve thousand FEEDER
ais |, ID failed to conquer sixty thousand con-
frdprates, but they had checked them, whicl,
was rs much rs could have been expected.
In the night the Federal troops rppassrd the
Chikcahominy in good order. and destroyed
the bridges. They left behind them field
Of battle covered with dead, (for the loss in
this severe contest had been considerably a
large number Of wounded, too seriously
wounded to be- car'i'd away, dozen cannon,
and n few prisoners. among them General
Reynolds. The corps Of Keyes. which form
I'd the advance, fell back also towards James
river, and occupied the passage Of large
marsh. White Oak swamp. which contains
the road the army was to follow, and the out
let's of the princi pal lines of communication
by which the march could b. annoyed.
The 2S,h and 29ih were passed in sending
forward the train of five thousand wagons.
the siege train. drove Of two thousand five
hundred beeves, &c, in the same direction ;
nm immense work, when We consider that
there was but one available road. The first
day, nothing troubled this great undertaking ;
thu enemy was worn out with tho previous
dav's fight; besides, he seemed astonisled
and disconcrrt.d md did not yet we'll under
stand what the Federal army was doing. The
latter was MI united on the left bank Of the
Chicahominy. while the principal forces OF
the conftderates were on the LIFT bank. with
the bridges DESTROYED before them. 10 cross
the river. they would have either to build
new bridges or 90 ar far back up the river as
Mechanic bridge. either Of which operations
would require great deal Of time. Now, in
this case. time was everything, and the re-
treating army made good use Of it,. 1t was
till the 29th that the southern columns came
up with the Federal rear guards. whom they
ut once attacked ut Savage station. on the
York river railroad hut they were vigorously
met and repulsed, and it was not till night
that the retreat was resumed. The telegraph.
still in operation the day before, had informed
us that the consederates held the White
House, which they found abandoned. The
morning Of the 29.h had been employed by
the Federal troops there in the destruction OF
everything that could not be carried away.
A complete train, Locomotive. cars, &c. which
had been left on the track. was dashed. with
all steam on, upon the broken ridge over the
Chicnhominy. They left in the hands Of
the enemy only three siege guns. which they
could not move. and neglected to bury. These
were the only siege guns that fill into their
possession. though it had been declared every
where that they captured the entire siege
train of tn. Federal army. This train. on
tho contrary. less those three pieces, arrived
safely Mt James river The great misfortune
was that VIZ were obliged to leave large
number Of wounded. not only at Gaines
Mill aud Savagc's station. but also all along
the line Of retreat. Here the misfort, no was
inevitable; for it was only by constant fight.
ing that the retreat could bs protected. and
the corriage of so many wounded would have
required means which We did not poss.ss.
General Mcclellan. during tho 29th and
the morning Of the 30th, remained near
White Oak swamp. hnstening the passage Of
his immense train. The heat was overpower-
ing; and his aias.de-camp. who were obliged
to ride constantly from front to rear. were
worn out by fatigue. So long as this vast
impcdiment divided the corps Of the army,
the danger was great ; but nothing disturbsd
the serenity Of the Commander.in.C Chief. The
same day, hr had stopped to rest moment at
a country house on the road. and had seated
himself under the verandah. when the mis-
tress Of the ransion came and complained to
him that the soldiers were eating hrr cherries.
Thu general arose with a smile and went
himself to put a stop to the theft; but he
could not prevent the enemy's shells next day
from burning the house Of lis pretty hostess
At daybr.ak on the 3oth. Mcclellan had
the satisfaction of seeing all his troops, all his
stores rnd nll his train. beyond White Oak
swamp. which would oppose new barrier to
the efforts Of the confrderates. The evening
before. thu corps Of Ksyes and Porter had
reached james river and opened communica.
tion with the gunboat fotilla. The train fol.
lowed on various roads pointed out by negroes,
employed as guides. The heads Of the col.
u,nns had found before them only few DE-.
tachments Of cavalry. and had driven them
back. The chief difficulties were over; but
it could not b. doubted that the enemy would
again try to disturb the retreat. The G~ner.
al-in.Chief accordingly made his dispositions
in time. He left Sumner and Franklin to act