The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-04-24

| bic to be turned Oh either flank than any
position in advance Of it, and brought the
army in a more concentrated and manage
able condition. The natuyal strength O
the position had been somewhat increased
by slight rifle pits and telling little tim.
/ Der in front Of it; with the exception O
epaulments for artillery near Gaines and
Hogan's houses, to act against the enemy
| batteries on the right bank of the Cbicka
| honiny, there were no other artificial de-
fenses on the left bank Of that stream -
Our position on the right bank of the rive,
had been rendered reasonably secure ag's'
assault by telling timber and the construc
| tion Of slight ear.hworks. Measures had
already been taken to secure the passage
of White Oak swamp.
! The right wing, under The command Of
/ Gen. Fltz John Porter, consisted of the
divisions of Morell, Sykes, and Mccall,
with large part of the cavalry reserve
He had ten heavy guns in the battery on
the banks of the Chickshominy.
| Such was the state of affairs on the
morning of June 26. I was by that time
satisfied that ] had to deal with at least
double my numbers, but so great aoas my
confidence an the conduct Of the officers and
the brapery, discipline, and devotion Of my
men, that I felt contented camly to apait
the bursting Of the coming storm, ready to
profit By any tauA of the enemy, and sure
that I could ertricote the army from ang
difficulty an vhieh 1t might become inpolved.
No other course was open to me, for my
information in regard to the movements
of the enemy was too meager to enable
me to take decided course.
l had not long to wait. During the
afternoon of the Goth the enemy crossed,
in several colums, in the vicinity of Me-
chanicsyille and Meadow Bridge and at
tackled Mccall in his position at Beaver
Dam creek. His repeated efforts were
constantly repulsed, with but little loss on
our side. but with great slaughter on the
part of the enemy. The contest ceased
here about p. NJ, the enemy leaving US
in fall possession of every part Of the field
Of battle During the action Mccall was
supported tv the brigaoes of Martindale
and Griffin, Of the division of MorelI.-
While this was going On there was some
shaip affairs of p;ckets on the center and
left. but nothing Of serious nature.
By this time had certain information
that Jackson was rapidly advancing. in
strong force, from Hanover Court House,
and that his advance guard had probably
participated in the battle Of Beaver Dam
creek. This rendered that position unten
able. ] therefore determined still further
10 concentrate the army by Withdrawing
Porter's command to a position near
Gaines's Mill, where he could rest both
his hanks on the Chickahominy and cover
the most important bridges over that
stream. The wagons and heavy guns were
Withdrawn during the night, the troops
falling back to their new position early
in the morning The enemy attacked
Sevmour's brigade, constituting the rear
guard Of the division Of Mccall, but were
sharply repulsed, and the movement was
not further molested.
Ia the course Of the mornig of the 9th
| received intelligence that Longstreet's 5
corps was at Mechanicsyille, ready to
move down on either bank of the Chicks
ahominy, according to circumstances
This intelligence, and many threatening
movements Of the enemy on various parts
Of the center and left, placed a limit to
the amount Of the reinforcements avail
able for the support of Porter. Under
H., circumstances it was impossible to
wit ;tho~aw him to the right bank of the
CL;ct, h,>minv BIZ daylight. The enemy
ware 60 lose upon him that the attempt
wonI1 have Insured the loss of large por-
ton of his CORP. and, in any event, the
abandonment Of his position at that time
would have placed ou,' i'cht ha1s and and
rear at the mercy Of the ene>Ny. II was
necessary to fight him where we s.o,a' 10 70
hold our position, at any cost, until nlsn
and in the meantime to perfect the arrange
ments for the change OF basa to the James
river.
Ia the report of General Porter will be
a detailed description Of the field Of battle
at Gaines's Mill and the circumstances of
that eyentful contest, cleditable alike to
the energy Of the enemy and the desper>
ate yalor Of the comparatively small band
that repelled the attacks Of his enormous.
masses. 1t will suffice for the purpose Of
this report to state that the action COM
menced about two P. NJ, and that during
the afternoon | ordered up the division Of
Siocun to the support of Porter, and soon
after the brigadss Of French and Meagher,
Of Richardson's division. The latter were
not engaged. At a later period two
brigades Of Peck's division were ordered
forward, but as their services were not
needed, they did not cross the Chick
ahominy. The contest continued with
varying fortunes until dark, when the enc
nv discontinued his attack. During the
night the final withdrawal Of the right
wing across the Chickahominy was com
pleted without difficulty and without con
fusion. portion Of the regulars remain
ing on the left bank until the morning of
the 2Sth. Early on that morning the
bridges were burned and the whole army
was thus concentrated on the right bank
of the Chickahominy.
During the battle of Gaines Mill the
position of Gen Smith was warmly attack
ed, but he enemy was at once repulsed
with loss.
In the course Of the night Of tho 9th