New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-06
TIKI FIRST OFFICIAL REPORT Tor
THE BATTLE or TWH sEVEN
PINES.
Gen. HcintxcImnn's Description OF ghat
Desperate Fight.

HEADQUARTERS 3D CORPS, sAyAets srAyios,}
Gen. R Z. MHor, Caef Of StqS army Of The Potomac,
NeD Bridge:
GENERAL; / have the honor to report the opera
tons of the Sd and 4th Army Corpe, under my com
mand during the engagements of the 3lst of May
aud lst of June.
On the 25th Of May, Gen. Keyess Corps was
placed under my command. He was directed to az
vance to the Seven Pines" on the Williamsburg
stage road about seven miles from the CITY oil ket-
mond My corps was ordered to cross the Chicka-
hominy at Bottoms Bridge and occupy the position,
two miles in advance Of it, marked and IL on the
accompanying map, and TO watch the crossings OF
the White Oak Swamp, with the woods beyond,
covering our left flank and rear.
On that day crossed the river and occupied the
positions indicated. Gen. Keyes's corps advanced.
The next day reconnaissance having been ordered,
| rode forward mile beyond the :" Seven Pines
and had the positions examined to the front and
rieht Gen. Casev's division WAS located short DIS
tance back of the "Seven Pines" He seeceda posl-
ton IN front of the Seven Pines, AT hich totorow
up come defensive works. AT his request, let nm
move forward and occupy the ground. Tie did SO,
and immediately commenced strengthening IL win
rihe-l pits aud abatts. The Engineers now made ID
more thorough examination, and 1t was decided 10
hold u position about three-fourths OF mile
/ in advance, US IL covered ciOsb Todu iedulnB
from the Seven Pines " 10 ward the "Old Tavern,
the later strongly occupied by the enemy. Gen.
Casey moved his division forward, and work was
commenced on this position. Ii progressed but
slowly, however account OF the incessant rains.
This WAS OH the 18th; on that day there sharp
sklrui.h Major Kelley, New-York Volunteers,
killed and two privates wOunded. On The 3Uth our
tickets and the enemy's were again engaged. In
the afternoon we had heavy thunder storm Win
torrents OF rain, continuing Till late III Tie night aud
putting a stop to all work.
On the next day, the 3ist, the forenoon was quiet.
AT abou' 1 o clock y. III, first hearo hring-uIore
than there had been for several days. sent Lieut.
Hunt aud johnson. two OF my AIDES, TO the front,
TO learn what II was. At o'clock p w., received
a uole from Lieut.. jackson OF Gen. Reyes stall,
informing me that the enemy was pressing them
very hard especially on the railroad, and ASKING NE
10 send two brigader If had them at hand 10 spare.
On this / rent orders for brigade 10 advance up
the railroad a. support. ne one selected oy "eh'
kearpy was Gen. blrneys brlgaie.
\ Previous 10 TINS, had receives instructions from
the Commanding General 10 hold the "Seven Pines'
al all hazards cut not 10 move the troops guarding
the approaches Of Bottoms Bridge and the erossos
Of tue White Oak Swamp unless 1t became abso-
luey necessary 10 hold the position IN ront at tue
Seven Pines Believing The position il front Of
tie "Seven Pines 10 be critical one, and not having
entire confidence III the new troops compo-ing the
division OF Gen. Casey, sought aud obtained perm
sion OH Friday afternoon 10 advance portion OF ny
corps from it's position hear Bottoms Bridge. The
order was TO make sueh desperation OF the troopo OF
nv corps as | saw fit. l Immediately ordered two
bri lades OF Kearneys division TO move forward OF
The Williamsburg stage road, and encdmp about
three quarters OF mie III advance OF Savag Sta
lion. I.ieuts Hunt and johnson returned about 2
| T. H.. having seen Gen. keyes, by whom they Were
directed TO report that las front line, which was
Gen. Casey's division, was being driven III; the
road from the front at tbis time hlled with Tug
tves. | mounted my horse aud rode brskls to the
'front.' AT the corner OF the field, not third of "a nile
from my headquarters, met the fugitlves from tie
battlefield increasing Ill numbers as advanced.
had already gwen orders Tor all the available troops
10 advance to support those III mont, as well Ia sent
All officer TO Communicate with Gen. Sumner and
request bis assistance This officer met staff Off
Ger rent by Gen. Sumner 10 offer me assistance On
- reaching the front, met our troops hercey engaged
c with the enemy near the " Seven Pines, having
i lost the fret position, three-ouIths Of mile in aG-
u vance. Gen. Reyes wac there, and from him /
f learned the position Of affairs Our Reinforcement
l. soon began to arrive. Gen. Berry brigade was
sent into the woods on our left and ordered 10 out
e flank the enemy, who occupied ia force Gen.
Caseys csnps, and had battery of artillery
r large woodpile IN rear OF the unfinished redoubt.
. 1 his position Gen. Berry he'd I'LL dark, when Gen
Jameson brigade came up, the ouh Penntylvanl.
having gone up the railroad from Savages Station,
as the main road was full OF fugtives | directed
ham send regiment to the right to support Gen
Peck. lie sent the Sth New-YoIk, Col. Dodge.
The other two regiments, 63d and lOJth Penuryl-
wanna went 10 lie left through The woods aud
were deployed by Gen. kearueYs order, across the
, Williamsburg road, and Lhey gallaatiy drove the
enemy Of the aba'ts and rhe-pits holding their
petition Tor al hour and halt. This brought the
time to about O'Clock, at which hour tue enemy
, received "a reinforcement OF division, and began
10 troops out vi the woods on the night OF
the road. The hre had increased 30 much tnat |
went 10 the lett 10 order two Of Gen. Pecks reg-
meDts, from where they were guar ing road lead
ing to tie White Oak swamp, 10 support tbs line.
,net them conlng, having been ordered across by
Gen. Keyes They went into the woods, but, TO.
getAeI win The troops already there, were driven
out by The overwhelming masses Of the enemy.
Gen. Jameson rode aclOss To rally them, but was
met by voey from the enemy. His horse fell
with three balls III him. In falling, the General .
lex wac caught under the ANIMAL when men
oil the G3d penAsy wanna came and lifted tie horse
oil and helped the General away. Gen. Peck 4
horse was shot under him, and several other officers
had their horses struck, were themselves wounded
at tbs time Thels exertIons, however, partially
rallied the retiring Iegmeuts aud they felt back
hghiug; this biough. us lhto narrow stIlD Of
WOODS, along the main IOaO With the assistance
Of my stan and other officers, we proceeded
III TallyLg fragments OF regiments. 10 the number Of
about COO men. Part OF these, Gen. Reyes took
to the lett OF the road. placed Col. Hays OF the
63d Pa In command VI the remainder. ana with two
CONF auies OIL hls regiment, Just returned from
ticket. Inns force i ordered 10 advance. They
succeeded III REFUSING tie advancing enemy. This
was lac III the afternoon, and the fire gradually
slaCkcned aud ceased Oh this part Of the Held Inc
enemy never got beyond those WOODS.
A new line IOruied III some unfinished rifle
pits about mile IN rear aud occupied by the toJps
vi Generals COueh's and KearHcys Division, ANA
such troops OF Gen. Casey's as could be collected.
When The troops Oh tie r. ht Of the road near the
Seven Pines gave way, the enemy pushed several
regiments acTOss the mainrOad, placing them be-
tween Gen, BerIy'e Brisade, part Of JamesoH's and
the portion OIL our troops VINO gave way from the
night OF the road. Inese troops Gen. Bersy'sj.
however moot gaiantly held their position the
Rebels right hank and kept up such deadly fire.