Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-05-09


The Republican publishes, as furnished by the
the following preliminary report by
General Mcclellan Off portion Of the operations
of the Army on the Peninsula.
uy,nop, ,preps Apvv or THE porou,c
Tamn at RerteIcv Vo1 Iulv IL 1880.
- ~ -
GENERAL Without waiting to receive the re-
ports Of all the subordinate commanders, sub
nit the following very brief narrative OF the oper-
atons Of this army since the 18th ultlmo'
On the 24th Of June received information that
appeared entitled to some credit that Gen. Jack
son was at Frederick's Hall with his entire force,
consisting Of his own division with those OF Ewell
and Whiting and that bis intention was to attack
our right Hank and rear, in order to cut oil our
communication with the White House. and to
throw the right wing oil the army into the ChlcRa'
hominy Fortunately had few days before
provided against this contingency BY ordering q
number oil transports TO the James river loaaed
with commlssaTy, quarlermaster' and ordnance
supplies therefore elt Tree to watch inc enemy
closely wait events ana act according TO clrcllh-
stances feeling sure that Il cut oil lIonl the IA
munSey could gain the james river lor rear
base
l placed zen aloneman IN command oil tle
cavalry on the right entrustlng to BIS charge the
picket dNy towards lianoyer Court house' to give
the earliest possible Information oil an advance oil
the enemy rom mat direction
On lhe Zolh uel' lielh'zelhan was ulVecteu 10
drive in the enemy pockets from the woods IN
his 'front.' IN order to give us command oil the clear
ed helds SUI llrther ID advance. lhls was gal
lanty oad handsomely done under astuOborn re-
slsance, the brlnt ol Tue lighting falling upon the
division oil Hooker. Just as the new line was
gained WINS called from the field by intelligence
which tended strongly TO confirm the belief that
Jackson was really approaching.
Immediately repaired to the camp of General
l7itz John Porter, commanding on the right of the
! Chickahomiry, to obtain further information aud
arrange the movements for the morrow On my
arrival found that there was strong probability
Ior Jacksons advancing although not a certainty
oft. therefore determined to leave our heavy
guns in battery and to retain McOas division il
its strong position on Beaver Dam creek, neal
NIeehapicsyillc, posting merely small outposts tC
watch tho crossing near Meadow Bridge anl
Nlechancsyllle, and to give Mccall immediate
notice Of the enemy's approach Porters remain
ling troops were to be held IN reserve, ready to &C
. according to circumstances The centre and lei
of the army were also to be held in readiness +
repusc any attack, or 10 move to the assistance
the right
1t had long before been determined to hold III
position Of Beaver Dam creek in the event {
being attacked on that side. for the reasons thu
the position was lntrinsicolly very strong ON
was less liable to bO turned on either flank tina
any position in advance oil IT, and brought tn
. army in a moro concentrated and manageable cor
f dition the natural strength ol tl'e position ha
5 been somewhat increased ny sIlS9t rue plts an
lelng lItlle l'Inoer W Irout W III Wln lne eA
: ceph,nn o' ePau'men's lot arIlllery near u"lnes
/ and Hogan houses 10 acg aEa'hSt tne enemy
/, hatteres on inc rlSht oanN 9' Vle OhlcKaho'hlh
there were no other artInc'al deenceS on Tue le
g hank OF that stream Vur position on Tue rlgl
o bank OF the river nag oeen rendered reasonao
secure against assault by ,elIog umGer and u
construction oil slight ear'nworNS' measures ht
l. already been taken 10 secure Ihe passage oil Nhl
l. Oak swamp
d The right wing under 'ae command OF Ge
" FiIz John Porter; consisted oi the divisions
1t Morell, Sykes, and McIall' WIN large part
s. the cavalry reserve. lie ned Ten neavy guns
,e the battery on the banks ol the OhIcRahomuy
IL Such was the state ol ai'a'rs on the uloinihg
in June 25' was by That time satisfied that hi
" to deal with at least double my numbers but
Al great was my confidence in the conduct OF u
or officers and the bravery discipline and devote
be of my men. that felt contented calmly to avn
the bursting Of the coming Storm ready 10 pro
o. by any fault Of the enemy and sure that cor
IL extrcote the army from any difficulty IN which
No might become involved No other course
nj open to me, Iormy Information IN regard to t
nd movements of the enemy was too meagro to
va able me to take decided course
N. ! had not long to wait During tho alterno
se ofthe 2Gth tho enemy crossed, ~ several colum
Is in the yciniyof Ntechoolcsvie and Mead
Bridge, and attacked MeCall-n bis position
Beaver Dam creek lis repeated ellOrls w
.ro constantly repulsed, with but little loss on
side, but with great slaughter on the part oil
= enemy. Tho contest ceased here about T.
ara the enemy leaving US in luIl possession oil ev
part of the field OF battle. During the act
~ Mccall was supported by the brlgades oil MI