The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-06
BY TELEGRAPH
TOTHE
Portland Daily Press.
From the 4fniy Of the Potomac.
THE FIGHT ON WEDNESDAY.
INTERESTING DETAILS.

| NEW YORK, June 5.
The Herald's correspondent gives details of
Wednesdays fighting. He says our line of
battle extended full ten miles. Hancock's
line was on the Mechancsville road in the
| rifle pits taken from the enemy two days be-
fore. Burnsdes Corps was next on high
ground. Warren was thrown little forward
protected by double and triple lines OF most
| formidable breastworks. Wright's Corps was
marched to the left with two divisions of She
ridan's cavaly in front and flank. An attempt
was made with rebel infantry early in the day
! to drive our cavalry from Coal Harbor but
| resulted in their repulse, killing and wound
| ing large number, the loss of between 200
or 800 prisoners. The rebels were reinforced
for another attack, but night coming on ena-
bled US to hold the place and take more pris-
oners.
Wright followed up his success and brought
on an engagement which lasted till an hour
after dark; at that time we carried the rebel
line of rifle pits and drove the enemy to the
Chickhomny river. The enemy then made
furious assaults late in the evening upon our
right and center. They marched ia three lines
upon Warren determined to pierce his center
and throw his line into confusion. Attempt
after attempt was made and the men hurled
to certain destruction. The battle ragged full
ly three hours in front of this corps Our loss
es were only little to what the enemy sus-
tanned. The attack on Hancock was nearly
simultaneous. He not only repulsed the en-
envy, but pressed them back so far that he
was drawn into bad position and compelled
to make hasty retreat, and resume the
ground he occupied at the outset. The OBJ
ject OF Hancock's advance, however, was APP
parently ruse, as he was Immediately order
ed to change his position and move his corpse
from the right TO the extreme left.
Another correspondent with the 18th army
corps, says OF the fight at Coal Harbor: The
enemy were in heavy force between Coal Har-
Dor and Gaines Mills, strongly entrenched on
the edge Of dense wood. They had rifle pits
and earth works thrown up. At half past
the troops were in three lines of battle, and at
skirmishing commenced and a battery of
twenty-pounders opened on the rebels. At
half past an order was received for both the
9th and 18th corps to cherge the rebel works
in front. Brooks and Devin's divisions push
ed through the woods and poured like a tor
nado over the open field The rebels opened
with grape and canister and a heavy musket-
ry fire, and the first line was badly cut up.
The second line mingled with the first, and
almost Immediately after, wild, inspiring
cheer, rang out above every other sound as
the rebels were driven pell nell from their
works, and through the woods. The rebels
were rallied behind their reserve and attempt
ed to recapture their lost position. They rush
ed forward. but were received with so close
and murderous fire OF artillery and musket-
ry, that they broke and fed in confusion.
Again and again they rallied to the charge,
but only returned TO greater slaughter"
The same correspondent says $40 rebel SOL
diers, belonging to the 10th and 18th Georgia
Volunteers, came into our lines at daybreak
on the I'd. They say they are tired of fight
ing and don't want any more Of it, They ad-
yised our men TO go in and fight it out, as this
was the last fight for Richmond and we could
take it this time. They represent the rebel
army as becoming each day more and more
demCralized with constant reverses.