The New York herald., 1864-06-05

viouohod haa trim . little more detsrmnsdly his
eyes, sat tro moro eroos bis horse looked little
moro obstnscly directly ahead unconscious Of the
presence Of living soul Asorry return for the comp
ments Of host Of nen, one viii say; but such is
the custom hers A bend Of she head, wave Of tho
hand, sing OF tho hat IL small return for the eenu
Inc homage Of troops, and greatly sndearr commander
70 his mon. This 10 not chastanism, not dsmasogery,
but tho simple aos OF gentleman, WHO for the Instant
valves his rank commander or moro properly emoe
lishen and adds usro 70 II, by acknowledging to
M ocmmon humanity between himself and men.
John A. Erady's Dispatcher. Is
HEADQUARTERS, EIGH1EErrH ARMY CoRTs,
In THE FrELD NEAR Coal HAEno.,
At daybreak this morning Major General Smith had his
Headquarters at Bassetts house, New Castle ferry
An order here received rom General Grant 10 join
him Coal Harbor, and take position the right Of
the Sixth corps. The column arrived within ow miles
OF Coal Hnrbor about hrec O'Clock in the afternoon
pletely exhausted with q march along road
almost dcatuie water and covered with six aches Of
binding, choking dust. Completely exhausted as they
BY this march and the heavy labor Of the last two
three days. they had arrived than they
were ut ordered into action.
PosuJoN ENEMY.
Tho enemy were found in heavy force between Coal
Hsrbcr and Gaines' Mll They completely commanded
mined TO hold their ground They were after ALL pro-
baby. only heavy guard, composed OF two
corps, and strongly in,rcnched tho edge Of
densa wood It could scarcely have boon the whcle Of
the reis army found in front, It would have
becn entirely too hazardous for them 10 have rskcd
general battle with us at this point; for we
broke through their lines, the distance to the Chckaho
p,ny il short that they would have been driven in
confusion it. without having chance afforded
rAl- A~~>
rendered the certan by the perfect Familiarity
kavo with this portion Of the country.
TAKING PosIloS-PorULARiTY GENERAL W. SMITH
When arrived on the ground occupied by tho
Sixth corps, which Lad formerly been commanded by
General Smith, the General everywhere recognized
by tho troops. u1d great satisfaction Was mani.
Tested seeing him. especially when ihcy foad him
copanied by the Eighteenth corps "There goes Baldy
was heard in subdGed every side; "Bady'n
make the rebs dig De knows what no ia about" &c
The Sixth corps stretched in asemicircie in front Of
Coal Harbor and threw s right wing forward. Tho
Eighteenth Immediately formed its righI. with
Pevins division On the left and Brooks the right
each formed in three lines Of battle. Martindse's d.
vision was held reserve, but was afterwards moved
into position the right Of Brooks, and charged with
the remainder of the corps when tho assault maSs
upCn the rebel works.
BATTLE GRoU.sD.
The rebels occupied strong position the edge of
denss woods runnng parallel with country road that
starts from Coal Harbor in northwescrly Thoy
had rife pits and ether earhworks thrown up, and
IN every respect amply prepared for attack
part. 1ho hue CT the Eighteenth corps was formed
along tho road. between them and the enemy Law bolt
woods varying In width from twony 20 two hundred
| yards, and strip OF open ground On our right was
General MartudaIo. No woods intervened between the
csnendng parties strip OF open ground sbous eight
Sr,.vx balo N tffon1
TIE COMMENCEMENT BATrIs
At harpast four troops In position, Dev.ns
Brooks In three lines OF battle stretching through
the woods parable, with the road with Huts battery
the extreme right and Marhndale drawn up
At nve skrmshpg Glong the entire line end
cc hour the slow discharges, with strange regnlari
ty OF interval would almos. lead imagine that
monstrous clock was ticking OF the seconds.
battery OF twenty FOUNDERS attochcd to te Sixth corps
and stationed on cur ert opened nro upon tho rebels
and the OF lis guns completely swallowed all
sounds from the diminishing line warrons corps had
been expected take up position right but as
this corps did not make lis appearances General Smith
obliged to close the opening his rgh. by throwing
Martndale the open field A. half past ve order
received FOR both corps charge the rooe in
our iroat.
l rRg ASSAULT.
The order rapidly conveyed to the division com.
4
forward Brooks and Devins pushed through tho woods
their 'front.' aud the exhausted men. suddenly nbued
with most unexpected enthusiasm, poured IKE tor
raio The open seid The rebels opened with grace
aud canister and hcayy mussery fre and tho lrs Us
he.y CIT up Tho second mingled with Il, and thea
the third, and almost amedatey after wild Inspiring
cheer rang above every other sound the rebels
drzen pe nell from their works and through the
woods. In the meantime Martindale on the right, had
was ho.y engaged with the ereny on our right
ruE Errsts ArTFarr CHARGE.
The rebels immediate front OF Longstree,s
corps and were after being driven through the woods
rallied behind their and led up TO recap,ure
their position with their well known rebel battle cry
they rushed forward, but were received with so close
and murderous fire OF artillery and mus,ery that they
broke ard fed IN confusion. Again and agnn they
rallied by thcir officers and returned to the charge but
again and again they only returned 10 be again driven
back with greater slaughter Until this moment, as
write thaS past twelve O'Clock at nicht) the firing stl
continues the rebels every hair hour renewing their
tcmp,s regain their lost ground. Nearly three hun
dred rebels fell into hands, who unable 10
| cape from the rife pits.
| GENERAL SMITH rALLYiSo srRAeaIEss
when the irst onslaught made the rebel works
our front line sustained heavy and destructive Gre,
and OF tho regmen<s broke and fell back in confusion
Unfortunately FOR the sraggiers, General Smith came up
they retiring and drove them TO the front. amid
FIRE OF shot, shell and bullets that made the prcserva
tion Of human life matter OF exceeding difficulty ow.
ha 10 the want OF cavalry considerable trouble was OK
perlenccd in Keeping up the strageIcrs portion OF
General Smiths stan kept constantly employed In
driving them 10 the front.
OUR loss.
Our loss rather heavy Ave hundred wounded are
in the corps hospitals and two or three hundred
have yet been brought In The tctalors at present
impossible to give The loss Of the enemy greater
they lost heavily In each Intellectual attempt they made
10 recapture their works Among our killed 10
Colonel John N. Conche, Ono Hundred and Sixty ninth
Now York. Lieutenant Colonel H. Anderson, Jr, Ninety.
second New York. and Colonel j. O. Drake One Hundred