The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-06-04
The Presscss Of tho Campaign

The Fec9fcte III t0c N3mpAt9M
The roar Of artillery IA stili ringing In our
cara "A we alt down 10 record the moat tre-
menaous slaughter that has ever taken place
on this continents slaug a. far exceed.
ing that Of Thursday the l2th, as heslaugh.
ter Of Thursday the la,h surpassed every
other Aeld Of carnage.
The battle commenced yesterday morning
for the pessesslon Of the Grape Vine, OF, as
II 10 sometimes called, McC.ellau's B.idgc,
over ths Chickahominy. It is the same by
which Mcclellan withdrew his troops when
they were dsfeated 10 the double battle Of
Cold Harbor and Gamers Mill. Had Grant
succeeded ia obtaining possession OF this
bridge he might have passed the Chicka-
hominy and established himself In McClel-
lan's old Businesses on this side. II was
the object of General Lee to prevent
him, and he accordingly took possession Of
and fortified tho position formerly held by
Mcclellan. The ground on which the bat
tie WIS fought was the same with that on
which the battle Of 'G2 was fought. Bat
the positions were reversed, We holding
MeClellan's and Grant holding Lee's. Ac-
corJing to the accounts Of prisoners Grant
on the night of Thursday caused quart Of
whiskey to be distributed to each Of the
soldiers, and about four O'Clock yesterday
morning, having primed them well for the
work, commenced al assault upon our
works. Rspulsed again and again, with I'm
precedeuted slaughter, he constantly re-
newed the attack with fresh troops, sending
his men mp In columns ten deep, and, in
great part, 50 drunk that they knew rot
what they were about, aud pressed on with
the most reckless andacity. Nothing
could exceed the GOODNESS with which
they were received By our troops, who.
standing behind their breastworks ami
suffering but little, shot them down by
thousands, with as much deliberation as
though thoy we're firing at 80 many marks.
At one o'clock the action ceased along the
whole line, our troops having repulsed the
enemy, who lett several thousand behind
him, dead or wounded, on the field. Gen.
Lee Afterwards rode over the field, and de-
clared that the slaughter far exceeded that
Of the 18th Of May. Many Of the Yankees
were 50 drunk that they tumbled over our
breastworlss, and were either killed or made
prisoners; others after firing their guns
could not reload them. Ia a word, the
drama Of the 18th of May was repeated to
the letter. Oar Nnes were considerably ad-
vanced in consequence of Our success yes
terday. Doubtless the enemy will seek to
drive US back, and that another general bat
tie may ensue. We have not heard how
many prisoners and guns were taken. In a
battle of this sort, where it is the object Of
one party to defend b reastworks, aud of the
other to capture them, many prisoners are
not usually taken. We saw about thon
sand, however, pass down the street yester-
day.
Tho most marvellous thing about this
battle il the small loss Of oar army. At
II o'clock, we learn from nn,loubted AIT
Longstreet's corps had not lost
o hundred men in killed aud wound
ed. A few hundreds will cover the whole
loss Since New Orleans, when Gen. Jack
son said, 'scarce sprig Of cypress WAS init
gied with the wreathe Of laurel" there has
been nothing like this. When tho Yankees
occupied those same lines from which we
have just repulsed them with such terrible
slaughter, we drove them from them. At
that time they we're much stronger than
they are now. This fact alone would be sui-
ficient to show which are the best troops
Davoutly thankful should the whole Con.
Tolerate States be to that Providence which
has watched over US in this great crisis, aud
under Him to that brave army, and that
great General, who have turned our day Of
trial into one Of joy. Especially onght we
to hold the latter dear, for the skill which
has continued to accomplish such mighty
enterprise with so little loss.
Nor Is this all the good news with which |
our columns are laden this morning Gen.
Johnston has indicated his high refuta-
ton. He has turned Sherman from his
course, aud has already weakened his army
by nearly half Let criticism hereafter be
silent with regard to the plans Of that great
officer, or at least wait until they have been