The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-17

FROM GRANTS ARMY.
OPERATIONS OF FRIDAY.
Full and Thrilling Details of the
Battle.

Correspondence n Y. Times
| HEADQ'Rs ARMY OF TIE Potomac, }
Coal HARBOR NEAR THE CHIcKAmoMINY,
Friday, June 80 p. NJ.
| GENERAL VIEW OF THE BATTLE.
Judging by the severity of the encounter and
| the heavy losses we have experienced, the en-
gagement which opened at gray dawn this
morning and spent its fury in little over an
hour, should take its place among the battles
| of the war; but viewed in its relations to the
whole campaign, it is, perhaps, hardly more
than grand reconnaissance, however, which
| has cost us not less than five or six thousand
killed and wounded.
The object of the action was to force the
passage OF the Chickahominy, on the north
side of which, and covering the roads to Rich
mond the rebels had planted themselves in a
fortified line. What we have done is to feel
| this line by vigorous attack, in which, though
| gaining some temporary successes, and at one
| or two points actually carrying the enemy's
works, we have, on the whole, reached the
conclusion that any victory that could here be
won must cost too much in its purchase. do
not say this as speaking with any authority,
but only as recording the general conviction of
the army.
BEFORE THE BATTLE
Coal Harbor being secured by the action of
| Wednesday, Gen. Grant determined to give
battle the day following, for the purpose of
essaying the passage Of the Chickahominy.
| Accordingly, during the night, Hancock's
corps, which by the previous withdrawal of
/ the Sixth corps, held the right of the line,
| was moved and took position on the extreme
left; and early on Thursday, the headquarters
OF Gems Grant and Meade, which had been in
the rear of the right, were transferred to the
rear OF the left and established at Cool Harbor.
1t had as have said, been designed to give bat
| tie on Thursday; but Hancock was compelled
to fight his corps into position, and his forma-
| ton was not completed until afternoon. The
attack was then ordered for o'clock in the
afternoon but thunder storm as heavy as
that which swelled the Chiekahominy on the
| day before Fair Oaks, set in, and the order had
| to be countermanded.
Lee had his entire force north of the Chick
ahominy, and the only result of the delay in
| attack caused by the rise in the river was to
| give the enemy, who had by this time discov-
cred the disposition of our troops, the hours of
| night during which to perfect his defensive
| preparations.
TIE SITUATION AT 4 A. NJ, FRIDAY.
In saddle at four o'clock in the morning. the
| gray light OF dawn is struggling through
thick envelope of clouds, and light pattering
| rain is falling. Our men still lie behind their
| breastworks. worn out with the work of the
night; the rebels, too, lie behind their en-
trenchments, and only the sleepless pickets
peer with weary eyes forward through
| the dusk of the woods. All is still as the
grave, yet in thirty minutes the storm of battle
| will burst forth along stretch of six miles
| There is but time to glance at the lines Here
| on the lett wing OF the army is the corps of
Hancock ithe I'd } connecting with him on
the right, and forming the left centre is
Wright's, Qhe 9th } then Smiths, (the 18TH
| which holds the centre; next comes Warren's,
| (the 9th, which forms the right centre, and
| then Burnside's, the 9th, which holds the ex-
| IRENE right. Our line runs along almost par
allel with the Chckahominy and from one and
| half to two miles north of it. On the left
wing we approach nearest the river, on the
| right we are somewhat refused. Hancock,
holding the left wing, rests across the Dispatch
Station road, Chat is, the road leading from
! Coal Harbor to Dispatch Station J our right
| is across the Tolopatomy. The rebel front is
formed Immediately in front of the Chicka-
hominy,. in three lires, (two lines of battle
and skirmish line, ON an irregular line to con-
| from the woods and ridges and swamps of the
| ground. Between the two armies is low,
swampy region whose dark hollows will soon
| be lit up with the fires of DEATH Suddenly
from behind the rude parapet there is an up
starting, a noiseless springing to arms, the
muffled commands of officers forming the line.
The attack was ordered at 4:3O, and it may
have been five minutes after that, or il may
have been ten minutes, but it certainly was
not later than 4:45 when the whole line is in
motion. Skirmishers are thrown out. and
presently meet the enemvs pickets, as we
learn by the smart fusilade you hear; our ar
tillery opens, the rebels respond, and in mo-
ment the deadly conflict is joined.
THE MINUTES OF HISTORY
The metaphysicians say that time is naught.
is but a category of thought; and think it
must be SO, for into ten mortal minutes this
morning was crowded an age of action. Ten
minutes OF the Pigment men call time, and vet
that scant space decided a battle. There are a
thousand details, ten thousand episodes. but
the essential matter is this that that first rush
OF advance carried our whole front butt up
against line of works, which we were unable
to break through, or, breaking through were
unable to hold. Conceive of this in the large
the fierce onslaught amid the deafening vol.
leys of musketry and the thunder of artillery.
and the wild, mad yell of battle, and see the
ranks mown down, and the lines break here
and there, and the sullen obstinate retreat, ev-
cry inch contested, and we shall then be able
to descend to some of the points of action as
they individualize themselves along the line.
THE LEFT-IIANcoCK's CORPS.
Hancock held the left OF the whole line of
BATTLE and of his three divisions, Barlow held
the extreme left of the army, that of Gibbon
was drawn on the right of Barlow's, while Biz
ney's division was held in reserve. Ofthe four
brigades of Barlows division Brooks had the
LETT and Miles the right-each brigade in double
line of battle. Smith, commanding the Irish
Brigade. was placed in support. The left was
protected by refusing 1.-THE Sd brigade being
disposed so as to cover that flank.
The formation of Gibbons division on the
right of Barlow was similar, Tyler's brigade
(heavy artillery holding the right, Smiths the
center and Owens the left-McKean in rear of
Tyler's centre, in two lines On Hancocks
line there were but few places where artillery
could be used with effect
Barlow had directed that his attacking bri.
gade should, previously to the assault be
moved out and formed just in rear of the pick
ct line. From this point they advanced for
half mile through the woods and over open
intervals, under severe fire, square up to the
enemy's works. The portion of his front where
the right of Miles brigade Joined with the left
of BroOks-the same brigades that SO brilliant
ly carried the famous salient in the line of Spot
sylvania- in q similar splendid coup
here; they got over and into the enemy's par
apet, capturing his guns, (four light 12-pound-
ers his colOrs and five or six hundred prison.
ers, about 800 of whom were secured by
promptly passing them to the rear. The
storming column In fact were Just turning the
enemys guns on the retreating rebels when
powerful reinforcements from the second rebel
line appeared advancing. The first rebel line
was held by Breckinridges troops and was car
ried, but Lee is too good General to leave
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