New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-21


Crossing the Chick no miny--A Smart
Fight at the Rivcr-Another After
Crossing-An Extensive Scouting Par.
ty-The Rebels Discover Our Plank
Movement Toe Latc -Eweli, Long
street and Hiips Corps or 10 Rich
msnd--Our Cavalry Over the James-
Invaluable Services or Wilson's Di-
vision. boo
From Our Own Correspondent. tu ..lILJ-
CHARLES CrT COURT HorsE- VA.
HEADQUARTERS Sd DIV. CAVALRY (WnsoNs)'
June lG, 1861
The operations of the cavalry during the last
four days deserve separate letter. At the risk OF repe'
tition but for the sake of connected narrative begin
with the crossing Of the Chickahomny the night OF
Sunday the 18th To Wilson's Division, consisting of
two brigades commanded BY Col J. b. Mcintosh. and
Col George II. Chapman I'D Ind) respectively. was
assigned the duty Of leading tho advance. was mis-
Informed when stated. In late letter. that the cross
ing was effected without decided opposition and with
out loss The fact Is TO the exact contrary The Rebel
account paper of the l4th is not far out OF the way
in the idea which It conveyed Of the fighting 1t Is that
tho enemy advanced to the stream ut night In masses
of cavalry infantry and artillery. and by virtue Of
Overwhelming numbers, after severe and wellcon.
tested action, compelled US to withdraw"
As TO the Overwhelming numbers" ETC., Col. Chap
mans brigade did 1t all and the Sd Indiana dismounted.
did nearly all. The Hoosers crossed under fire de-
scribed by one Of their number as like shaking q
pepper-box," in any and every way. wading. swim
ming. and number a fallen tree Then they dis
covered, not City yards in front the rife pit whence
came the shots. Now bayonet charge. all save the
bsyonets for bayonets do not belong 10 cavalry car.
bines The rifept Is carried. at loss Of twenty men
out Of the fry who charge 1t. Others come up and
line Ia formed, and there Is constant firing during the
three hours required to construct the bridge Among
tho wounded arc five pontoDcTs II Is then day
light. Tie covering Of the building of bridge under
heavy Gre had been done Ivy cavalry az tnst ininny-
a thing novel In war. At daylight the whole division
came over and advanced toward WhiteOak Swamp
on The direct road TO Richmond. Warrcn's corps fol!
lowed in feint though that the intended line Of
advance upon Richmond.
Five miles out. at White-Oak Bridge. Chapman got
into again, and fought all dsy. AT night his loss
proved to be scarcely less than hundred. Crswfords
division Of the 5h corps supported and threw works
1t withdrew however, little before sunset. and lit
tie prematurely. and continued its march toward
Charles City Courthouse. But the cavalry held on
til midnight though aH tho while hard up the Rebel
infantry Being Joined this hour by McIntOsLs brig
ade the whole division marched toward the james Oh
the right flank OF the line OF march Of the army, and
sent dctachments up every road II ordered next
morning lith inst to push far possible up those
roads 10 keep watch and ward OF the whole scope Of
the country between Long Bridge and Malvern and TO
give particular attention TO obtaining information OF the
enemy's movements
There was absolutely other Of learning any
thing whatever of the encIny's whereabouts aid
intentions excepting through the cavalry, and the
cavalry could learn nothing except by riding out.
finding the Rebels and coming To such blows as
should develop their strength and give us prisoners TO
question 1t did this with such spirit and success that
il was ascertaned that the Rebels discovered early on
the 18th that we had left Cold HarboT and they began
crossing the Chckahominy at various points above
Bottoms Bridge during that forenoon by the morning
Of the l4th they had established irtrenched hne In
strong position extending from the upper part OF the
Whte-Oak Swamp, 10 or toward the james, at point
lust above Malvern This would indicate that they had
not penetrated Grants design Of finging bis whole
force beyond the James but expected him TO creep mp
the left bank under shadow Of the ganboatsi
Yesterday. 18th inst, Col. Chapman reconnoitered
to Mavern-Hil battle ground. when the enemy formed
in line Of battle trains TO their rear and moved
down as though to meet army. After brush with
their advance Chapman rode back a couple OF miles;
they did not follow Meanwhile, Mcintosh, five miles
to the right at wbitc-Oak Bridge had pushed into
warm action. Deliberately and carefully. ms chess
PLAYER might withdraw knights and bishops from the
presence If queens and castles, he maneuvered back
fighting, bringing prisoners and losing none captured
The loss in the two brigedes during the day was about
100 They had maintained wide front. as boldly as
though they were the advance instead OF the rear o
large army Prisoners taken in the afternoon stated
that their srmy--at least. Ewels, LOnestreets aud
Hills corps-begsn 10 move before noon toward Rich
mond and some point the James above Drurys Bluff
known to us 90 Fort Darling.
To-day everything has been quiet but the enemy has
kept force close TO both brgadcs which hold their
positions Of last night Tonight they viii march down
the river ten miles to the pontoon bridge at Fort Pow
haten and the morning will see their five thousand
horses unssddle and grazing in the .ich clover fields
ON the right bank.
Sach is tire ease recital. Yon viii have a just
conception Of these operations when you told that
the homes have moi been unsadded tince the afternoon
Of the 2th During four days and nights there has been
no hour ben safe to do Neither Wilson. nor
Chapman, nor McIntosh has probably slept two con.
seeutive bours nor hardly man Of their commands.
slecpless vigilance constant fighting celebrity In
uent and skf travelling Of men. have been required
and asked to their limit Many Of the most important
Of the army have been predicated upon
modified by. or timed in accordance with. Wilson'S re-
ports Of those Of the enemy His cavalry has been the
fingers to feel so the eyes to the enemy. He must
watch front Of ten miles. TO bis headquarters order
lies and officers report-ridng up on foaming horses
every few minutes and then speed away on paths d..
vorging ike the ribs of fan. This squadron
on that road Is to fall back; that bat
tallion 10 advance ON that otter road.
This officer nust vipiianfiy patrol between his