Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-06-16
Army Correspondence Of the Savannah Republican.
THE SECOND CHEAT BATTLE OF COLD HAIR
Dor AND GAIVEs MILL.


gracious Gcd has given the Confederate arms an.
other victory-a victory hat is almost bloodess to
them, but eariuy fatal to their enemies. The annals
OF modern times finnish parallel to the battle OF TO-
dayso slight has been the loss one side and so great
has been the Slaughter 90 the other. The enemy have
been SLAUGHTERED by thousands, while LEES veterans
have hardly received a scratch. How else can
plain these strange results except upon The theory thnt
Heaven has smiled upcn cur arms and wrougLt mis-
chief among orr foee?
A brief re ,ume Of the operations which preceded the
great battle of today, will enable the reader to accom-
pany il the hurried narrative here presented and
to understand clearly the movements of the hostile
armies.
he lines on Wednesday, the list Early on the morn
ing of that day, Kerahaws ana Hoke's divisions At
tackled the enemy ard drove him to his entertainments
Hoke who is reporting to Anderson, moved from Old
Cold Harbor AMI kershaw from the vicinity of Beu-
ah Church, their object being to secare certain posi-
tons to be used either in attack defense as occasion
might require.
During the afternoon the enemy attacked Heth, of
Hills corps, and was handsomely repused by Cookies
ard KiIkand'5 North Carolina brgades. Breckin-
ridge who reports to Hill and Malone, commanding
Ardersons old division. drove the enemy from their
front, taking about one hundred and fifty prisoners
Whilst these movements were being made below, the
Federals pushed forward heavy column Of cavalry
from Hanover Court House in tie direction OF Ash
land. I he provided With ten days ratlons,
showing that they bad Bterted out On raid, probably
with the hope of bling a0le 10 reach TIE Danvile rail-
way, at IL ast diversion Ia favor OF Grant
Hampton, who has been placed in command of all the
cavalry OF tie Army of Northern Virginia, pre-
pared for them however. The reached Ashland and
had begun to destroy the railroad track at that place.
whn the Confederate horse attacked them and drove
them back to the Pamuokey. Generals K0eser and
Pierce Young played conspicuous aud Important
part the obstinate battle that eueued: Gen. Young,
commanding Hamptons old brigade, received severe
though not mortal wound. Irey eaerny lost heavily in
rnen and animals Oar oTn loss was considerable.
Late in the evening force OF Infantry reported
to have arrived al Iurstas Station IRON the White
Hcu e. and to be extending op tfe York river railway.
They stated that they belong 10 Buffers forces the Oh
jet of their mCveEent being, doubtless, &c connect
with Grants ett wing and oPen tie way to the Ch:cka.
hominy.
During these operations ia the morning. Col L, III.
Keitt, whose regiment (the 20.h South Caroina) had
Just arrived ard been gtached to Kershaw's old bri
gade, received mortal wound while leading the bri-
gade, from which he died yesterday No Drawer spirit
ever gave his lie for the liberties Of his country.
Yesterday, the %, perfect quiet rejgned along the
lines until five o'clock in the Afternoon when Erly at
tackled the enemy in his works and drove him out Of
their formidable lines OF entertainments. Heth, Of
His corps, participated il ths~good work. While
the attack was beng made in front, Gordon moved
around and took the enemy 10 flank. 50 vigorously
did our troops PRESS the flying foe, that he unable
to make stand behind his second line of entrench
mens, which they entered pell neil with hin. Early'
ss will not exceed 200, while the enemy's was heavy
:cludDg 100 prisoners taken cbitf7 by Gtrion
Rodes and Hth, nearly Ill Of whom belonged to TIT
j. S. Regulars. The StoneW4l Brigade bshaved 81
it was wont to do II the days of its fist great leader
Whilst our loss was slight in numbers it eat il
| fact in that it includes the brave General D0es
Georgia. VINO fell with his feet TO the foe and bis fac
10 Heaven. He entered the service in April, 1861
ard from that time forward he served his country Will
zeal ard Skill worthy Of all praise.
This was On itf.. Ga the right, about me sam
hour Breck6rdge, supported by Wilcox was orderet
to assault the enemy Turkey Il III, and wrest it from
| him. This be ard Wilcox did ia handsome style anG
thus imporan position was secured In time for tn
great battle which, it was then evident, c01ld not b.
much longer postponed
Sure enough, with tie early dawn this morning cam
tie boom OF on end The sharp rattle of musketry
Grant made furious assault along whole lines eX
cept on tie right The Coned5rates had thrown u
nt1enchuens or kr, astwoks of legs and earth durn
the preceding night and day and prepared for tn
onset. Early occupied the left Of the lines, hG7iG
Heth, Of Hills corps, Oh lis extreme left; Andersen
held the centre, ard Hill the right The lines were al
irregular crfsc 1t, covering the battle field of Col
Harbcr, and extending from q point somewhat abov
ard in advance Of Beulah Church, 10 Southwestern
direction, to the vicinity Of McCleans bridge, owe
the Chickahcminy L for these bridges hat Gran
was aiming ard having secured them, and forced LIE
tack into his works about Richmond, he hoped t.
have things his way. lie had abandoned hi
strong position behind the Tot0potomony Greek, ant
had slid arou2d TO tie right once more but Lee ha
anticipated him this tine. Tie latter had not onl
thrown his arfigv across bis path, buG his ha
constructed strong field works for their protection
The CCnied7ratfs bave bec0De as great adopts wit
The SPADE as Mcclellan ever was. some OF the arm
wits say that if a column is halted few minutes O
a march to rest, the men Will go Immediately TO Wor
to throw up r2uchmans.
GRAFT evidently hoped he would be able to take Lt
By surprise. He bad first been reinforced by Butle
and the last in the hospitals Provost guard house
and even the ccrI1s in tie Qaartermasers ard Com
H., r. .~r+ uiyp
sure thing OF it, But when he m-ved last night urht
around 10 right be did not know that Lee had ais
moved, and been rein ocad by portions of Beauregard
forces, and ttat lis troops hal provided very goo
: works, behind which to receive bis attack.
He assaulted the entire lne already stated, at
early hour. But assault was made upon Early ar
Heth and that was reruIsod with and great lo
to the enemy and with trlfing loss to the Contede
rates. The attack upon Kershaw, Hoke and Field
of Andersons corps and Breck nrdgP, OF Hills,
the contrary, was heavy and vigorous, and was COZ
tinued from halt past four O'Clock until baf past ten.
An immense force was massed against this part CT Il
lines, and it was brought up again and again and hui
ed with Titanic violence against the Confederate POI
! ton. AS many as seven assaults we're made again
Kershaw and portion Of Fields division, Zach one
= which was repused with tremendous slaughter. L
carnage was dreadful, not only at this point, but
front of Hoke and Breckenridge, also. Hunton q
Corse's b.gaGes, of Pickett'5 dvison, also el
gagged and acquitted themselves handsomely lndee
the COnderates, II such thing were possible, excel
all their previous performances.
The enemy broke over the lines at salient in Bcec
enridge's front and for few minutes had p0ssessi
of three guns and SO much of tie ground as had be
II occupied by three companies, but Fnegan's bra
6 Forldians, attached for time to MahoDe's DivisiC
and acting reserves, rushed forward and swept h
d out of the works ike whirwind. Colquitt's Gee
CLANS performed similar feat when Clingman's bri
ade was presscd back nl0nentarily on HOke's from
they sent the Enemy literally flying across the field.