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

uus 'lS oisu"Con III Wn!cn they now found
ly the overwhelming front that came pressing
down upon them, of that they had no fear
but the position they had gained placed them
in advance of the whole line of battle and
gave the rebel artillery the opportunity for q
heavy enfilading fire. Besides this thew had
lost the directing heads of two of the chief
commanders, Brooks and Byrnes, "souls of
courage and compact, fell MORALLY wounded.
and all the organizations had suffered fearfullv
from an unparalleled loss of officers In this
state of facts they fell back, bringing with
them the prisoners they had taken and cap
tured color, but not the guns. They fell back,
but not to their original position to a position
far in advance of that they had held, and at
different points not more than fifty yards from
the enemy. Here they entrenched, and here
l leave them to pass on to Gibbons division of
the same corps on the right, and which was
engaged at the same time
Gibbons advanced simultaneous with Barlow
but in moving forward he came upon one of
the swamps OF the Chicahominy, which had to
be turned or Overpassed, in the process of
which it became very difficult to establish the
connection between different parts of his line.
This overcome, however, his troops pressed
forward with the same vigOr that marked the
conduct of their companion division on the
left. Parts of the brigades of Tyler and Owen
gained the rebel works, but for reasons idcnsi-
Cal Will tuOSc IuaC lOTceu Dack barlOWS
troops they also were compelled to give up
what they had won. Gibbons division, too,
lost very heavily. Gen. Tyler, before reaching
the works, was carried Off the field. shot in the
ankle. One of his regimental commanders,
Col. Porter, OF the Eighth New York heavy ar
tillery, was killed Immediately afterward, the
Lieutenant Colonel (Bates) fell dead. Another
OF his regimental commanders, Col. Mcmahon,
OF the l64th New York, was struck while
planting his colors on the rebel works and
was left prisoner in the enemy's hands, his
troops not supporting him after he was wound
ed. Owens brig ade lost two entire compa-
MES, taken prisoners inside of the enemy's in
trenchments. In giving way, Gibbons divis
ion also was far from losing als the ground it
had gained. It took up an advance position,
close to the enemy, and just over the crest, the
rearward slope of which was held by the reb.
els. This position it has retained during the
day, and Mckean's brigade has held all day a
position within. fifteen yards Of the enemy's
works.
THE KEY POINT Of THE BATTLE AND HOW 1T
WAS LOST.
Not until the splendid attack OF HancOOk's
corps had been made-nOt till after its blood.
bought victory had been wrested from our
hands-was he or any man in this army aware
OF the supreme importance of the position this
morning carried and lost. The key-point in
the battle of Gaines Mills, two years ago, it is
strange and Notifying that no one should
have appreciated its value This position is a
bald hill, named g Watt Hill, dominating the
whole aground and covering the angle of
the Dispatch Road. Along this ridge the rebel
works formed a salient and in front of it was a
sunken road. Of this road Hancock got pos
session and the brigades of Miles and Brooks
actually struck and carried the work directly on
the salient. Had we held this point, we
should have had position whence the entire
MIGHT Nod
think it is not too much to say that the day
would have been ours and Lee pushed across
the ChickahOminy. Had we even known in
advance its commanding importance very diff
fercnt dispositions tor attack would have been
made: we would have massed on the left and
made the victory a certainty These consider
ations certainly inspire bitter regrets :: but who
does not know that it is on precisely such con-
tlngencles that the fate ola battle often hangs?
TIE LEFT CENTRE AND CENTRE-wRIGIIT AND
SIXTH.
Simultaneously with the attack of the Second
Corps, the Sixth, under Wright, connecting on
the left with Hancock made general ad vance
at a quarter before five o'clock-each division
assaulting on the centre line. OF this corps,
the Seconl Division (McNeilD neld the right,
the Third Division (Ricketts) the centre and
the First Division RusselD the left Five bat
teries, under charge of the Chief of Artillery of
the Second Corps, Col. Tompkins- namelv:
First New York independently, Hahns Third
New York Independently McMartin's First
Massachusetts, and Rhodes First Rhode Island
were planted in good positions and did effective
service in covering the advance. The assault
OF the Sixth Corps was made with the utmost
vigOr. and succeeded in carrying the first line
of rebel rifle pits along its entire front and got
up within two hundred and fifty yards of the
main works. Smiths corps, connecting on the
right with the 9th, had advanced in conjunction
with it: but the left division, that of Martin
dale, who led the attack in heavy. deep col
umn, got disarranged and was repulsed Gen.
Smith maze three different attacks to relieve
Martindale, but his last supports did not get
up in time to allow him to hold on. The eff
feet of this repulse on the part of Smith had a
dlSasterOuS effect on the position of Wright
II uncovered the right of the 9th, and exposed
Ricketts, division, which was stoutly holding
the advanced position, to q savage fire on the
prolongation OF its line In this state of facts,
to retain possession of position somewhat
in advance of his point of starting was the ut.
most Gen. Wright could possibly do.
OPERATIONS ON THE RIGHT AND REGHT-CENTEE
WARREN AND BURNSIDE.
Operations along the fronts of Warren and
Burnside were OF an Importance quite subor-
dinate to that of operations ON the left No
results were achieved except the carrying of
the line of rifle pits occupied by the rebel
Line flILQ ana NlQCn corps no
where struck the enemy's main work. Burn
side kept up a furious cannOnade for some
hours; but it was nothing-yOr ct preterea
Mill. From the tenor of one of Burnside's
morning dispatches it was at one time hoped
that he would be able to turn the enemys left;
but this hope also was doomed to disappoint-
ment.
"A Noble Letter from the President.
New YORK. May 4.-The following is the
Presidents letter to the meeting tonight:
EXECUTIVE MANsIeN.
WASHINGTON, May 8, 1864
Hon. p. A. ConkIinq and others:
GENTLEMEN: Your letter inviting me to be present
at Mass Meeting of loyal citizens, to be held at
New York. on the 4th inst, for the purpose of ex-
pressing gratitude to Gen. Grant for his signal SER
vices was received yesterday. 1t is impossible for
me to attend. IapprOve, nevertheless, of whatever
may tend to strengthen and sustain Gen. Grant and
the noble armies now under his direction. My pre-
vious high estimate of Gen. Grant has been main.
tanned and heightened by what has occurred in the
remarkable campaign ne is now conducting while
the magnitude and the difficulty Of the task before
him does not prove less than expected He and
his brave soldiers in the midst of their preat
trial. and trust that at your meeting Won will 40
SHAPE YOUR WORDS THAT THEY MAY TURN TO MIN ANp
GUNS MOVING TO HIS AND THEIR sUrpoRr
[Signed1 Yours truly, A. LINCOLN.
NEW YORK, May 5.-The meeting in Union
Square last evening, to tender gratitude to Gen.
Grant and his armies, was q monster affair.
Upwards of $4,000 people were present The