Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-03
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About TWO miles east of WILLIAMSBURG. Gen.
Ssoneman came upon the enemy's works, four
miles in extent, nearly thrce-fourths Of their
front being covered b. the tributaries of
Queens Creek and College Greek. The main
works were large fertilization called Fort
Magruder aud twelve other redoubts and
epaulements tor field guns. The woods in the
fort were telIed, and the open ground dotted
with rifle pits From this position the enemy
opened fire upon Gen. Stoneman as his adj
vance guard debouched from the woods. Gen.
Stoneman, having no infantry, was forced TO
retire, but held the enemy in check with great
credit to his troops, until the arrival Of Gen.
Sumner with part OF General Smiths d.
vision, mt half-past p. NJ. The cross move
ment of this division, made necessary by the
impossible character Of the road on which il
had been moving, had delayed the movement
OF Gen. Hooker's column between three and
four hours; but Heintzelman and Keyes
reached Sumner during the afternoon. Early
in the morning of the 5th Hooker came up.
The weather was exceedingly bad during the
day of the 5th and the condition of the ground
grew hourly worse.
Gen. Hooker began the attack on the en-
emy's works at u o'clock in the morning OF
the 9th, and for time silenced Fort Magru-
der Bur the enemy being heavily reinforced
attacked in his turn. Hooker lost seriously
in men, five of his guns were taken, and be-
tween 3 and p. NJ, when hs ammunition
wagon was giving ont and his men with it,
Gen. Kearney came up, after pushing wi h
immense energy through the deep mud and
dense forest. Kearney drove the enemy back
aud yoH hon II Nj Oft l..- - IL.
Gen Mcclellan, who had remained at York
town to move forward the whole army, re-
ccived information for the first time that Sc
rious conflict was going on in front of Viii
liam. burg, and that the situation of affairs
was not wholly favorable. Hc at once pushed
forward to the front, about fourteen miles,
through most difficult country, INSTRUCTED
by troops and foraeers. He reached the front
about half-past p. NJ, and took rapid sur
vey of the field He learned that there was
no direct communication between the center
and the left under Heintzclman, and. hearing
heavy firing IN the direction of Hancock 5
command, he moved the center forward. At
tempted to open communication with Heintz-
"lmar, and sent Smith and Naglee to the sup
port of lIsncock. Before these Generals
reached Hancock, however. the latter Gen
eral, finding himself confronted by a
superior force, had feigned retreat, await
ed their onset, and then, turning upon them
fercely, had driven back the whole force at
the point of the bayonet. routing them terri
bly, with total loss TO them of between five
and six hundred men, himself losing but fifty
one. For his course at this time Gen. Han
cock received from Gen. Me Clellan the high
est praise, his engagement having given the
Federal army possession OF the decisive point
of the field
The total loss of the army is set down at
2,22S men.
The troops were so much exhausted by the
marches and conflict which resulted in the
victory of Williamsburg, as to render an inn
mediate pursuit of the enemy impossible in
the then condition of the country.
On the 9th, also, Gen. Franklin's division,
then landing, Lad most creditable affair with
the enemy under Gen. Whiting.
On the 10TH headquarters were established
nineteen miles from Williamsburg, and COM
munications established between the force
moving by land and the force moving by wa
ter.
On the 18th and 10th, Franklin, Smith,
and Porter reached White House, five miles
beyond, the roads being so bad that one train
occupied thirty-six hours in passing over this
short distance.
About this time, two provisional army corps
were organized. the one under Fitz John
Porter, the other under Franklin.
Headquarters reached White House on the
10th, and permanent depot was at once or
ganized there.
On the 10Th, headquarters. and the corps
of Porter and Franklin, moved to Tunstall's
Station five miles from White House.
On the 2Oth, more rain fell
On the 21st, the position of the troops was
"a follows:
Stoneman's advance guard, one mile from
New Bridge; Franklin's corps, three miles
from New Bridge, with Porter's corps in sup
porting distance in It's rear; Summers corps
on the railroad about three miles from Chick
ahouliny. connecting the right with the left;
Keyes' corps ON New Bent Road near Bot
toms Bridge, with Hcintzelmans corps at
supporting distance in its rear.
The ford at Bottoms Bridge was in our
possession, and the rebuilding of the bridge,
which had been destroyed by the enemy, was
commenced
On the 22d, headquarters moved to Coal
Hsrbor. On the 26th, the railroad was in
operation as far as the Chickahominy, and the
railroad bridge across that stream was nearly
completed.
The history of the operations before Rich
mond is now given in detail. with reports of
subordinate commanders. including the battles
OF Fair Oaks and Hanover Court House. the
paralysis of the operations caused by the sud-
den withdrawal of McDowel's command to
protect Washington at the moment OF the
panic caused by the movements of General
Stonewan jackson against Banks. Shields and
Fremont, and the change of base to the James
river accomplished, through the severe and
glorious actions OF the "Seven DAYS" from
the battle of Mcchanicsyillc, on the 26th OF
June, to the fierce battle of Malvern Hill
july /.
"Thi, closed" saws Gen. Mcclellan. "the
hard fighting which had continued from the
afternoon of the Goth June. in series OF en-
gagemcn,s wholly unparalleled on this con
tinent TO determination and slaughter on both
sides"
july 4th the General telegraphed To the
President that he occupied. at Hlrrison's
Bar. positions (which could be carried only
by overwhelming numbers" The spirit of
the army" he added. " is excellent. straggcrs
arc finding their regiments. and the soldiers
exhibit the bes, results Of discipline" lie
thus sums up the results of the brief but fierce
campaign: