, 1865-07-01
Gbttaao Tribn1le.
REBEL OFFICIAL HISTORY.

Gen, Lees Report OF the Campaign
Against Mcclellan on the PEN
insula, to the Battle Of
Cedar Run.
mechanfesstl1e, rhickn homiuy, SaE~
nEe &tatiu1, FFaztt1's Farm, Mal-
TErn HILL
nEAnq'ns ARMY or NORTHERN y1ae1sn,l
Gen. $. Cooper, Adjp:ant aa4 Inspector General,
eIR-After The battle OF Seven Pines, the
Federal army, under Gen. Mcclellan, prepara-
tory to an advance On Richmond, proceeded
to iortify its position on the Cbickahominy,
base Of supplies, near the head Of York Rirer.
1ts left was established south Of the ChIcka-
hominy, between White 0ak swamp and
New Hfidge, defended by 1tne of strong
works, access to which, except By a few mar
TOW roads, WIS obstrueted | telling the
commanded for a great distance by the heavy
guns In the iortidca .ions. The right wing
lay north Of the Chickahominy, extending
beyond MechanIcsy1lle, and the approaches
from the south side were strongly defended
BY jn,renchmtnts. Our army was around
grnder, supported By Lonestreet and D. II.
Hill, In fiott Of the enemg's left, beyond
Meadow B.idEc. The com mAud of Gen.
jackson, including Ewcll's division, opera-
ting in the ShenRudoah valley, had succeeded
in diye1ting the army of Mcdowell at FEEDER
isktburg from uniting With that Of Nc. G.
clted, and tffectually mask his withdrawal
from the valley at the proper time, Jackson,
after the defeat OF Fremont and Shields, was
reinforced by Whiting diyision, composed Of
Hoods Texas brigade, and his own, under
Col. Law, from Rlchmond, and that Of Law
| ion, from the South. The intention Of tho
epcmS seemed 10 be to attack Richm5nd by
| regular approaches. The strength Of bis left
wing rendered direct assault ipjuaicious It
| not impracticable. II WAS therefore deter
| mined TO construct deienaise Lines 80 ae to
enalle part Of T. army to defend Tue CITY,
| ard leave the other part fTce 10 cross the
ChscEahomlny and opera!e on the north
bank. By sweeping down The river on that
| side, snd threatening his communications
| with Tork River, 1t E.as thought that the
enemy would b. compelled to retrta: OF give
battle out Of bis tgtreEchments- The plan
was tubn itted to His Exce1lency. the Pres-
dent, Eho was frequently ou the tield In the
course Of its execution. '-...
| While preparations were In prog. css, q
cayalty expedition, uldtr Gsu. Stuart, was
made around the rear of Tie Federal u'my, to
| ascertain Ns foSlalo4 huQ ln0SeAsuta. 4Als
IVES executed with great address and daring
| IS That accomTlish bed officer. As soon as tie
! defensive works were Sufficiently advanced
Gen. jackson vas directed to more faptifJ
ard secretly from the Valley. so As to arrive
In the vicinity Of Asland by ii: 9th Of June.
purple, al IN the Goth attacked General
nvt:er, on the Williamsburg road, With the
int tention, as appea, ed BY dispatch from
Gen. Mcclellan, Of secnricg his edvau.c to.
ward Rlchmood. The effort Vas successfully
resisted ami cur Line ma n.a!ned.
BATTLE OF MEcHAN1csynLE-
Accc,dIRs 70 the general order Of ohttls
was 10 march from Ash1and on the e5sn, IL
the d. ectien OF Slssh Church, eEcamplng fol
| The p'ght west Of the Genital Eaair. Cd. ant
TO advance ut three 3. m. en- the eG.h, mt
turn Beaser Dam. 4. P. Hi! was 10 crcs
the Chiclal on:nS at Meadow Bridge. when
1ackson's advance beyond that point enonit
| be Entwu, snd more directly upon Mechanics
vile. As so. as the Meclhuicsyllle bsid e
/ | thou1d be uncovered, Longstrect nna D. 4
t Hill were to crose, the latter to proceed +
> the support Of jackson, n1d the former t
that oi =. P. Hul The four commands Wcr
directed TO sweep down the north side OF tn
: ChicLahc c1niny, toward the York Rsv.r Rail
road, Jackscn en- the lest, and in advance
Lcnsetreet r.es1es: the river aid In the rcsr
Uuner and Mag1udes we're 10 hold theas pos
i | itirps agtipst any assault Of the tnctny, t
< cbscsye his movements, and follow him clos:
. Is should he rctrtat. Gen. Stuart, with III
b c,yu1ry, was thrown out On Jnckson's lett, t
i. pna1d its flank, and gire notice OF the ens
+ m}'s moyemtltB. Orig. Gen. Pcndtet:n va
:, directed to employ the reserve artillery 4
as 10 resist any approach Of the enemy X
y y ward Richmond. TO euper1nt.nd that porto
il Of 1t posted 70 aid In TIC operation on t.
,. north hank, ard to hold the tmliEd:r read
Il Il for use whtn it might be required. IN CO..
, sequence OF unavoidable delays, the whole
Gtn, Jackson's command did not arrive 8
Ashland iu time to enable him to reach II
point designated ou the 18th. His match
the oGth vas consequently longer than ha
retarded b he enemy, 4. r, Hill did not b
rim lis movement uutti three P. M, when
crossed the river, and advanced upon y
+ cbanieEyille. After sharp co
u act he drove the enemy ho
q; to tase refuge IN his wo:ls on tie hank
d Beaver Dsm, about a mile distant This p
"a eiticn vas q ttrpnR one, the banks of II
2, creek in front being high and almost perpe1
ds dicn1sr, and the approach 70 It oysf OPP
N fields, commai ded ny the tlte OF artale1s q
u The difficulty Of crossing the stream b!
= been ipcreaeed by telling The woods on
.nts ns banke and destroying the blidges. Jacks
u being e1pe cttd 10 pass Beaver Dam abo
and 1u1n the enemy's right, direct alta
,eeimtnts On the left Of his line cross.d I
cretk to communicate with Jackson, and ]
NAMED until sitter dark, when it WAS Wit
d1awp. Ltpgstrtet and D. II. Eli cross
lie Meclaulssv1l1e bridge as soon rs IT
a. uncove1ed and could be- repaired, fut II r
ne late beflra they reached the north hank
ri ri lie Chick kabom.ny. D. H. Hills leading hr
ii ade, pnder Ripley, adyanctd to the tnI'p:
e OF the troops engage d. and. at la.e hol
na united With Pendei's brigade Of A. 7. ull
division, In an effort to trrn The enemy IL
~ darkness, TO overcome tie distractions. Al
nal after sustaining destructive fire Of 1nuskes
e; aud artillery at ehoft range, we're Withdraw
=" The fire was continued until abont n:ne
I'd In., wbtn the engagement erased. Our ttoo
a' retained the ground on the right bank. frt
e vas relieved at th1te p. m., on the estn.
- tEo OF 1cpestr1tt's b1igades. which vt
sptfegutnt1y reinforced. In expectation
q Jacleen's arrival on Ae enemy's rtkat,
:ape pn battle was renewed at dawn, and coh.inu
II. | with animation trr abcut two hours, dun
- witch the passage Of the creek Was
loa tempted, and or troops torced their way
It's 6ankt, when their progress WAS aries
Is The nature OF tho stream. They ma
taincd their position while preparations v
being made tc c11ss a. saosaer .na pons sSs, asSs
:xr >Iackton crossed Beaver Dam af'oyE, aud
N enemy ahandcned his iutIcnchments, sud
, treated rapidly down the river, desttoyin
grtat deal Of property. bst leaving mach
=. Lis deserted camps.
IL BATTLE OF TIE cH1cKAHoNET.
- = Aftcrrepa,r1ng the bridges oyer Dearcr D.
e61 the several columns renewed their MAJ
s $: Il II ths assflS srde:, e. as, asnsfa, 5eckaoa.
II ) ! whom D. Il. Hi had nhit-d, bo1e
tic left, in order to cut Oft reinforcement
the enemy, or intercept his 1etrcat IN t
- direction. Lopestreet md 4. P. Hill me
mar the Chiekahotnlny. slany prison
grafton OF wagons and sto:es marked.
way Of the retrs at ng a11ny longStrcet
Hi reached the vicinity Of New Btldge al
noon. It Was ascertAnea that The ene
= had taken portion behind Powhlte crs
u prepared to dispute our progress. ~ Of
I The vicinity Of McG.hees' house, and his
=, rtar that Of Dr. GalueH, on a wooded bl
ths which rose abruptly from q deep ravihe.
No. 1ayine VAS flled with sharp shooters,
~ r. Hlom Its banks gaTc protection. a sec;
line OF infantry was stationed On me Eiue
ons The hill, behind b b-castwork of nees, at
n,s 1sf 1be first. a third occupied tho CT
'tA Strengthened with rife trenches, and crow
sm@ with 1rtilltry- The approach to this
Ia M t{1n IVES over an oren plain, ahont q 4aa,
OF a nile wide, c1mmandea by tlis triple
o.1e Of fire, and ewept by the heavy bate
nse1 ;e south of the Chfekshcm:ny: In front Of
,ie- center and right, the ground was gene.;
:lcss oren, bounded on The SIDE Of our aprroacl
sne s wocd. with dsnsc and tangled nndt rgrpv
aid trave,ted By 3 sluggish s:ream vi
cu1ye1ltd the soil into q deep mofass.
=. woods on the further side Of the swamp Il
~ occupied By sharp ehooters, aud trees
IL. been fellcd to ,ncrease the d.1llculty OF
passage, ard detain orr advancing,
( un1s under the fire Of infantry, u1assed
.a3al the slopes Of the opposite bills, and Of