Year: 1862

About seven O'Clock on Friday even
ing. numbers Of the wounded CON-
menced to arrive from the front of the
lines, with few of the most intelligent
of whom l had an opportunity of con.
versing. Those engaged in the repulse
Of Stonewall Jackson represented his
rout as most quick and disastrous.


He came down on them expecting a
surprise but found them all momenta-
rily expecting his approach, having been
informed by General Mcclellan two
days previous that he was coming
upon them. Instead of a surprise, the
enemy received the first shot, and after
two hours fight, retreated in confusion.


The wounded from the fight which
Immediately ensued represented it to
have been a most terrific encounter, the
enemy coming out from Richmond up
on them in such dense masses that the
shell and grape poured into them as
they advanced, making great gaps in
their lines, which were Immediately
filed up. and they moved forward most
determinedly. Their artillery was so
poorly served that the damage to our
ranks was light in proportion. They
still moved on, and exchanged showers
of MIME balls, which were destructive
on both sides, but when Gen. Porter
ordered bayonet charge they retreated
in double quick, though General Porter
pursued them but short distance.


The enemy again rallied and ap-
preached our lines a second time, when
the same terrible slaughter ensued, this
time their artillery being better served
was more effective in the ranks Of our
men. On coming to close quarters they
were again repulsed and driven back
a still greater distance. This twice
fought over battle-ground being liter
ally strewn with the dead and dying
General Porter then a second time fell
back to his position and waited nearly
an hour for the enemy to renew the as
sault. They. however, finally came on
in increased numbers, having been
largely re-enforced. and were again re-
ceived with shell and grape, causing
great chasms in their ranks, and one
poor fellow who had lost his arm as
sured me that he saw the loose arms
and portions of the bodies of the enc
my making gyrations through the air.
A third time the enemy bore down most
bravely and determinedly on our lines,
and this conflict was the most severely
contested Of the whole, but when the
bayonet was brought to bear he fell
back. and was pressed toward Rich
mond, fully a mile beyond our original
lines.


Again. for the fourth time, General
Porter fell back to his first position,
when an order was received from Gen.
eral Mcclellan to continue his retrograde
movement slowly and in order. So
soon as it became apparent TO the ene-
my that it was the purpose Of General
Porter to retire. the enemy again pushed
forward most boldly and bravely when
their advance was checked by the en-
tire reserve force consisting OF the New
York Fifth, Lieut.. Colonel Duryea, the
New York Tenth, Colonel Benedix,
and two other regiments, under COM
mand Of Colonel Warren, acting Briga-
dier General, and the entire force OF
regulars under Major General Sykes.
This fresh force held the enemy in
check whilst the force which had previ-
ously borne the brunt of the battle
moved steadily back and in geod order.
carrying with them their wounded and
dead.


The enemy made fierce attack on
the reserve, but cannon were posted at
various points Of the route BY which
they were retiring toward the Chicks-
hominy, which occasionally poured in