Year: 1862




atelY supported by Gen. Hills division, consist
ing of six brigades. The forces commanded By
Gen. Longstreet were his old division, consist
ing of six brigsdes


About four O'Clock Monday afternoon, Gen.
Longstreet having been called away, the COM
mand of his division was assumed by Gen. A. P.
Hill, who, with both divisions-that of Long
street and his own-engaged the enemy at a la
ter hour in the evening.


The battle was thus fought under the imme-
diate and sole command of Gen. A. P. Hill, in
charge of both divisions. The position of the
enemy was about five miles northeast Of Darby
town, on the New Market road The immedi-
ate scene of the battle was plsin Of sedge
pines, in the corner of which the enemy's forces
were skilllully disposed.


In advancing upon the enemy, batteries of
sixteen heavy guns were opened upon the ad-
vance column of Gen. Hill Our troops press
ing heroically forward, had no sooner got within
musket range than the enemy, forming several
lines of battle, poured upon them from his heavy
masses a devouling fire of musketry. There
could not have been more desperate fighting on
the part of our troops. Never was more glo-
rious victory plucked from more desperate and
threatening circumstances. This was accom-
plishsd without artillery, there being but one
battery in Gen. Hills command on the spot,
and that belonged to Longstreet's diviOn, and
could not be got into position. Step by step
the enemy were driven back, his guns tekeni
and the ground he abandoned strewn with his
dead By halt past eight o'clock We had taken
all his cannon, and continuing to advance, had
driven him mile and half from his ground Of
battle


Our forces were still advancing upon the re-
treating lines of the enemy. 1t was now about
half-past nine o'clock, and very dark, when sud.
denly a sheet of fire envelOped the front of our
advance. The enemy had made another stand
to receive US, and it was evident that another
whole corps d'aTmes had been brought to contest
the fortunes Of the night aud that his heaviest
columns were now being thrown against Hills
small command The loss here on our side was
terrible.


The situation being evidently hopeless for any
further pursuit Of the fugitive enemy, who had
now brought up such overwhelming forces, Gen.
Hill retired slowly.


At this moment, seeing their adversary retire,
the most vociferous cheers arose along the whole
Yankee line They were taken up in the dis
tance by the masses which for miles and miles
beyond were supporting McClellan's front 1t
was g moment when the heart Of the stOutest
commander might have been appalled,. General
Hills situation was now as desperate as it well
could be, and required a courage and presence
of mind to retrieve it, which the circumstances
which su1roun'tl him were not well calculated
to inspire. III command had fought for FIVE or
six hours without reinforcements. All his re-
serves had been brought up in the action.


Wilcox's brigade, which had been almost an
INITIATED, was reforming in the rear.


Riding rapidly to the division of this brigade,
Gen. Hill brought them, by great exertions, up
to the front to check the advance of the now
confident, cheering enemy. Catching the spirit
of their commander, the brave, but jaded men
moved up to the front, replying to the enemy's
cheers with shouts and yells. At this demon
strstion, which the enemy, no doubt, supposed
signifed heavy Teinforcements, he stopped his
advance. 1t was now about half past ten
o'clock in the night. The enemy had been ar
rested; and the fght-One Of the most remarka-
ble long contested and gallant one that has yet
occurred on our ines-wss concluded with the
achievement of the field under the most trying
circumstances, which the enemy, with the most
overpoWering numbers brought up to reinforce
him, had not succeeded in reclaiming.


In the long and bitter conflict which Gen.
Hill had sustained with the enemy, he had
driven him about mile and half; and, at the
conclusion of the battle, although he had retired
somewhat, he still held the ground from which,
in the early part Of the action, be had driven
the enemy.


1t is a melancholy evidence of the achieve
ments of this division that out of a force Of
1900 men, with which it went into action on
Friday evening last, it now cannot probably
bring more than 5000 efficient men into action.


THE SIXTH DAY.


The fatal effects of Gen. Hills fight Monday
night were not known until morning, when it
was discovered that the enemy had taken up his
line of retreat moving in an ObHque line toward
James river, and that for the first time there
were evident indications Of an earnest and dis
astrous retreat in direction to strike the river
at the swamps near City Point.


It appears from such information as we are
able to obtain at late hour that our forces lead
ing in the pursuit-Jackson's and Huger,s di-
visiops-eame up with the retreating columns of
the enemy about eight o'clock in the morning,
Jackson's force attacked the left flank of Nc
Clellan on the road leading along the west bank
of the Chickahominy from Bottom bridge to the
Long bridge, at q point seventeen miles from
Richmond, while Magruder and Huger, later in
the day fell upon his right flank. Fighting was
reported to be still going on up to nine o'clock at
night, the enemy endesvoTing to make his exit to
the river through our lines, which had again en-
veloped him. Brig Gen Fitz St. John Porter is
reported to be among the number OF prisoners
taken by us.


In the evening very heavy though distant
firing could be heard in the direction of James
river, and was naturally supposed to come from
the enemy's gunbOats, covering the retreat Of
McClellan's army. There appears TO be no
doubt that the enemy's gunbOsts have been en-
gaged with Holmes brigade, and that q number
of Federal transports are in the river with rein
forcements, which are possibly a portion of
Brunside's command There has been no at
tempt to reinforce Mcclellan from the transports,
which seems to corrOborate the conclusion that
that commander is sensible that the fortunes OF
the contest have been lost, and that his only
anxiety now is to effect his retreat.