Newspaper Page Text
PEACE PROSPECTS- |
It m ulwkje an ‘jnffracious task lo ca oa
tbe fcanguine aDd hopeful not to .ad j
.’retip the Illusions of fancy. It
so when a great and joyful lifts t he
hearts of all, young and th& hope<u &nd
toe desponding elite. mtQ aQ e , jlting - BOO d,
and gilds the gW . C(; colors. The
reoent bnllia'^ t Victories near Richmond ■eery
nature, #!at* ’every Southern heart, and fill
lbe #d.6d with hopeful speculations. Many
sr.:. give their imaginations full scope, and will
"picture the dawn of an early peace as the in
evitable fruits of those splendid achievements
o' Southern courage and -constancy.
That the defeat of McClellan's army is a long
stride towards peace, is unquestionable. The
Southern Confederacy has, by that exploit, made
one more majestic movement onward to inde
[*ndence It was but a question of time when
our young Republic should reach the goal. The
glorious victories which have put the enemy’s
grand army in retreat, have done more to hasten
the event, than could months of spade work
and -strategy. It is not by the Fabian policy
of retreats, delays, and countermarches, that
dual success could be achieved. That had
been tried too long, and proves to us a losing
game; for, while it worried and wasted tho
ecetny, it was disheartening and exhausting
u 3. When our troops have been put on the
offensive, they have invariably succeeded It
is by this policy now we are to hope for suc
cess. It is thus only lost territory can be won
hack. It is by the sharp sword and keen
cayonet, the enemy can be made to feel that
tho South is too hot for them.
But even on the supposition that Me.
Clellan is thoroughly defeated, it would be a
tatal mistake to calculate that the work
* done—that peace is already virtually
achieved, and thut our gallant troops can
rest on their arms. The enemy has re
ceived a disastrous check; but is ho overpow
, -ed ? lie is badly crippled, but so was he at
Manassas. Let us remember the folly into
which that great victory betrayed the South,
and avoid a repetition of the error. Months,
precious months, were wasted by the South in
supine confidence and gaseous braggadocio,
while the enemy were industriously at work
repairing the disaster. While our regiments
wasted to skeletons by the diseases of the
i amp and the demoralization of inactivity, the
enemy creato'd. disciplined, and equipped new
armies. While they aroused their people to
new efforts by glowing appeals to their patriot
ism, their prejudices, and their passions, we in
dulged in dreams of a short war, until it seem
ed as if the conscript act alone saved our armies
from being disbanded.
Tbe war may now possibly be a short one.
Certainly, the defeat of McClellan must con
tr.b-.te to curtail its duration. It may bring
the estimates down from years to months The
enemy may now conclude that they cannot
crush us out in a few months. Tbe South may
now feel that she will not have to prolong the
struggle for years, before achieving independ
ence. Foreign nations, that are suffering so
, much by this war, must now see the hopeless
ness of subjugation, and may conclude to inter
pose, forcibly if necessary, to stop it. —
But diplomacy is always slow, and works tor
tuoußiy. So, too. the conviction that the con
quest of the South is hopeless, will come slow
to Northern minds. They have much to learn
and to unlearn on this point. In tb© meantime,
tne South must rely on her own prowess, win
inure victories, prepare for new mvifeions. and
Urns strike friend and loe with tbo conviction
that she can and will he free.
BrrritKiNos or Tint Yanmib.—The Cincinnati
' Enquirer," of tbe 14th iDstunt, state that "llaU
lect s army suffers less from disease than fri-m
socks, woodiK'ke, hzzards, scorpions and galli
dippets. Insects and reptiles arc thus classed :
Due hizsrd equals five scorpions, two Bcorpions
equal one gullinipper ; one galliuipper equals one
sucks, one sonke, one gallinipper; two scorpions
and our lizzrrd equal to one woodtlck.’’ Oa tbe
ether band, another Yankee writer says: “As
we advance iuto these regions, a variety of dis
ease are becoming ruinously prevalent. Ferer
aud ague, jaundice, diarrhooi, and many types
of fevers are thinning the ranks of tbe different
regimeuts fearfully. 1 will not attempt to de
er, ibe the pictures of the poor men as they drag
themselves through camps. The toughest look
iOg ones seems to be the gieatesl sufferers/'
‘hmctij i>;epul. i, June 3,
THE GREAT BATTLE
When Gen. A. Hill had steadily driven
the enemy from Meadow Bridge, and had taken
up the line of march towards Mechanicsville
and the road, evening had far advanced, and it
was supposed that a bait would take place, j
Geu. Ripley, however, with the 44th and 4Slh
Georgia, and 2d and 3d North Carolina, made |
«iu attack upou the Yankee fortifications at El- j
lyeon’s Milts, in which tbe 441 b Georgia and
?d North Carolina suffered extremely, and did
not juoceei in taking them, owing to the im
practicable nature of the ground. Operations
were then suspended on our side, but the ene
my kept up s deafening roar of artillery til! late
in the night. Longstreet's forces had mean
while crossed, and marched parallel with the
Chiekahominy. Tbe brigades ol Gens. Feath
erstone and Pryor were in advaace, and pro
.'eeding soma distance, halted tor the night.
About midnight, Featherstone received'orders
to change his position, and to occupy a skirt of
woods near Beaver Dam Creek, and facing the
Federal batteries. He did s», aud the men
were scarcely asleep when, twilight apprcach
.ng the enemy discovered the bivouac, and im
mediately commenced to shell it vigorously.
The met,, thus unceremoniously aroused, seized
their muskets and fell in. and Gen. Feather- j
stone, just arrived from headquarters, led them
to storm the position—mounting ten guns,* and
supported by two or three brigades. Sharp
fighting dow commenced on all sides, when
Gen. Pryor sent for assistance, and Wilcox
soon came upon the ground. Ter cover the in
fantry attack, and draw off' the artillery fire,
the 3d Richmond Howitzers, some pieces of the
Donaldsouville and Thomas Artillery, moved
up and played upon the enemy'6 position mag
nificently. Having engaged the enemy lor a
long time, and finding it impossible to cross
the creek without a bridge, one was construct
ed by some of tho 19th Mississippi and 14th
Louisiana, under fire when the whole force ad
vanced, and closed up with tbe enemy, driving
tb-in in great confusion from the field. The dif
iw»v. tee of attack at this position were such
that it is impossible to give a correct idea with
out maps—the .battery being on a height,
flanked by rifle pits, a deep creek at the foot
of the hill, and covered with a thick hedge
A DARING ATTACK.
Ttafc Attack of oui men on this position was
impetuous and daring, but the loss was great,
10? the foe were so screened by their position
it was impossible to get at trem pFot>erly.
Their loss was severe. Gen. Featherstone s
Adjutant-General, Geo. P- Foote, was shot
while riding far in advance of tbe 12th Missis
sippi, and although hailed to return, he did not,
and was quickly singled out and mortally
wounded. His body was shortly afterwards
found despoiled—watch, money, and sword
gone. The 12th Mississippi went out in tn*
morning with 397 men, lost in this engagement
12 killed, 68 wounded, and 9 missing; the
regiment was commanded by Major W. H.
Lilly, who was wounded leading a charge—tne
Colonel being absent and sick, and the Lieuten
ant-Colonel wounded. . „ As
The 19th Mississippi went into action with g2I
—had 31 killed, 150 wounded. The 2nd Missis
sippi battalion, Col. Tayio*, went into action with
234 men, and bad 30 killed and wounded. Tbe
loss of Prvor’i brigade we have not learned ; but
hear that the 14th Louisiana and the remnant of
St. Paul’s battalion suffered severely—Wilcox,
being in support, did not lose many. The Gen
erals speak in high terms of the execution of our
held pieces in the attack, the 3d Richmond Uow"
itiers, some of the Donaldsouville, and Thomas
artillery, having caused great destruction among
the enemy, and with slight loss to themselves.-
The rapipitv of their fire quite astonished the
Yankees, and could be distinctly heard over all
our city, long before dawn had fairly broken.
FIGHT AT MILLS.
While Featherstone, Pryor and Wilcox were
thus successfolly engaging the enemy on the
right of our advuce, Gen. Maicy Gregg and his
brigade were also bard a; work, and successfully
stormed the strong position of Eilyson’s Mills,
and took up the line of march on the left. They
did not advance on the Mills by the road, as had
been done on Friday evening bv Ripley, but
simply made a feint in that direction, croosed tbe
main body higher up the creek, took the redoubts
and rifl'i pits en flank, carried them with the
bayonet, pushed through th* camps, and follow
ed tbe road towards Game a Mills, whither tbe
enemy were retiring.
AT GAINE S MILLS.
From prisoners captured at both positions—
who proved to be of the Valley Army—it was
ascertained that we might expect stout resist
ance al Gaine’s Mills, since three or four whole
divisions were siioogly encamped there, McCleG
lan commanding in person, with Major-Generals
McCall, Porter, JSedgewick and others—their esv
timateil.'force being not less than thirty odd thou*
and men. As our three columns moved by parallel
lines, we followed and conversed with prisoners,
who informed us that their loss on Friday at
Meaoow Bridge, Mechanicsville and Ellyson’s
| Mills, had been fearful, and that the whole"night
had been occupied in burial. The Federais carry
off all their dead and wounded, as fast as shot,
and we only discover those who fall and are left
at tbe actual moment of retreat. This informa*
tion we believe to be correct.
The heads of our three columns having reach
ed Walker Hogan’s farm, north bank of the
Chiekahominy, about 9 miles northeast of Rich
mood, all came to a halt, and Gens. Lee and
Longstreet took up quartern in the bouse and
made dispositions for a further advance towards
Game’s Mills, distant about one mile through
the woods. Featberstone’s brigade having suf
fered much in the morning, Wilcox lead, being
followed by Pryor, and Featherstone in reserve.
The composi ion of Wilcox’s command is mostly
Alabamians ; Pryor bae tbe 14th Louisiana, Bt.
Paul’s battalion, 3d Virginia, and one other reg
iment; Featherstone has the 19th and 12th Mis
Hissippi, and 2d Mississippi battalion.
Thus, to recapitulate, except tbe deep creek
and timber-cohered hill beyond t, the whole
i country, as seen from the north door of Game's
. bouse, is unbroken, open, undulating, and table
land, the right forming a decent to the w >od~
j covered creel, the left beiug dips and gullies,
! with dense timber still farther to the left tbe
j front being tor tbe most part table land. These
I particulars of the position are as correct, perhaps,
i as can be mentioned ; but without a map it will
always be difficult to understand the topography
| of this hard fought and victorious field olj Gaines*
Mills.
But to tbe southeast of Gaines’s boose is a
large tract of timber; commanding all Advances
upon the main road, and i n this McClellan and
McCall bad posted a strong body of skirmishers,
with artillery, to annoy our flank and rear when
advancing on their camps on the high ground**,
it we did so b) the mam road or over the table
lauds to tbe north.
STORMING RNTRRNCHMINTS.
It now being 3 p. m., and the head of our col
umn in view of the Federal camps, Gen’l Pryor
was sent forward with his brigade to drive away
the heavy mass of skirmishers potted to our rear
to annoy the advance. This being accomplished
with great success, aud with little loss to uj—
Pryor relumed and awaited orders Meanwhile
tbe Federais, from their camps and several po
sitions on the high grounds, swept the whole
face of fce country with their numerous artillery,
which would have annihilated our entire force
if not screened in the dips of the land and in gul
lies to our left. Advancing cautiously but raps
idly in tbe skirt of woods aud in the dips to the
left, Wilcox and Pryor deployed their men into
line of battle—Featherstone being in the rear—
and suddenly uppearing on the plateau faciDg
the timber-covered hill, rushed down into tbe
wide guliy, crossed it, clambered over all the
felled timber, stormed the timber bieastworks
beyond it, and began the ascent of the hill, un
der u terrible fire of sharpshooter*, and an inces
sant discharge of grape and canister, from pieces
posted on the brow of the hill, and from bat
teries in their camps to tbe right on the high
flat lands. Such a position was never stormed
before. In descending into the deep creek, the
infantry and artillery fire that assailed the three
brigades was the most terrific on record.
Twenty-six pieces were thundering at them,
and a perfect hailstorm of lead fell thick ami
fast around them. One of Wilcox’s regi
ments wavered—down the General rushed, I
furiously, sword in hand, and threatened to be- |
head tbe first man that hesitated. Pryor steadily
advanced, but slowly, and by the time that the
three brigades bad stormed the position, passed
up the hill through timber, and over felled
trees. Featherstone was far in advance. Quckly
the Federais withdrew their pieces, and took up
a fresh position to assail tbe three brigade* ad*
vancmg in perfect line of battle from the woods
and upon the plateau. Officers had no horses,
all were shot—Brigadiers marched on foot, sword
in band,—regiments were commanded by Cap
tains, and companies by Sergeants, yet on
ward they rushed, with yells, ana colors flying,
and backward, Vill backward fell the Federais,
their men tumbling every moment in scores.
But what a sight met the eves of these three
gallant brigades l la front stood Federal camps,
stretching to tbe Northeast for miles Drawn
up in line of battle w T ere more than tnree full
division**, commanded hjr McCall, Porter, Sedge*
wicke, Ac—banners darkened the air—artillery
vomited forth incessant volleys of grape, canister
and shell—heavy masses were moving on our
left through tbe woods to flank us' Vet, on*
ward came Wilcox to the right, Pryor to the left,
and Featherstone mtfcecoutre—one grand match
less line of battle— almost consumed bv exploits
of the day—vet onward they advanced to the
heart of the Federal position, ana when the ene
my had fairly succeeded in almost flanking us on
the left, great commotion 16 heard in the woods!
—Toilets upon volleys are heard in rapid succes
sion, which are recognized and cheered by our
men—“lt is Jackrao!” they 6hout, “on their
right and rear!” Yes, two or three brigades of
Jackson’s army have flanked the enemy, and are
getting in the rear! Now, tbe sighing was bitter
and terrific. Worked up to madness, Wilcox,
Featherstone and Pryor dash forward at
a run, and drive the enemy with irreo
sistible fury—to our left emerge Hood's
Texan brigade, Whiting’s comes after, and Pen
der follows! Tbe line is now complete, and
‘•forward” rings from one end of the line to the
other, and the'Yankees, over 30,G00 strong, begin
to retreat 1 Wheeling their artillery from tie
front, the FedertU IWfB Wrt 6f it to break our
left, and save tjieir retreat The eery earth shakes
at the rwtr! Not one piece of ours has ret
optteo! all has been done with bullet and bayo
net, and onward press our troops through VaflSps
upon carepg, capturing guns, stores, WKb, cloth
ing, Ac. Yet, like bloodhounds CD the trail, the
six brigades sweep everything before them, pre
Hunting an unbroken, solid front, and cioaing in
upon the enemy, up an incessant succession
or volleys upon tbeir confused masses and un»
ernngly slaughtering them by hundreds aod
thousands!
ETONEWALL AT WOBE.
But where is Jackson ? ask all. He has trav
eled fast, and is beading the retreating foe, ani
as night closes in, all is anxiety for intelligence
from him. ’lia now about 7p. m., and just as
the rout of the enemy is complete—just as the
last volleys are sounding in the enemy’s rear,
the distant and rapid discharges of cannon tell
that Jackson has fallen upon the retreating col.
urnn, broken it, and captured 8000 prisoners 1
Far in the night hie insatiable troops bang upon
the enemy, and for miles upon miles are dead,
’.vauHded.' ’prisoners, wagons, cannon, Ac., scat
tered in inextricable confusion upon the road !
Thus, for four hours did our inferior force, un
aided’ by a single piece of artillery, withstand
over thirty thousand of the enemy, assisted by
twenty-six pieces of artillery !
In vital, we captured many prisoners, and
30 pieces of artillery up to 5 P. M.. Friday, and
in the battle of Gaines’ Mills, captured 26 field
pieces, 15,000 atand of arms, six stand of colors,
three Generais, . Reynolds, Sanders and Rankin,}
and over 4,000 prisoners, including dozens of
officers of every grade—trom Colonel to Lieu-,
tenants of the line.
TUX FEDERAL FORCE*
Every arm of toe service was well represented
in th«* Federal line—cavalry w»*re there ;n force,
and when our men emerged from the woods, at
tempted to charge, but the three brigades on the
right, and Jackson’s three brigades on the left,
closed up ranks and poured such deadly volleys
upon the horsemen, that they left the ground in
confusion and entirely for their infantry to decide
the dav.
McCall’s, Portei’s and Sedgewick s crack di
visions melted away before our advance, how
ever, and had the fight lasted one half hour
longer, not one whole regiment would have sur
vived H. McClellan (prisoners say) repeatedly
was present and directed movements, but wbeu
the three brigades t» our left emerged from the
woods, such confusion and havoc ensued that be
gave orders to retreat, slipped off bis horse and
escaped s best he could. .Some say that he wag
aeverelv wounded, and many i fiicers (prisoneis)
believe the report that he was ou the field is un- j
doubtedly true; for everything had been pre* j
vioualy prepared for a grand fight at Games’i
Mills, McClellan even promising to capture our ;
whole force should we attempt to storm bis ;
camps. Results were different and so the Fates j
reward the greatest liar of his age.
The “Dispatch” says that there w ere no charges j
but one, and no repulses, as some reported ; and ,
♦tar many regiments lay claim to have captured j
batteries, but that it is impossible to sustain the j
claims—and all laugh merrily over their adven
t ires, despite the terrible work going on around
them. L ;rge amounts of money and quantities of
clothing were found by our men upon the battle
held, together with watches and other valuables
THE AMOUNT OT AMMUNITION FOUND
was considerable, and proved of very superior
quality and manufacture. The exact amount
captured we have not yet ascertained, but from
the immense piles of boxes scattered through the
camps, we conjecture that the enemy had laid in
quite an unusual supply, expecting to use it,
doubtless, upou our devoted men, and so they
would, did our troops stand, as they do, at “long
law,” and note.me to “close quarters ’’
Till CANNON AND ARMS CA FTC RED
in this battle were numerous and of very supers
U,r workmanship. Tbe 2t)pieoe« were the moat
beautiful we have ever seen, while immense piles
of guns could be seen on every hand—many
scarcely having the manufacturer’s “finish” even
tarnished. The enemy seemed quite willing to
throw them aw ay ou the slightest pretext, dozens I
being found wi «h loads still undischarged. The;
numoer of small arms captured, we understand,
was net less than 15,000, of every calibre and
every make.
THK FEDERAL WOUNDED
were collected togathrr, and formed a very large
held hospital. The court yard of a farm-house
was selected, and scores could be seen reclining
on the grass, and expert surgeons operating wiih
much skill and zeal. By mutual agreement sur
geons are not cimsidered prisoners of war, hence
at the close of the late battle, many Federal sur*
geons remained behind, andtheir services seemed
very much appreciated by the men As many os
could be were conveyed to town and attended to,
good conveyance being furnished, and much care
manifested‘for their welfare.
THE GALLANT DEAD —COL. WHEAT.
Among the many heroic spirits wbo sacrificed
their lives on the altar of otir country in the
dreadful, but glorious struggle
Mills" on Friday, June 27tb, we would particular
ly mention the name of the immortal Wheat of
Wheat’s Battalion,—the master spirit of that
heroic band, wbo, from the dawn of our struggle
until the present, has always been found in the
van guard battling manfully for our lives, liber*.,
ties, and homes. At Mauasses, the name of [
Wheat became histoi leal in our annals, for as I
long astiiat victory shall remain kuown to fame,
so long will the name of Robert Wheat
be coupled with it. Despising petty
intrigue, Colonel Wheat depired nothing
more than to secure his ewn beloved South, and
to be id active service was his chief delight
Joining Jackson in the Valley, and winning un*
perishable fame, this gallant man fought all
through that arduous but ailsglorious campaign,
j and wh.le leading the small remnant of his once
numerous battalion to the charge at Gaints
Mills, was mortally shot in ibe bead. " Bury nie
on the field, boys/’ said he, and placidly ex
pired. May he real in peace-.
RESULTS.
It is impossible to get correct returns of the
killed and wounded. Our loss is probid>ly not
over 2.000, at the highest calculation. The Fed
eral loss is estimated at 20,000, killed, wounded,
and prisoners, if not more. The following items
we have from Featherstone’s brigade;
The casualties in the 12th regiment Mississippi
volunteers, Featherst ne’s brigade, Longstreei’s
division* commanded by M»jor W. 11. Lilly, are
as follows:
Maj. W. H. Lilly, wounded early in the morn*
ing’s action, while* leading the regiment in the
first charge. In the morning engagement this
regiment lost 12 killed, 68 wounded and 9 roisse
ing. Number taken into the field, officers, non*
commissioned officers and privates, 397. In the
evening engagement, (Capt. 8. B. Thomas com
manding regiment,) the loss was 6 killed, 36
wounded and 16 missing. N'umberof officersand
privates taken into battle, 308. The regiment
thus lost 153 killed, wounded and missing, dur>
mg the day, out of 397 men.
The above is as near correct as it is possible
to ascertain, as several reported missing have
been found killed, and others wounded.
The 19th Mississippi volunteers lost 31 killed
and 130 wounded, out of 521 that went into ac*
tion in the morning.
The 2d Mississippi battalion lost 100 killed
and wounded, out of 234 taken into action in the
morning.
The Purcell Battery lost in the battle of Thurs*
dav evening last, 4 killed and 43 wounded.
This list proves the desperate bravery exh .bi*
ted by the command in the bloody strife. We
iearn that Mr. Dawson, a young Englishman,
who came over in the Nashville, volunteered for
the engagement, and received a wound while
acting most gallantly.
The Crenshaw Battery, of this city, (attacned to
Gregg’s brigade,) acted with distinguished gal
lantry in Friday’s battle. The casualties are:—
Sergt. S. Strother and private R. Hines, killed •
Corporal Wm. B. Allen, Marion Knowles, Geo,
Young, Benton Graves. Daniel Lancaster, Thou.
Mallory, and Thomas Rvder, wounded. The com*
pany lost fully onesthird of their horses, and bad
three of tbeir guns d’s&bled. All the pieces wert
brought off the field, however, though, owing to
a lack of gome bad to be dragged away by
hand t
Casualties in company E, 44ih Oi. Regiment,
engaged before Elly son's Mills, Thursday even
ing •
Killed—Privates A Bagwell, J Lee, E Davis. R
M Dawson, J,U Digby.
Missing—W J Reeves, M P Bwinn*y.
Wounded—Capt J W Adams, slightly in the
arm, Lieut J H Connelly, slightly in chest; Lieut
S A Scott, slightly in shoulder and knee: Lieut
Manly, in band and knee; Corp’l A C Caldwell,
badly, Corp’l T L Hatcher; Corp’l Madden, slight
ly; privates J M Davis, W S Brown, J W Perkin.,
slightly, E G Cnrbow, badly, Daniel Corbow,
slightly: Wm Bagwell, J A Collins, Joseph Beal.’
Robert Norris, F J Weldon, Green Allison, W 8
Futrai, N T Gibson, H H Gibson, Wm Jeeisr, T
T Bishop.
ENGAGEMENT AT COAL HARBOR.
In tbfe fight on Friday, Johnston’s Battery of
this city, occupied an exposed position ot the
Coal Harbor road, about one mile from Coal Har
bor, and was subjected to a fire remarkable for
its accuracy, which asan eye witness informs us)
the command encountered without flinching.
Capt. Johnson was conapicuouff for bis bravery
throughout the period in which Lis battery was
engaged, and our informant says that not an inch
of ground would have been yieldedwhile a man
remained to serve the guns, had not Gen. Lee,
observing the dead effect of the enemy’s tire, or
dered them to withdraw from the contest. The
casualties, bo»h in men and horses, were heavy.
Among tbe sad incidents of the battle may be
•mentioned tbe death of Lieut. W. Euger Web
ster, of Maryland, chief executive officer of the
Arsenal, who was as Aid to Gen. Rhodes
He fell in the thickest of the fight, while galiuntlv
cheering on a regiment. His body was brought
to the city on Saturday. Lieut. W. was a reiav
tire of Gea. Lee.
We regret to learn that Major T. S. Skinner,
Ist N. C , was killed in the engagt men; ou Thura
day evening, in the attack on the Federal en
trenchments.
AT FARM.
About eleven o’clock Saturday, Capt. Moody’s
battery opened fire upon tbe enuenebmenfs
of the enemy located just beyond Garnett’s
farm. Tbe battery fired some ten or fit*
n-en minutes, and meantime a body of infantry,
■ consisting of the 7th and *ih Georgia regiments,
moved up under cover of the fire from the field
1 pieces. The Btb, in advance, charged across a
’ ravine and up a hill, beyond which tbe Yankee
; entrenchments lav. They gamed the first line
I of works and took possession, but it is proper
i to state this wa? unoccupied at the time by tbe
‘ Yankees. The fire of the enemy was murderous,
j and as soon as our men reached the brow of the
> | hill, rapid volleys of grape, canister, and mus
i ketry were poured into them. It was found al
J most impossible to proceed farther, but the
1 ; attempt would have been made had not orders
* | been received to fall back, whicb wav done in
| good order, still under fire.
j The loss in tbe 7th is reported at seventy-odd
j men killed, wounded, and missing. In the Bth,
* 1 upwards of eighty. Col. Lamar, of the Stb, was
i severely wounded in the groin, and fell into th*
j hands of the enemy. Lieut. Col. Towers was
captured, but uninjured. The Yankees were
completely bidden behind their works, and did
not suffer much apparently. We took a captain,
F lieutenant, and seme five or sick privates, the
Yankee picket force at the point. Later a flag ot
truce was granted to take away our dead and
wounded, but a conference with Col. Lamar was
refused. The Federal surgeons, however, did
not think bis wound a fatal one, and, therefore,
would not allow him to be taken away.
OEN. TOOMRs’ BRIGADE.
On Friday General Tomobs was ordered to “feel”
the enemy entrenched to the East and front of
Garnett’s farm. After receiving written orders
to advance, General Toombs sent f. rward the
2d, 15lb and 17th Georgia. The enemy had near
i three brigades in a skirt of woods behinu an
1 abattis of felled timber and brushwood. The
Georgians advanced spiritedly upon the Yankees
and drove them back ; not, however, until ibev
had fought desperately for the ground. Finding
i it urjavoiable to flunk our force, the Yankees
withdrew and left us in possession of tbe field.
It was maintained until orders were Sent for
General Toombs to retire.
Our total loss may he summed up as follows:
; Killed 24, wounded 160, and 4 missing, up to the
time the reports came in. Col. Mclntosh, of the
15th, lost Lis leg. Capt. Birch was killed, Capt.
Tilley dangerously wounded, and Lt. Edwards
slightly wouuded. This engagement was a spir
ited and creditable affair, Gen. Toombs obeying
strictly his written orders.
Gen. Lee pushed his advance until 10 o'clock
last night, (Saturday) and at 1! was in occupanv
cy of the York River Railroad, theeaemy’s prin
cipal line of communication. This in effect pierces
the enemy’s centre, and separates their forces on
tbe Northside of tbe Chickabominy from those
on the Southside. Brig. Gen. Riker is among
the prisoners brought to tbe city yesterday mor*
nlng.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Among the wounded may be mentioned Major
John M. Daniel, editor of the Richmond “Exam
iner,” and iate of General Floyd’s staff, but now
acting with General Bill. His arm was shat*
tered.
Captain WillUm Randall, company K, Ist Lou
isiana, was not killed as at first reported. He
received a severe wound iu the right arm at the
elbow joint.
Col. J. G. Seymond, of the 6th Louisiana, was
j killed Saturday.
? Among the killed in the desperate tight <-f Fri- ,
day afternoon, was Cal. J. W. Allen, of the 2d
rsgiment Virginia volunteers. He was shot
through tbe head and expired almost instantly.
At the time he received the fatal shot, be was act
ing Brigadier General of Jackson’s celebrated
Stonewall Brigade. His body was brought to
this city yesterday morning, and during the day
wav deposited in Hollywood cemetery. Major!
Frank B. Jones, of the same regiment, is thought ;
to be mortally wounded, having lost a leg. His
condition is at least exceedingly critical.
Capt. Wood McDona d, son of Col. Augustus
W. McDonald, of Winchester, and aid to Gen
Elzey, was killed in the saaie engagement.
Major P. J. Sinclair, of the sth North Carolina
regiment, received a painful wound in the thigh,
and was bright to the city yesterday afternoon
bv Dr. Coffin, by whom his wound was dressed.
He is now at the American Hotel.
In the engagement near 'Fair Oak*.' yesterday
afternoon. Brigadier General Griffith hai one of
his legs broken, and apprehensions are felt that
amputation may be Decessary.
A Federal Lieutenant, who was captured yes
terday morning and brought to the headquarters
of Gen. Lee, reports that two entire regiments
had deserted during the morning.
The Confederate forces yesterday afternoon
occupied the enemyg position at the White
House, on the Pamunkey, but all the Etores of
the enemy at that point were destroyed by them
ia their retreat.
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY —THE ENEMY
IN' FULL FLIGHT! !
About I A. M., Sunday merning, our pickets
down the Nine Mile Road were fiercely attack
ed by the enemy, and a severe and lively
fight ensued. The enemy were easily driven
back with loss, many prisoners falling in our
hands. Many of the Fed era Is threw down
their arms and surrendered voluntarily. Sun
day morning, about six or seven o’clock, an
other nerce picket fight occurred. Gen. Grif
fith’s Mississippi brigade moved down and
pursued them past their fortifications, which
were found for the most part deserted. It thus
became a matter of fact that the enemy were
in full flight.
Pursuit was instantly made, and several
fights ensued. All their carries —wagons, com
missary, and quartermaster camps, also—were
totally destroyed. Immense piles of stores
were blazing at the moment of our visit, the
Misjinsippiaas pursuing over the red ashes of
the camps and stores. Our army is following
clot*? at their heels, and many prisoners are
•hourly arriving. Loud explosions were heard
during the afternoon, caused by tbe destruction
) of vast quantities es ammunition. £' e^ se
• umne of smoke darkened the sky. Tae rail
road Merrimac was far in advance of our men,
■ and was vigorously shelling the enemy a; every
turn. They are endeavoring to reach James
, river, but are totally cut off therefrom Tbej
’ ( loss must prove fearful. They are retreating
| in good order, however, but it cannot be long
maintained : they seem totally demoral red
McClellan says ‘‘he has got us just where :e
1 wants us; - ’ but, as some of the prisoners :e
--’ mark, “it may be so, but certainly our losses
and disgraces are no joke. If he intends to
| win, this last week's operations does not mncb
] look like it.” Our Generals are fully alive to
I ail his movements, and are hourly hamming
him in.
An armistice of two days, it is reported, wo3
asked by McClellan to bury the dead Ac., but
, Gen. Lee, it is said, replied, “There is no time
1 now to think of the dead—let the dead bury
- the dead. The only proposition I can receive
i from Gen. McClellan is for an unconditiom.l
• surrender.’’ We know not if this be true, but
' give the report.for what it is worth.
| Gen. Griffith was mortally wounded, wo are
| sorry to hear, by a fragment of a shell, while]
i standing near the Merrimac on the railroad
! His troops form the advance, and the country!
i lost a fine officer and gentleman. Col. Bark-, I
dale, of the 13th Mississippi Volunteers, now 1
; commands the Mississippi brigade, and a fin*;
[ j offi’er cannot be found.
,! The Federal flag made by the Yankees .o
,! fioat over our Capitol was captured by Muy
t j Bloomfield, of General Magruder's staff", iu the
> Federal camps, and was exhibited, with great
applause, to our troops. It is an immense
> piece of work, fully twenty feet long, having
| thirteen stripes and thirty-two stars thereon 1
We understand McClellan received it as a pres
ent from the ladies of the city of Boston, an:
i promised to plant it on the veritable “las:
i ditch” to which the rebels should be run, and
i afterwards would elevate it, with all military
‘ honors, on our Capitol at Richmond How are
’ the mighty fallen 1 Veyily, George 11. McCiel
| lan will bo decapitated, and such is the fate o<
' the Greatest living Liar 1
! ] The Richmond (Ya.) “Examiner, of Jure
! 3uth, ssys that the total number of prisoner^
. captured, up to that date, was 4,000 or 5,000.
Among these are live Generals, Major Generals
1 McCall, and Reynolds, Brigadier Generals Pant*
ders, Simpson, and Rankin
. The “Examine!" says that our loss on Friday
> is variously stated at from 3,000 to 9,00 —bn",
learns that 2,000 huve been received in the city
hospitals, and that not more than four or five
hundred have been left at the roadside or he'd
1 hospitals.
| At last accounts McClellan’s forces were ah
. across this side of the Chickahominy river, and
I .Stonewall Jackson was on the east side as that
■ stream tearing up the York River Railroad track.
1 * c ‘
LIST OF IHE SICK AM) WOUNDED SOL
-1 BIERS IN THE GEORGIA HOSPITALS A"
’ RICHMOND
, LIST ENTERED IS THE 3l) GEORGIA HOSPITAL,
, JUNE 16TIL
i I.t 0 R Kzwell, co G, 4th Ga.
■ Lt R W Bisell, co K, Ith Ga.
• J G Waters, co H, 15th Ga.
1 J N liramht, co F, 241 h Ga.
! 1 K S Phillips, co K, d ull Ga.
W J Tullis, co F. 24th Ga.
, j J C Burgaruy, co I, 10th Ga.
]! W F Shropshire, co I, 10th Ga /
. I Isaac Pate, co G, 4feth Ga.
• .IP’ Jordan, co 11, 49th Ga. ‘
j All sick.
JUNE 15tii.
, Col Levi B Smith, 27th Ga, gunshot vro .ic
'i in leg.
] ; JUNE 14th.
DP Cross, co F, 24th Ga.
!, L Phagins, co A, 24th Ga.
| R A Gwine, co B, 18th Ga.
J II Hix, co B, 18th Ga.
All sick.
, G W Grady, co G, 9th Ga, gunshot wound.
G W McGennis, co G, 9vh Ga, “ “
JUNE 13th.
; A J Pinston, co K, 19th Ga, private quartc -?
■ Lieut M L Cass, co K, Ist Ga. “ “
Capt 011 Cook, eo K, 59th Ga, “ “
Capl W H Wbitefiold. co K, 19th Ga, ‘
Serg t C C Fields, co G, 17th Ga. gunshot
, wound.
, O 7. Downs, co A, 48th Ga.
Win Thompson, co G, 19th Ga
1 J L Page, co D, 19th Ga.
X G Harvey, co B, ltlth Ga.
L -Smith, co H, 16th Ga.
W B Breast, coA, 18th Ga.
H S Baker, co A, 18th Ga.
II S Thompson, coA, 18th Ga
K F Agnew, co K, 23d Ga.
A A Williams, co K, 18th Ga.
J C Boswell, eo D, Ist S C.
All sick.
JUNE 12th.
T J Robinson, co C, 4th Ga
Lieut L A Nash, co D. 4th Ga.
| Lieut T J Atkinson, co D, 4th Ga.
J C Haynie, co B, 18th Ga.
•I A Camp, co B, 18th Ga.
Serg’t S P Doss, co B, 18th Ga.
J D Gladden, co A, 18th Ga.
All sick.
PtTIENTS ADMITTED TO IST GEO. HOSPI'AL, -“3
17th, 1862.
N W Buckelt, eo C. 9th Va.
Lieut J Jfrajgfc, co C, 61st Ga.
Jas BiaflMßrG, 23d Ga.
W L H«B|co K, 23d Ga.
Lawson Stamv, co B, 23d Ga. /
PATIENTS ADMITTED TO 2d GEO. IIOSPIT* >, f-l Z
17t1i, 1862. /
I’ L Robertson, co F, 10th Ga.
John Collins, co H, 10th Ga.
Jefferson O Lee, co A, 33d Ga.
Joseph Martin, co G, 48th Ga.
J T Fowler, co G, 48th Ga.
J J Herman, (Chaplain) 49th Ga.
M II Bland, co C, 49th Ga.
Lt L M Kiuman, co 11, 49th Ga.
Adam Clay. coO, 49th Ga.
DIET!.
C B Keel, co C, 23d Ga, typhoid feve-
PATIENTS ADMITTED TO 3D GEO. HOSPITAL. JUSi
17th, 1862. \
F II M itehell. co F, 24th Ga.
Capl John A Barclay, co I, 6th Ga
Lt F D Wimberly, co 1, 6th Ga.
J B Crawford, co D, 4Sth Ga.
J O Bird, co K, 4th Ga.
B F Toole, co K, 4th Ga.
Lt/ M DeGraffenreid, co F, Ist Ga Reg
4th geo. hospital—furloughed
Frank Kesler, St Paul’s Battalion Louisia': '
troops, wounded battle 31st May, 1862.
DIED.
J J House, co D, 11th Miss Reg. woundel
battle of 31sc May, 1862.
Capsting Paters to the Enemt.— reward of
is ofi'-reci bj the Major of Savannah for the
apprehension cf any person who can be convicted
of the enemy with newspaper.