Doc. 78.

THE SEVEN DAYS' CONTESTS.

CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT.

JAMES RIVER, VA.,
Tuesday Evening, July 2, 1862.

Side by side they lie and die, friendly with the misguided foe whom they so lately fought. God only knows how many of the weary ones, plunged headlong into the shade of those gloomy pines, for a brief respite from the pressure of war's iron heel, lie there now to sleep the sleep that knows no waking. But while I write these lines the foe presses hard. Our soldiers turn their breasts to the steel. Their backs are upon the river. O God! shall they not stand where they now fight sternly and so well?

There is a record of sorrow-it is softened, too, by great pride-to be made, how your brethren watched and pressed the enemy for months, and how their leader begged, and was not relieved, for power to conquer; how day after day they fought and bled-can you forget Fair Oaks and the weeks of watching and fighting in view of the spires of Richmond ?-how they fought and conquered on Wednesday last; how they fought and won on Thursday; how they resisted and beat back the great surging tide of the foe on Friday, but at last, after deeds of heroism, they were compelled to yield to overwhelming power; and how on Saturday and Sunday and Monday and Tuesday they marched and suffered and fought as if every soldier had the soul of a hero in his frame, when nature's energies, almost exhausted, counselled with their fears, they still stood staggering but unconquerable, and met the summons to fight as if it were a privilege to be enjoyed. These were scenes to move the strongest heart. But oh! how cruel, friends, that such brave souls should be pressed almost to the very brink of ruin! They stood up still, with want pressing them, with fatigue crushing them, and at every summons to the field, they followed the old flag with cheers like the songs of gods. There was a moral heroism displayed by those worn men that will make our history's pages shine with splen did lustre.

O FRIENDS! Could you realize the afflictions of the past five days, you could almost shed tears of blood. Said a noble and gallant soldier, whose visage was wan, whose voice was tremulous with inexpressible emotion, whose beard was matted with his own precious blood-the crimson drops were trickling from his wound even then: "O my friends! it is horrible, horrible! to see this proud army so wretchedly pressed upon every side, destruction threatening wherever we turn, scarce a hope of extrication save that which is born of despair. It is horrible." And the devoted soldier, who had faced the foe all day, and far into the night which had passed, turned into the forest to hide his manly grief. Had you seen his worn and haggard warriors plunge wearily on the soil around him, begrimed with smoke, and some of them stained with blood, and had you known that an hour later those brave men, already exhausted and stiffened with long fight ing and weary marching, would be summoned again to deadly combat, you, too, would have echoed my noble, friend. With all his weariness and all his deep distress of mind, his sword was flashing defiance again at the breast of the foe, before the sun rode highest in the empyrean. Oh! the gloomy countenances and anxious hearts of those dark days! Would to God such days had passed away forever! O my countrymen! you cannot comprehend the toils and trials of your devoted soldiers during those days of murderously unequal combat- conflict not simply with superior masses of disciplined soldiery, but contention against insidious thirst, craving appetite, enfeebling heat, overpowering fatigue But the record. With such feeble power as I and after fighting and marching, and privations can exert, after nights of sleeplessness and days by day and suffering by night, and fighting by of fasting and hardships no more comparable days succeeding nights of fighting and harassing though with our weary soldiers' troubles than vigils, against fresh forces hurled upon them in the labor of a pigmy with the works of Hercules overpowering masses, till exhausted nature almost-I shall attempt the task. It will be necessary, sunk beneath such fearful visitations, to be pressed to the imminent verge of despair was almost too much for human nature to endure. Oh! what a glorious spirit of devotion to country that inspires men to conquer such distress! I tell you, people, the soldiers of your army have won title to immortality. Whatever fate betide them, their children's children may proudly boast: "Our fathers were of the Army of the Potomac."

The soil of Virginia is now sacred. It is bathed with the reddest blood of this broad land. Every rood of it, from Upper Chickahominy to the base of Malvern Hill, is crimsoned with the blood of your brave brethren. The dark forests-fitting canopy for such woeful sacrifice-echo with the wails of wounded and dying men. There is a bloody corpse in every copse, and mangled soldiers in every thicket of that ensanguined field.

however, to carry you over the field and present the salient points in advance.

You remember that the army was pressing hard upon Richmond. Every communication to the press assured you that it was not strong enough to execute the task. For weeks the symptoms of insufficiency of power manifestly increased. But the army pressed so closely upon Richmond, it could not be withdrawn without great peril. Gen. McClellan was committed to

do all he could" with what he had, while he hoped for aid. If the enemy did not reënforce he might accomplish his aim. So the work was pressed, while the people clamored that it was slow. The right wing, consisting of McCall's, Morell's, and Sykes's divisions, less than twentyfive thousand strong, was well posted on the left bank of the Chickahominy, from Beaver Dam Creek to a point below New-Bridge. Several

not commence until Saturday, and did not swell into full proportions till nightfall of that day. The history of that movement will follow in due course.

military bridges formed the avenues of communication between the two portions of the army separated by the river. The centre, consisting of Smith's, Sedgwick's, and Richardson's divisions, stretched in line of battle from Goulden's, on the The reader being supposed to be familiar with banks of the river, to a point south of the York- the war-map, will now follow the course pursued town Railroad. The left wing, consisting of by the army. In order to preserve the morale Hooker's, Kearney's, and Couch's divisions, of the army as far as possible, and insure supplies stretched from Richardson's left to a point con- of ammunition and subsistence, it was detersiderably south of the Williamsburgh stage-road, mined to carry through all the wagons loaded, on the borders of White Oak swamp. The whole and the ambulance train-making a mighty caraline was protected by strong breastworks and re-van-vastly increased by artillery trains. There doubts. The necessary extent of the line left was but one narrow road to pursue. It struck but few troops for supports. Casey's, now Peck's, almost due south from the Williamsburgh road, sadly reduced division guarded Bottom Bridge, through White Oak swamp to the Charles City the railway-bridge, and were assigned to other road, into which it debouched about eight miles similar duty. Our line of battle on the right from Turkey Bend in James River. The course bank of the Chickahominy, as I have informed then lay up the latter road towards Richmond, you, pressed so close to the rebel lines that nei- where it struck a little south-west by the Quaker ther could advance a regiment outside of their road which terminated in New Market road, leadrespective breastworks without provoking battle. ing from Richmond. The river was but a short On Wednesday, June twenty-fifth, Gen. Mc- distance south, and Malvern Hill-a beautiful Clellan made the first distinctly offensive move- lofty bluff overlooking the river and commanding ment, by directing Gen. Hooker to take up an the surrounding country-being our goal. Aladvanced position on Fair Oaks Farm, near the though there was but a single road, with slight Williamsburgh road. It provoked a sharp re- exception, it had the advantage of coursing sistance, which we overcame, and accomplished through White Oak swamp, upon which we our object. It is necessary to note this fact par- might rely in some degree for protection of our ticularly, because it bears strongly upon the flanks. There was great danger that the enemy question whether Gen. McClellan had then dis- might cut us off by moving columns down the tinctly contemplated changing his base of opera- Charles City, Central, or New-Market roads, or tions to James River-a perilous thing to at- all three, but these chances were necessarily actempt before; more so now that we were still cepted. General McClellan acted upon the supnearer the enemy. It was pronounced an “im- position that the enemy would not guess his deportant achievement" by Gen. McClellan himself, termination until he was able to defeat their because it gave him advantages over the rebel movements. At all events, it was the only hopeposition which he had not enjoyed before. Some ful course, because the enemy was watching for time during the night, however, tidings were re him on the left bank of the Chickahominy. The ceived of a movement of Stonewall Jackson on our road was a narrow funnel for such a mighty torright wing. It was deemed hazardous to main-rent of trains and men, but fortunately it was tain the advantage of the previous day, and the line was ordered to resume its old position. Thursday afternoon the anticipated attack upon our right wing was made, and handsomely repulsed; but it was discovered that it had not been made by Jackson's command. Information was received that Jackson was sweeping down the Pamunkey, probably to capture military stores at White House, to cut off our communications with our water-base, and menace our rear. Orders were given at once to destroy all public property at White House and evacuate that point. Matters began to assume a critical appearance, and danger culminated in the disaster of Friday. It was then fully determined to "change the base of operations to James River." It seems to When I closed my last communication, me this was compulsory. The enemy had turned (twenty-sixth June,) a fierce battle was raging on our right, evidently outnumbered us in great dis- the left bank of the Chickahominy, on the east proportion, was too strong in front for us to break side of Beaver Dam Creek. Our extreme right through, and was in position to crush us in front wing,, consisting of McCall's Pennsylvania reand rear-and, perhaps, intended to strike on our serves, eight thousand five hundred strong, with left flank. Apparently his army was numerous five batteries, were strongly intrenched there in enough for that grand combination. The retro-admirable position for defence. Information, grade movement was really begun Friday even-leading General McClellan to expect an attempt ing, by the transfer of headquarters from Trent's upon his right, had been received during WedBluff to Savage station, but the grand exodus didnesday night, and we were as well prepared for

smooth and dry. In order to make the movement successfully, it was necessary to fight at the outset, because it was morally certain that our line of battle could not be withdrawn from the front without sucking the enemy after them, so that due preparations were made. The events will now be recorded in their order, with as much of the spirit of the perilous enterprise thrown into the sketch as I have time to engraft. The affair at Fair Oaks Farm was the real beginning of the dreary drama. You will find a description of it in another letter. The Mechanicsville battle was the second act, which you will now read:

BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE.

fell. Our own loss was eighty killed and less
than one hundred and fifty wounded.
The con-
duct of our troops was admirable, and the gal-
lantry of the officers conspicuous. Gen. McClel-
lan was not in the battle, but was at Gen. Por-
ter's headquarters until it terminated.

It was now ascertained from prisoners that Stonewall Jackson had not joined Lee. Hence it was inferred that he was sweeping down the banks of the Pamunkey to seize the public property, and cut off our retreat in that direction. Gen. Stoneman's command was moved swiftly down to watch operations there, and orders were issued for the removal or destruction of all public stores at White House. The situation, apparentdercurrent. Gen. McClellan directed Gen. McCall to fall back and take up a new position in front of our military bridges, to resist an attack which was anticipated next day, (Friday.) It was thought if the enemy was not successfully repulsed, he could be drawn across our bridges upon our own terms, where he could be roughly handled. The command was given to Gen. FitzJohn Porter, who controlled the troops already mentioned, supported by a powerful train of artillery, regular and volunteer.

resistance as our limited forces would admit. General Fitz-John Porter's corps, consisting of Morell's division of volunteers, and Sykes's regulars, some five thousand strong, increased by Duryea's Zouaves, was posted near New-Bridge, within supporting distance. Gen. Stoneman had also been sent to Old Church with a regiment of cavalry and two of infantry as a corps of observation and to check flanking movements; or, if possible, to decoy the enemy down the Pamunkey. At about noon a powerful corps of the enemy, consisting of Gen. A. P. Hill's, D. H. Hill's, Longstreet's, and Anderson's divisionsthen supposed to be Jackson's force-under command of Major-General Robert E. Lee, crossed the river at Mechanicsville bridge, Meadowly placid on the surface, developed a troubled unbridge, and at Atlee's, and between one and two o'clock attacked our flank. Two regiments of Meade's brigade (McCall's division) were in reserve, and one on picket-duty. They did not at any time fully engage the enemy. General Reynolds's brigade held the right, and Seymour's the left. The fight was opened with artillery, at long range, but the enemy, finally discovering our superiority in this arm, foreshortened the range, and came into close conflict. He was evidently provoked at his own inefficiency, since his shell were not destructive in our intrenchments, while Meantime all the trains and equipage of the our gunners played upon his exposed ranks right wing were withdrawn to Trent's Bluff, on with fearful effect. The fight seemed to increase the right bank of the river, during the night, and in fury as it progressed, and it finally became our wounded were conveyed to the hospital at the most terrific artillery combat of the war. Savage station - to be deserted, alas! to the enI had been accustomed for months to the inces-emy they had beaten. All these facts indicated sant roar of heavy guns, but until that period danger. But other evidences of it were not wantI had failed to comprehend the terrible sublimity ing. of a great battle with field-pieces. The uproar was incessant and deafening for hours. At times it seemed as if fifty guns exploded simultaneously, and then ran off at intervals into splendid file-firing, if I may apply infantry descriptive terms to cannonading. But no language can describe its awful grandeur. The enemy at last essayed a combined movement. Powerful bodies of troops plunged into the valley to charge our lines, but our men, securely posted, swept them away ruthlessly. Again and again the desperate fellows were pushed at the breastworks, only to be more cruelly slaughtered than before. Meantime our force had been strengthened by Griffin's brigade, which increased the volume of infantry fire, and Martindale's brigade came up to be ready for emergencies. At dark it was evident the rebels had enough, much more than they bargained for.

By daylight, Friday morning, Gen. McCall had fallen back in the rear of Gaines's Mill, and in front of Woodbury's Bridge, where he was posted, his left joining the right of Butterfield's brigade, resting in the woods and near the swamps of the Chickahominy. Morell was on his right, in the centre, and Gen. Sykes, commanding five thousand regulars and Duryea's Zouaves, held the extreme right-the line occupying crests of hills near the New-Kent road, some distance east by south of Gaines's Mills. A portion of the position was good, but judicious generalship might have found a better, and especially it might have been amended by posting the left flank upon a swamp which was impassable beyond peradventure. Besides, the line was so disposed that it was next to impossible to use our artillery advantageously-the very arm in which we enjoyed undoubted superiority. Nothing definite had yet Their infantry fire had entirely subsided, and been heard of the enemy, but it was assumed it was obvious that they were withdrawing under that he would appear stronger than yesterday. cover of their artillery. Our own batteries which Accordingly, Gen. Slocum's division (about eight had opened in full cry at the start, had not slack-thousand strong) was moved across the river to ened an instant. Comprehending the situation fully now, the cannoniers plied themselves with tremendous energy to punish the retreating foe. We have no sure means to determine how many were slaughtered, but prisoners who were in the fight, and an intelligent contraband who escaped from Richmond the next day, and who was all over the field, are confident that three thousand

support Porter, although it was deemed hazardous, in consequence of a pending attack along our whole front. But there was no alternative; Gen. McClellan had only so much material, and it was imperative that he should use it according to unavoidable necessity. Thus far I carry the reader in this history. The story of the battle is narrated by a friend, to whom I had entrusted

the right wing, to secure the benefits of a divi- found the field literally covered with the rebel sion of labor. He writes of the