At this time Companies B (Capt. A. H. Martin) and D (Capt. R. E. Burke), of the Second Louisiana Regiment, under the direction of Major Norwood, of that regiment, threw themselves from their position at the redoubt and curtain on the crest of the hill and attacked the enemy along the left of the rifle pits, while the Seventh Georgia vigorously attacked them along the rest of the line, and the Eighth Georgia came up on the right of the Seventh Georgia. Companies I (Captain Flournoy) and K (Captain Kelso), Second Louisiana Regiment, stationed at the lower redoubt, near Dam No. 1, opened fire upon the enemy from their position at the redoubt. The rapid and vigorous attack of our troops at once checked the enemy, and in a few minutes they precipitately retreated, recrossed the creek, and sought shelter, from the havoc which pursued them, under cover of their field pieces. Shortly afterward the movements of the enemy showed that with a large force they intended to renew their effort to break our lines, and with a largelyincreased force they again attempted to cross, but were speedily re pulsed, retreating in disorder. I have no means of ascertaining the number of killed and wounded on the part of the enemy; but from the bodies left on this side and the removal from the field on the other side of bodies I am satisfied that it must have amounted to at least 200. I cannot refrain from mentioning that, as falling under my immediate observation, while the conduct of all our troops was most satisfactory, the Seventh Georgia Regiment, the section of the Troup Artillery (Captain Stanley), and the companies of the Second Louisiana Regiment which I have enumerated, manifested the most praiseworthy alacrity and intrepidity. After this second decisive repulse the enemy retired their infantry from the field, and, night coming on, the combat ceased, leaving us in full possession of our position, from which we had not moved, except to drive back and pursue the enemy, and in the enjoyment of the pleasing knowledge that we had repulsed a foe largely exceeding us in numbers. I have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. M. LEVY, Colonel, Comdg. Second Louisiana Regiment and Dam No. 1. Capt. JAMES BAUM, Assistant Adjutant-General of Brigade. No. 65. Report of Lieut. Col. Ross R. Ihrie, Fifteenth North Carolina Infantry, of engagement at Dam No. 1 (Lee's Mill). HDQRS. FIFTEENTH REGIMENT NORTH CAROLINA VOLS., Near Lee's Farm, Va., April 19, 1862. I hereby transmit a report of the action of the Fifteenth North Carolina Volunteers in the engagement of the 16th instant near Dam No. 1, on Warwick Creek: On the morning of the 16th cannonading along the line toward Wynn's Mill, and also some of the enemy's guns being brought to bear upon our batteries at Dam No. 1, and as the day progressed other indications of an attack by the enemy upon our line induced Colonel [Robert M.] McKinney to call the regiment into line on the Military road running in front of where the regiment was lying. About 10 a. m., calling in a working party of 100 men, and keeping the regiment in this state of readiness for two hours or more, he ordered the arms stacked, and had the whole regiment detailed for work upon a heavy intrenchment which he had been ordered to have erected in front of the encampment, and about 200 yards in the rear of the rifle pits skirting the water thrown back by Dam No. 2, making arrangements for carrying on the work the whole of the ensuing night. Our pickets were in front of the rifle pits, close along the water's edge. From the best information I have at the point the enemy charged the depth of the water was about 4 feet and its width from 150 to 200 yards, and covered with heavy timber and thick undergrowth. About 3 p. m., the regiment being engaged upon the works alluded to, the pickets gave the alarm that the enemy were charging rapidly across the water and making to our rifle pits. The regiment was immediately thrown in line of battle, and, being ordered by Colonel McKinney, advanced at a double-quick and with a yell upon the enemy, who had taken partial shelter behind the earth thrown from our pits before the regiment could reach them, and opened a terrible fire upon us as we advanced. Their fire was returned with promptness and with deadly effect upon the enemy. Volley after volley in rapid succession immediately followed from both sides, amid which Colonel McKinney gal. lantly fell in the early part of the engagement, shot through the forehead. He fell near the center of the line, and his death was not known to either officers or men for some time after it occurred, and a deadly fire was kept up by both sides until about 5 p. m. Not knowing the strength of the enemy at the commencement of the engagement, Colonel McKinney dispatched an orderly to BrigadierGeneral Cobb for re-enforcements, and after having been engaged about two hours in close conflict, the enemy having given away on our right, the Seventh Georgia Regiment, under Colonel Wilson, came to our assistance, and at this moment the enemy gave way in precipitate retreat, and did not again rally at any point on our line. The regiment had about 500 men engaged. I have no means of definitely ascertaining the force of the enemy, but it must have been superior to ours. Prisoners report that they belonged to the Third Vermont Regiment, commanded by Colonel Hyde. We captured 8 of them. The number of killed of the enemy in front of where the regiment was engaged has been ascertained to be 30; how many fell in the water is not known. I regret that I cannot under present circumstances make a more detailed report of the engagement and its incidents. Too much cannot be said in commendation of the gallant bearing of both officers and men under a terrific fire of musketry for the space of two hours, and the fate of the gallant dead calls the living to other deeds of daring for their country's cause. It is with peculiarly deep feelings of regret that I report the death of Col. Robert M. McKinney, a conscientious, brave, just, and skillful officer, and a Christian gentleman.* Your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. HOWELL COBB, R. R. IHRIE, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Commanding Second Brigade, Second Division. * Nominal list of casualties shows 12 killed and 31 wounded. APRIL 11, 1862.-Confederate Naval Operations in Hampton Roads, Va. Report of Capt. James F. Milligan, C. S. Army. NORFOLK, VA., April 11, 1862. Our fleet captured the following prizes to-day between Newport News and Old Point, viz: Brig Marcus, of Stockton, no cargo; brig Salboa, of Providence, deck loaded with hay, balance of cargo not known; the schooner Catherine T. Dix, of Accomac, no cargo; 11 prisoners taken on board said vessels. The Monitor, if at Old Point at all, did not make her appearance. At 5 p. m. the fleet returned to the anchorage above Craney Island. The enemy's fleet, over 100 sail, are all below the Rip Raps. General S. COOPER, JAMES F. MILLIGAN, Assistant Adjutant-General. MAY 4, 1862.-Skirmishes near Williamsburg, Va. REPORTS. No. 1.-Brig. Gen. George Stoneman, U. S. Army, Chief of Cavalry. No. 2.-Maj. William R. Palmer, U. S. Topographical Engineers. No. 3.-Brig. Gen. Philip St. George Cooke, U. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Division No. 4.-Lieut. Col. William N. Grier, First U. S. Cavalry. No. 5.-Col. Henry J. Hunt, U. S. Army, commanding Artillery Reserve. No. 6. Capt. Horatio G. Gibson, Third U. S. Artillery. No. 7.-Brig. Gen. William H. Emory, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, Cavalry Reserve. No. 8.-Col. William W. Averell, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations around Williamsburg May 4-6. No. 9.-Maj. Lawrence Williams, Sixth U. S. Cavalry. No. 10.-Capt. William P. Sanders, Sixth U. S. Cavalry. No. 11.-Capt. J. Irvin Gregg, Sixth U. S. Cavalry. No. 12.-Capt. William P. Chambliss, Fifth U. S. Cavalry. No. 13.-Brig. Gen. Lafayette McLaws, C. S. Army, commanding division. No. 14.-Brig. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade. No. 1. Reports of Brig. Gen. George Stoneman, U. S. Army, Chief of Cavalry. HDQRS. ADVANCE GUARD ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 18, 1862. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit, in accordance with instrue tions, a report of what was done on the 4th and 5th of May, 1862, by the forces under my command, consisting of Hays' brigade, four bat teries of flying artillery, the First and Sixth Regulars, Third Pennsyl vania and Eighth Illinois Regiments, and Barker's squadron of cavalry, the whole composing the advance guard of the Army of the Potomac. My instructions were to pursue and harass the rear of the retreating enemy, and if possible to cut off his rear guard, or that portion of it which had taken the Lee's Mill and Yorktown road. In harassing the enemy I was to be supported by Hooker's division, which was to follow us by a forced march along the Yorktown and Williamsburg road, and in cutting off the rear guard I was to co-operate with the division of General Smith, which was to march on the other, or Lee's Mill, road. Six miles from Yorktown we came upon the enemy's pickets. Two miles farther we came up with the rear of his rear guard, consisting of a regiment of cavalry, with a deep ravine and bad crossing between us and him. From this position he was driven by Gibson's battery. Here I sent General Emory, with Benson's battery and the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry and Barker's squadron, across to the Lee's Mill road to cut off any force on that road and between Emory's and Smith's column, advancing as was supposed along that road, and with the remainder I pushed on as fast as safety would permit to occupy the junction of the road from Yorktown with that of Lec's Mill, 2 miles from Williamsburg. Here I will state that previous to sending Emory across I had communicated with the advance guard of Smith's column, and had heard, through one of my aides, that Hooker was close behind us with supporting divisions. General Cooke, commanding the advance, consisting of a section of Gibson's battery and a portion of the First Cavalry, upon debouching from the woods found himself at the junction of the two roads and in front of a strong earthwork flanked by redoubts, and in the presence of a strong rear guard of the enemy, consisting of a regi ment of cavalry, a battery of artillery, and three regiments of infantry. General Cooke immediately made dispositions to attack the enemy with the small force at his disposal, and I hurried up the remainder of the First Cavalry and Gibson's battery. Owing to the limited space of cleared ground in which we could possibly operate with cavalry or artillery, I was unable to bring into action more than one battery and about 300 cavalry. The remainder of the force I directed formed in a clearing half a mile to our rear to cover our retreat, which I saw must necessarily soon be made unless the infantry support, 2 miles behind at last accounts, should come to our assistance. After great exertion, rendered necessary by deep mud and thick abatis, Captain Gibson got his battery to play upon the enemy, and Colonel Grier put his regiment in position to support it. In the meantime the enemy, strongly re-enforced from his main body, had thrown himself behind the abandoned earthwork, and several regiments of infantry were seen marching in a direction indicating their intention to turn our right and cut us off. I directed Major Williams, with a portion of the Sixth Cavalry, to make a demonstration through the woods on our right, with the view of holding the enemy in check until the arrival of our infantry support, which I had sent Governor Sprague back to hurry up. The firing from Fort Magruder in front of the First Cavalry and Gibson's battery was producing great effect upon both men and horses; the Sixth Cavalry had come upon a strong force of infantry and cavalry, and was secured from disaster by a gallant charge made by the rear squadron, commanded by Captain Sanders, during the withdrawal of the regiment. The First Cavalry had made two brilliant charges, and horses and men were falling at their guns. The enemy was receiving re-enforcements every minute. After holding our posit on for near three-quarters of an hour Governor Sprague came up and reported that Hooker's division was in the road behind Smith's division and could not get past, but had been stopped by order of General Smith. Under all these circumstances I deemed it worse than useless to try to hold our position at the junction of the roads in front of a strong earthwork and overwhelming force, and therefore gave directions to withdraw and take up a defensive position, which we had determined to try and hold at all hazards. General Hooker and staff soon after arrived, but his division was 2 miles behind, and the road before him crowded with troops. I now return to General Emory. He, in accordance with my instruc tions, had crossed over from the Yorktown to the Lee's Mill road, and had cut off a battery supported by a regiment of Stuart's cavalry, encountered and drove them off toward the James River, where they were fired upon by their own gunboats, mistaking them for our troops. Smith's division not arriving, as was expected, having crossed over onto the Yorktown road, General Emory sent to ask for an infantry support, which I requested General Hooker to send him, and which he endeavored to do, but was unable to accomplish until early the next morning. It will be seen that Hooker's and Smith's divisions changed places and how it came that the fighting was not ended the first day, for had Hooker not been delayed we could have taken possession of the empty earthworks before the enemy could have reoccupied them, and Stuart's cavalry have been cut off and captured by Emory and Smith. After having made the best disposition of which the nature of the ground and the character of the force under my command would allow we awaited the arrival of re-enforcements, expecting every minute an attack from the enemy in front and on our right (and which, had he known our weakness, he would most certainly have made), until the arrival of the three army corps commanders, to the senior of whom I reported the condition of affairs and awaited further action. The conduct of all during the affair was such as almost to forbid individualizing, but I feel it a duty to mention in particular the_conduct of Captain Gibson and the officers and men of his battery, Lieutenant-Colonel Grier, Captain Davis and his company, Captain Sanders and his squadron, Generals Cooke and Emory, and Major Williams. Colonel Burges was severely wounded while receiving a message which he was upon the point of carrying to the rear. During the 5th my command was split up into fragments by the commanders, and I remained an idle spectator until the arrival of the general commanding. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE STONEMAN, Brigadier-General, Chief of Cavalry. Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ADVANCE GUARD ARMY POTOMAC, SIR: In my report of the engagement with the enemy had by my command on the 4th of May I neglected to mention the important services which were performed by Col. W. R. Palmer, of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. I regret the omission the more, inasmuch |