firm.
MONDAY, JULY 7, 1862.
PROCLAMATION OF GOV. CURTIN.
the CAli FOE TBOOPS;
HißiuyuußO, July 4.—Tne following proclamation
wm issued by the Governor to-day:
Pennsylvania, ss; -
In the name and by the authority of the Common*
wealth of Pennsylvania* Andrew J, Curtin, Governor of
the said Commonwealth,
A PBOOIiiMATIOK. „
More men are required for th« suppression of there,
hellion. Our regiments in tho field are to be recruited to
tbeir original strength, and iu addition new regiments are
to be formed.
. Pennsylvania has hitherto done her duty to the coun
try. Her freemen are again called on to volunteer in her
defence, that the blood of her sous, who have already
fallen, may not have been shed in vain, and that we may
hand down to our posterity the blessings of Union, and
civil and political llberty, which'we derived from our
fatheta.
The number of men now required, and the regulations
for enlistments, will be made known forthwith in geueral
orders. Meanwhile, the taien of Pennsylvania will bold
tbt-mselvfs iu readluesufor a pioaiptcomoiance with the
necessary demand upon their gallant and patriotic spirit.
Our noble Commonwealth has never yet faltered, and
must stand- 11 nt now, when hor honor and everything
that is dear to her are at stake.
Gi«eu tinder my hand Hud the great 'aoal of the Stito,
at Bnrtbhurg, this fourth day of Jul;. in the year of our
loid one thonuJi d eight hundred and sixty-two, and of
the Commonwealth the eighty ierentb,
Ily the Governor.
Eli Sufbhj
Secretary of the Common wealth.
The pause of the last few days enables ns
to more etearly.naderstand the condition of
affairs bt fore Richmond. TYe are gratified to
Snow that the details which have been spread
before our readers verify the conclusions at
which we at first arrived. We have fought a
great battle, we have gained a great victory,
and we think that this week’s conflict, on the
banks of the Cbiekahominy, will do more
towards' putting down the rebellion than
any achievementthe war. The theory
Which'seems to be perfectly well established
is this: The rebel leaders taking advan-
tage of the weak condition of General Mc-
Clillan’s army, recall Jackson from the
Shenandoah, and combining his army to that
of Johnston, made a sudden and gene
ral attack upon General McCnsolan. The re
inforced foe was powerful and desperate, and
there can be no doubt that he calculated upon
an essy-victory.
Since war first blighted the earth, no gena
ral was ever in a more critical and embarrass-
ing position than Gem-ral McClbllan. It
was a crisis which requited the rarest quali
ties of the soldier. He was in a position
which ho con’d not control.! Ilia army was
weak from ihe hamissing warfare through
which it pissed,—it was distant
its sources of supply; it was
in ari etemy’s country, and on the borders
of a swamp whose continual miasma burdened
the air withdeaih and disease. An impetuous
and desperate commander would have rushed
upon the enemy and met destruction. A timid
and cautious general- would, have hesitated
and trembled until he was overwhelmed. It
was not only the foe before him that menaced
Gtneial McClellan. Behind him-was au
anxious, an eager, and a j along public -sen-
tiaent.’ If he;had'been .merely ambitious of
military distinction, ho might have made
the peninsula an Aceldama, a Golgotha
of dead men’s skulls, and, in doing so, would
have gone into history with a glorious and
venerated name. The occasion demanded
the exercise of that moral courage which is so
seldom seen in stations so exalted. To retreat
at any time is a humiliating task; to retreat at
the head of' an army which • only yesterday
command! d the admiration of .the world, was
to invito criticism and censure of those who
had before commended it.
General McClellan, in the presence of
immediate danger and inevitable disas
ter, turned bis army around, -and exe
cuted one of the most extraordinary and
most brilliant movements -which history
records. IVe do not know, indeed, wh-thor
to commend more strongly the genius of the
general or the bravery of the divisions who
met the attack at Mechanicsville. Their
courage was superhuman, and it is a thrilling
thought that chief among them were our gal
lant Pennsylvania soldiers. Hour after hour,
through the long day and the weary night,
they met the onset of the rebel army. They
saved our army from being overwhelmed and
beaten in detail on its march to James river.
Many of them were slain ; that- splendid di
vision of General McCall, -which':we have so
oiteo looked upen with pride and exultation,
was terribly shattered. -But it did its work
nobly, and, in'sustiiaing the charge-of the
rebel legions, it saved the army of the To
tsniac. ■
This is not saying too much. Wo are not ]
disposed to he ungenerous or ungrateful—to 1
deal in exaggeration or'byperbole. Wo sira- •
ply repeat the history which the whole world
is reading. A lesson of that day id one not to
he forgotten. We must study it here at home.
In our pleasant walks of peace, with no token'
of war visible h-.yond the occasional recruit
ing station, or the wounded soldier who
claims our sympathy, wo must bring home
to ourselves the example of our brothers
on the banks of the Chiekahominy. We must
not recriminate nor condemn. We must be
patient, forbearing, and se:f-sacrificing. Tho
danger is too itaminont and' tho dufy is too
great for tis to pause, and hesitate, and ques
tion. It would be unprofitable for us to ask
now, why it was that Gen. McClellan was left
with an insufficient army before Richmond.
It would be disgraceful for us to become a
party to the anger and animosity which- this
question has engendered. The presout is too
exacting for us to quarrel over the past. All
weknawis this, Gen. McClellan requires more
men. For every man that is fallen two jnen
must be sent to take his place. In attempt- -
ing to destroy McClellan the rebel Confede
racy has exhausted tho last sources of its
strength. It is weak, emaciated, and gasping,
and lingers on to its speedy dissolution.
In all these things wo see signs of comfort
and courage. When these bloody times are
over, and we have perused tue history that- is
every day being written, no chapter will be
read with more pride than that whieh records
the deeds of these midsummer days. It will
tell how a great general had the genius to
»p]an an exttaordinary military movement, and
the moral courage to execute it at the risk of
his fame. It will tell how a small army
of American soldiers stood like a bar
rier before an overwhelming force, and
deHed it by a courage equal .to that ot
Sparta in her palmiest days. And may we
not hope that the chapter will also tell how a
great people cxbibitid magnauimiiy and pa
tience, and, by a self-sacrificing and uncom
plaining loyalty, so.strengthened the hands of
the President that the retreat of his great
general was hut the recoiling blow which an
nihilated the rebellion. .
Major Nathan Brakes Ross ell, who was killed
white commanding, and at the head of his regiment,
in the battle before Richmond, on Friday, 27th June,
was bora In ISIB. He was the grandson of Hon. Wil
liam Rossell, a Judge of the Supreme Court of New
Jersey for twenty-two years, and the son of Gene
ra,l Zachariah Rossell, who was m»jor of thh 25th
'lnfantry in the War of 1812, and afterwards Clerk
of the Supreme Court ofNew Jersey, and Adjutant
General of the Slate. His mother was Miss Lydia
Beftkos, a grand daughter of Hon. William Trent,
Chief Justice of'Pennsylvania and afterwards of
Now Jersey, and the foundor of Trenton.
He was appointed a 2d lieutenant in the sth
Infantry in 1838, promoted to a Ist lieutenancy in
1810, distinguished.at. Monterey aid Churubmco,
promoted ton captaincy in 1847, breveted major
in 1848, for gallant and meritorious conduct at El
Molino del Rey in 1847, and appointed, major o
the 3d Infantry 25th September, 1861.
He carried the first United States flag into the
oity of Mexico, was a brave and accomplished
officer and gentleman, and was much beloved in
his rpo'inent. -He was brother in-law to General
Matey, and so related by marriage to Gonoral
McClellan. He loaves a widow and fo"r children.
His brother, Captain William Henry Rossell, of the
16th Infantry, is now in New Mexico.
The, Wab.—M. Ojrteaire Fournier, a distin
guished member of the Paris press, and for a long j
time the drsinatic editor of tho Journal ties De
bats, wiU deliver three lectures on the present con
dition of this country, at the Sansom-street Hall, m
this city M. Fournier’s first lecture will be de
livered tomorrow evening. As we understand it,
he will more particularly discuss the origin of the
•war the cause of the rebellion in the South, its
•progress, the real principles involved in it, and its
probable termination. He will show the error of the
South in building Its institutions upon tho above
System—or, in other words, making the. enslave
ment of the blaok ‘race of mote importance tbau
the happiness and r prosperity of the white race.
The opinions of this eminent foreigner will he heard
with interest at this time, and we may reoeive them
as those of an enlightened and liberal citizen of
France.
OUR ARM CORRESPONDENCE.
McCLELIAN'S STRATEGY.
Military Success otMs Movements.
GAUANTRY OF OUR TROOPS.
INCOMPETENCY OF THE SURGEONS.
A WJB3SIE OF BATTLBS.
McCLELLAN BUT 20 MILES FROM KICHMOND.
His Army in Good Condition.
THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES,
A BAYONET CHARGE AND A MIDNIGHT MARCH.
fßjecial Correspondence of The Press ]
Camp Lincoln, June 27,1862.
There is no end to the good news pressing upon
ns. From all quarters of the army, right, left, and
centre, the glad tidings of glorious victories, suc
cessful advances, and brilliant skirmishes orowd
into the camps, filling the troops with joy and
doubling their already high spirits., It seems that,
after a long series of delays, Providence has at last
enabled us to overcome some of the obstacles put in
our way to the suppression of the rebellion and to
accomplish a great part of the capture of Rich
mond. ■
GENBKALSKBABNBY AND HpOKBE’S ADVANCE.
On Wednesday afternoon Generals Kearney and
Hooker made a moat brilliant and successful ad
vance upon t.be enemy’s lines. In the general ar
rangement of tho army these two generals have
their troops to the left and left contra. Previously
to Wednesday their picket front bore-back when
considered in- relation to the rest of the line, and
in order to correct this inequality Gen: Kearney s
was ordered to advance three quarters of a mile
and Gen. Hooker a half mile. A series of en
trenchments protected their previous position, and
artillery were placed in them to command the ad
vanced post and protect its occupation against any
force the enemy bring in opposition.' All prepara
tions being made, the advance was commenced un
der cover of a fire of artillery: to clear the sur
rounding country of prowling rebels. The men
marched steadily on, a constant shelling and occa
sional use of musketry compelling the rebols as
steadily to retreat. By six o’clock tho advanced
post was oooupied, and another hour secured it in
such a manner that all the rebel army could not
dislodge the brave troops of these two admirable
divisions. The enemy boing on a full retreat, a
■ strong reconnoitring party, was sent further for
ward and marched for fully a mile, penetrating the
enemy’s entrenchments, and meeting but little se
rious opposition, It completely sooured the conn-,
.try and eame back after nightfall, bringing several
'prisoners and much.valuable information. A .few
of our troops were, killed and wounded in the
movement. I did not learn their numbers. •
This advance brings our pickets on : the line of
the York River Railroad, and to the loft of it
: within three and a half to four miles of the rebel
’bapital. Another advance of but half the distance
-would givo tho left wing of the army a chance to
shell the Rocketts and lower part of the town, and
to command the James river, cutting off water
communication with Fort Darling. Tha present
advance enables us to commence the second pa
rallel of the siege works, a half mile in front of the
first, and by this time the greater-part of it, to the
left cf the railroad, baa Keen thrown up. The gal
lantry of the generals and the bravery of their men
"deserves the highest praise.
' THE SIXTY-THmn NEW YOBK BBGIIIENT ATTACKED.
:: After night, the enemy made an attack upon our
pickets, and the 63d New York, a regiment of gal
lant Irishmen, were ordered to the front, to protect
tho retreating pioketers. The regiment advanced,
and,, selecting a favorable spot, lay down upon the
ground. Our pickets rallied behind it, and the
enemy, continuing to advanee, came within twenty
yards of the New Yorkers, when that regiment
rose np and fired a deadly volley into them; just as
they fired a scattering one at the pickoters.- The
leaden hail was so .strongly, kept' up that in' a
few minutes the rebels broke and fled, leaving the
63d winner of tha field. One man Was killed and
.eighteen wounded out of the regiment.
SUCCESSFUL ADVANCE ON THE BIGHT WING.
On Thursday it was decided to build a redouln
ion a bill, in a large wheat field, in front of the right
wirg.. The field aid pea up Rome two hundred yards
from a wood on our side, then descends in a hallow,
then ascends again to the two rebel earthwfwt®-i:~
menticuml in my last letter asbolus'successfully
shelled by the aid of the signal officers. Oar farthest
advanced pickets were right on the crest of the hill,
and the rebel advanced posts were in the bottom.
Twe or three houses and a wood on our right and a
wood on our left were also picketed in force by the
enemy, and cannon on the earthworks commanded
the wholo place. The work was to be done with
-great secrecy, and two detachments of three hun
dred each, one from the 96th Pennsylvania, the
'other from the 7th Maine, were selected as the par
ties to do it. A thrBe*sided redoubt of four hun
dred yards length was staked out on the crest
of the hill, some ten yards behind ‘our picket,
ndvßnoe, and its right rested on tho ruins of an old
brick -house, and the left ran back towards the
woods on the federal aide of the hill. The 7fch
Maine broke ground at ten o’clock on Thursday,
evening, working with the greatest assiduity until
midnight- of the 96th then set to
work, and labored until the redoubt was completed,
af half past three, afterwards garrisoning it until a
few moments past four. Lieut. Col. Frick, of tho
latter regiment, was the field officer under whose
direction the work was performed. Two thousand
troops behind the hill, and numerous cannon in the
woods, were ready at a moment’s notice to resist
the enemy, should they attempt any interference
with the working parties. Thus, for five hours and
a half, in tho very face of the enemy, and within
a hundred yards of bis pickets, these six hundred
men handled their picks and’shovels, and spades,
as they were wont to do in potato digging at home.
They labored silently and swiftly, soon throwing up
on embankment sufficient for their protection, and
afterwards strengthening it, until the streaks of
dawn bade them to be on tho alert. Then every
man seized his musket and took his position in the
trench, ready to resist the anticipated charge from
tho enemy, which they seemed only waiting to bo*
gin when daylight should enable them to discern
the exact condition of affairs.
Every soldier was in the trench, musket in
hand, and sat there as approaching morning dis
pelled tho gloom whieh hung over all nature. OF
all were anxious to witness the effect our
| bold manoeuvre would have, and "many an eye
i piercotl to where sad experience had often taught
l that the rebels might he found. Numerous sur
| mises were made as to their having discovered oar
| operations. Some believed they had evacuated
| the place, and advancing day, bringing no attack,
| seemed to confirm it- ‘ Some looked askance at a
I low range of bushes, and thought. they detected
j myriads of rebels lurking in their shelter. Every
• one had his opinion of the denouement of which
I the early future was’ supposed to be portentous, a
! furious attack by horse, foofci and dragoon. Ad
j vancing day, however, soon settled the great ques
tion, and sunrise sawthe. rebels gazing with con
sternation. upon the long low embankment which
i his earliest rays discovered. They had not dreamed
| before of gueh Yanb.ee enterprise. During all the
j night they were ignorant of wbat was in progress.
I Our troops labored so silently that they could not
be heard at thirty yards distance, and the long
wheat straw growing around effectually shielded
them from the enemy’s sight.- Squads of rebels
came to their front to gaze in astonishment at this
•second Bunker Hill bristling with Yankee bayonets.
One man mounted himself on a post to see to more
satisfaction, hut a slow and sorrowful dismounting
I told the effect it had on. him. Hundreds of them
came to look at it, but not an offer was made to
molest us. At five o’clock sie Ninety-sixth were
relieved, the regiments in reserve during the night
furnishing the garrison of the redoubt. Generals
Brooks and Taylor were on the ground at day-light,
inspecting the work.
This brilliant achievement advances our entrench
ments on the right wing nearly half ami Lo. In three
days we will compel tho rebels to abandon their two
earthworks in front of the redoubt. A cannonade,
too hot for any troops to withstand, will be poured
into them. In tho meanwhile wo sooure possession
oflbreeor four hundred yards in advance of the
entrenchment, compelling the cnomy’s pickets to
fall back, and drive them from two flanking pieces
of wood in which their movements have been ex
ceedingly annoying.: This is a fair advance up the
Richmond'bank of the Chiekahominy, wedging tho
enemy away from the river, depriving fchcmof ttioir
r»Dge of high hills bordering it, and compressing
their entire force closer upon the city. The steady
perseverance of the two detachments who did so
much wo?k in so short a time, is as oemmondable as
the bravery which they showed in. passing five
hours and a half in a spot where discovery would
have been annihilation.
- BATTLE AT MECHANICSYILLB.
yesterday afternoon, as was anticipated and
hoped, tbe rebels, twenty thousand.strong, crossed
the river on the bridges in the vicinity of Me
chanicsville. General McCall lay a mile hack of
the town and to the loft of it, and General Porter
in the vicinity of Dr. Gaines’ house, throe miles to
tho left. General Martindale, with his brigade of
General Porter’s corps, was with McCall; and
Generals Cooke and, Emory, with large forces of
cavalry, were a short distance on the right. Thus
there were plenty of troops, both in advance and
reserve, to cope with the enemy. There is no end
to tho number of cannon which Generals McCall
and Porter have with them, their corps being con
sidered as among tho most efficient in artillery ot
any in the army.-. General McCall had. dug rifle
pits at tho oelebratod cross-roads near Col. Rich
f ardson’s house, and a mile and a half back of Mo-.
I chaniesville, and six companies of the Buoktails,
I tho sth‘Rosorvo Regiment, opmmanded by Colonel
[ Simmons, garrisoned them. The 9th Reserve, Col.
Jackson, were just behind them in an oat field, and
Btrong batteries supported both.
The nature of the ground over which yesterday’s
battle was fought is very easily understood: a
toad running from Meohaniosville to White House,
about a mile from the river, aoross Beaver Dam
Creek, behind which General MoCaU was, posted.
Thisoreek runs in a crooked course some distance,
and enters the CbiekaWominy a haif mUe below the
town, at a point just to the right of an, important
picket post, known as Sydnor’s houso, and has boon
for weeks the chosen line of battle on which our
men should stand if attacked, and to which rein
forcements were to be sent. General McClellan,
however, ordered differently for yesterday. Our
men were to retreat and draw the rebels-over.: A
hsif mile back of the bridge crossing this stream,
this road intersects the 'road from Hanover Court
House, a renowned fork, whoso sign-board marking
“seven miles to Richmond,” has. for months en
grossed' attention. Thiok woods, interspersed with
fields, are .on the Meehaniosville side of the Hano-
ver road, the other being bounded by vast grain
fields.
I was away aoross the Chiokahomtny when the
first cannon shot was heard from the Meohanios
ville battle, and what I write you about it I only
glean from flying reports. I first heard the battle
about four o'clock in the afternoon, and there was
a furious artillery fight until eleven at night,
during which, from the. change of .the direction of
sound and its increasing distance, we- appeared to
have driven.the enemy along way. Rumor 3 from
across the river are briefly this: General McCall,
upon his approach, gradually retreated from Bea
ver Dam creek to the cross-roads, making the ap
pearance of being driven back. At that point, he
suddenly rallied his men, checked the eneihy, and
bad a short, though furious, musketry fight,. The
Bucktails jumped out of their rifle-pits on the ap
proach of the rebels and gave them the warmest
possible reception. One company, in its eagerness,
ventured too far, and is said to have been captured.
Our troops rallied upon-them, fully checking their
advance, when the artillery battle commenced.
After this, musketry was but little used, and tho
enemy were mowed with most fearful
slaughter. Darkness 'at last ended the conflict,
and, by midnight, all was silent. At two o'clock
this morning General Martindale’s brigade re-
treated down the Hanover road to General Porter,
at Dr. Gaines’.'house, and this morning; I hear that
the Reserves have ” orders to retreat.
Hone of these retreats, it must be borne in mind,
were made necessary by any movements of tho
enemy. They wore all made in accordance with
direct-orders from General McClellan, and are part
of some strategic idea of his. The fraction of the
army aeross the Chickahominy has always been re
garded as an independent army of observation more
than a part of Richmond’s besiegers. Different
oorps hare relieved one another in performing its
duties," and these retreats may to more beneficial
to us than the furthest advance in that direction.
But I can scarcely reconcile the rumors with tho
evidence of my own senses. - They speak of con
stant stands and retreats all in a ,direction towards
me. . On the contrary, the artillery reports I heard
plainly receded, and seemed atleast Jhreo miles
more distant at the end of the fight than they were
at the beginning. Then, at about 9 o’olook last
evening,- a report of a groat Union victory , in that
direction was officially given out, and the greatest
imaginable rejoicing, cheers, band-playing, and joy
generally was kept up until midnight. The story
was that Stonewall Jackson had come down to tho
cross-roads,’ with Fremont and Sigol behind him,
and that MoCall attacked him on one flank and
Porter on the other, completely cutting his army
into pieces. This was read at the head of every
regiment, and so. coincided with the cannon-shots
heard that it was implicitly believed, the most up
roarious joy being the result. .-
Whilst it prevailed the sound of..the,.artillery;
fight, in the number of reports, far exceeded that
at Pair Oaks. Scarcely any mnskotry was per
ceptible, and that leads mo to think there wus but
little, as in my position I ought to hsvo distinctly
heard it if there were. At nine this morning our
troops aoross the river are at Dr. Gaines’ house,
and slightly in advance of it, tho cavalry bain?
back on tho road to White House, guarding in that
direction.’ A strong force of all arms of the service
is at Grapevine bridge, a mile from Dr. Gaines’,
ready to reinforce, if it should to needed.
Several cannon shots have been heard in that di
rection this morning, and, if necessary,.l shall cross
the river with the reinforcements. It is yot too
early to send yon any detailed intelligence.
J. C.
BIKTOTtACEOP WIU.IAM IIF.KKT H.IBRTSOX, .
Jambs Arras, 40 Mils* below JSiohuoxd,
. • • : Jr.ly 4, 1862.
General McClellan has at length accomplished
the great scheme which engrossed all his attention
for the past two weeks—the transfer of bis army,
by a flank movement, from the north and oast of
Richmond to the south and southeast of it, and the
change - or ms-ease -or'operaQons ana sum-oo m
sfipply from the Pamunky to the James river,
necessity compelled tho change, and never in
military history did an army more successfully and
effectually accomplish amanoeuvre of so great mag
nitude. Troops had to march with all thoir bag
gage; supplies bad to he carried along to meet tho
hourly wants of the journey; tho enemy had to bo
a hundred times defeated as he pressed too vio
lently upon the Federal rear and flanks; sick and
wounded were to be cared for, and when a safe
arrival upon the James'river was secured, sup
plies had to bo provided there with a profusion
once in-vogue at White Souse. It was all done
and well done. The movement was made; the
enemy beaten baok; the supplies scoured; tho
sick and wounded sent to hospitals, and all com
pleted in the short space of four days.
The past ten days have, been among the meat
eventful in American history. Doubtless the first
reports sent homo to you by frightened sutlers and
seared boatmen, fleeing from Whito TCouse.liad the
army completely annihilated. Their story would,
be that McClellan was entirely surrounded by a
vast force of the enemy, who were swiftly and
surely cutting his once proud army into pieces, and
from tho enemy’s movements.in their vioinity, tho
tale thoy would tell would have every appearance
of plausibility. To’this moment, I s-.aroely boliovo
the version given by your first informants has been
diseipated by the truth, as all connection between
the army and the North, either by mail or passage,
has been for days prohibited. A history of the ten
days’ work, however, so nearly correct as I can
-give it amid the turmoil around mo, may tend to
fill the void and set you aright.
THE IIEBELS CIIO3S THE CHtCKAIIOMINr AT KECIIA
. - NICSVILIrE.
' No point in all the former front of the army was
more eagerly watched or strongly guarded than
McohanicsviUe. On numerous occasions I have
told you of its importance. The enemy were
equally wilh us aware of the great Federal advan
tage the possession of Meohanicsville gave, and
General McClellan had long ago resolved to make
use of their anxiety for its repossossion in order to
secure the safety of the -movement across to tho
James river. Certain indications of an attempt at
crossing were, thereto-e, hailed with delight, and
every means resorted to to blind the,rebels as to
our real wishes, but at the same time to get them
over. Union and Secession coquetted long at that
pass, hut Union at length triumphed, and on Thurs
day afternoon, June 26, at two o’clock, the enemy
threw their bridges across the stream, and the first
ranks cautiously passed it. The news of tills,was,
of course, instantly telegraphed to General Mc-
Clellan, and ten minutes afterwards the extreme
left of the army was on the march t® White Oak
swamp and the James river. The great movement
had commenced. '
Finding the ground not near so hotly contested
as they had expected, the rebels threw vast num
bers across the stream, in order the more quickly
to bear down bur opposition, A brigade of Gene
ral McCaH’s Pennsylvania Reserves met them and
bravely fought for hours'against.a 'body of troops
ten times their number. They fell back, however,
as no bravery could withstand the torrent, until
they came upon the balance of tho Reserve divi
sion, two brigades, and a brigade sf General Por
ter’s corps, commanded by . General; Martindale.
This was most welcome aid to the jaded troops who
sought it. Rifle pits apd seme slight entrenchments
also proved an additional means of defence, and
Ceionel Simmons’ regiment, the sth, with Colonel
Jackson’s 9tb, were the first to rush upon the foe.
Here'the rebel advance, which had been made for
two miles, was cheeked, and brilliant charges soon
broke their columns. ' A- few moments more and
the gallant Reserves were driving Secession pell
mell into the Chiek&heioiny. At dusk they rested
on their arms the victors of the field, a few artil
lery shots being the only sound of war, and in the
'silence of evening proceeded to the -sorrowful'-task
of burying the dead. JUvery. regiment of the
corps was terribly: decimated. Colonel Simmons
lay dead upon the field, where he and his regiment
- had so immortalised themselves. Dead and
wounded, Federal and rebel, ißy all about, and
' with saddened hearts the - brave Pennsylvanians
I proceeded to the task before them, placing each
loved companion, who had that day sealed his pa
triotism with bis blood, in the rude hut honored
grave of the soldier.- Rebel wateh- fires surrounded
them, and the distant tramp of rebel reinforcements
could constantly bo heard. So man passed that
night in other mien than sprrov.
However, attwo o’clock on Friday morning, June
27, these brave troops, who were effectually chock
ing the rebel advance at the “ Seven Miles to Rich
mond” cross-roads, received orders to retreat:
With groat reluctance thoy- started down the road ;
to Gaines’ Mills, four miles distant, knowing, as they
did so, that they were leaving a position in which
they could hold at bay a hundred thousand men.
Slowly they came, making very short.marches and
Very long baits, their way lighted by a vast pile Of
burning knapsacks, left behind by General
The enemy soon discovered the retreat and poured
along after, ; thousands to the roar, filling up tho
spaoewhieh the ad vaneing front left vacant. - Thoy
deployed into the fields, skirmished oo all sides, and
spread out as fnr as the rivor would allow them on
tbo one band or our harassing oaralryon the other.
The Federal plan seemed to be to give the rebels aa
much annoyance as possible; firiDg cannon at them,
but still, always by retreating, to entice them as far
ss possible from their oroBsing plaoes at Meohanios
villo. ... , ' ■:
It beirg wcll understood that this was to be. our
course of operations, , by nine: Qtt the morning of
i
THE PBESS.-PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY. JULY 7. 1862.
Friday the rebels had come down to-and were in
full poEßetsion of Dr. Gaines’ house and all the
neighboring highlands. Here the Grapevine bridge
crosses the Chickahominy river, debouching in
the midst of General Smith’s foroes on the federal
aide of the stream, and if the enemy were to change
their minds and come across it, or, by sending a
detachment aoross, were to attack General Smith
and moke a junction with their own forces just
above him on that Bide of the river, it would jeo
pardise the whole army. So General Slocum’s
division was ordered out at an oarly hour to guard
this bridge. They marched to ! the flat at .the ex-;
treme end, and Gen. Bewton’s brigade crossed, the
others bivouacking. When General Now ton had
passed through the trees bordering the river, he
saw the enemy enemy in full force on the hilts
above, and immediately returned to report his ob
servation, The division lay there until noon, when
it was ordered to return towards camp, but one
brigade was subsequently wheeled about whilst on
the homeward road, and again halted on the flat.
At noon cannonading commenced, from one side
of the river to the other. General Smith’s batteries
had several huge columbiads mounted, which played
with splendid accuracy upon the rebels surrounding
the Doctor's house. Every Federal gun which
could be brought to bear was fired at them, and.
their artillery, of which they seemed to have but.
few throwing shell, endeavored, but without effect,
to silence these terrible batteries. General Porter,
too, whose troops were now the opposing force, on
their own side of the river, upon their approach
sent ehell after shell into them, ail with the most
telling results. At two o’clock, on Friday after
noon,- the rebel Sine' of .battle, commoneed-at the
river’s edge, just at Dr. Gaines’ house, ran up the
hill to it, then across,and curving aroupid the Federal
troepsreemed to bear away off back into the country
Thousands of their men were deployed on the hill
sides, a Federal battery, taken across a .corduroy
road, above Grapevine bridge, firing into them with
deadly effect. Skirmishers and pioketers fought in
the flat, and so it was allup the hill and back to
the woods. Musketry rattled unceasingly, and the
enemy seemed to be met strongly at - all quarters.
Porter’s and McCall’s troops lay on.the hills bor
dering the Chickahominy, at Woodbury bridge, a
mile or two belew Grapevine, their horses grazing
under the trees, and the men in lino of battle.
This, fight was almost purely au artillery one, ex
cepting among the skirmishers, whose rifies main
tained a constant cracking. • Infantry, excepting
as reserves or; supporting parties, were but little
used. There was some severe infantry lighting,
however, hut it waß only a prelude to the great
battle which gave that day such a bloody name.
. At 3 o’olock in the afternoon the Grapevine
bridge: and the one above it were destroyed, the
96th Pennsylvania and 3d Vermont breaking down
the former. Trees were thrown in every way to
obstruct a passage, and in a few momonta such an
impassable barrier was reared of logs and trees and
brush, added- to the streams of : water and swamp,
that no force of ibe enemy could have parsed it in
a week.. Thus were closed these entrances to our
lineß, and by this destruction every passage, way
across.the stream was obstructed, from Mechanios
vilie down to the Woodbury bridge, a distance of
fully six miles. The brigade then followed the
othertwo, which had gone off towards Camp at noon.
But tbeir road through towards the camp had
not led into it. The whole of General Slocum's
division were taken across. Woodbury bridge, and
General. Meagher’s Irish Brigade, brought over
from Sumner’s corps, followed. They advanced to
meet the enemy, and then commenced Friday’s
fearful contest. McCall and Porter, and Slocum
and Meagher, drawn up in lino of battle, awaited
the enemy ’» approach. The former had fought
him all day fond were wearied with their constant
exertions. Still they did not lag. -They held the WB pass savage static*.
field uufcii reinforcements came, and shoved the „ . * _ .
most heroic bravery . : Then, with' the' order they > ' ? rom SaTO S B Slat, ? n oU the way do James river,
retreated, Slocum and- Meagher taking their' (he retreathad to be conducted by a smgle road,
places, end on a field already strewn with dead "' Mch (iros " rf * hß bordenng White Oak
and dying recommenced the battle. Swamp by a rude log bridge, so embedded ,n mud
They first, confronted the enemy at five in the that every wagon had to be assisted at the crossing,
evening, a mile distant from the bridge. This and many stuck fast. Over tins ode road, a vast
was the bloodiest scene of the' whole day’s fight, army, with all its baggage,hadTo pass. The reader
The rebels --.were-deployed on 1 the hills, and our may judge of, the confusion of the passage, when
troops brought up from the lowlands to shook them ten thousand wagons and twenty-five hundred head
bad to do so under a furious storm of round shot of cattle were two small items in the account,
and musketry. Charge after charge was made full "WWte Oak Swamp bridge is some six miles from the.
to the enemy’s centre, when they flanked ns with station, and from one end of the road between them to
across fire of round shot. Weheld outplace,"how"' the other wagons,horses, soldiers, cannon, pontoon
ever, each man firing as swiftly as he could, lying boats, caissons, .ambulances, anff everything con
on his back to load his musket, and turning over, ceivabie for the nse of, a moving army, were
or rising to bis knees, to fire it. The' enemy, at standing in.a perfect jam. Ail officer at almost
the end of the contest, did not reply to our volleys, every step urged them on. Twenty rows of wagons
Thusit remained until dusk, when we'were or- stood side by. .side, teamsters swearing, horses
dered to retreat. At first, our artillerymen did baulking, and officers ehouting. Babel was a
good execution, but it issaid that afterwards they secoßd ,time seen on earth, and over all could he
murdered many of our own troops. ’ - heard General Fitz John Porter as he urged his ;
Toohigh prliise oanno't be given to the noble horse up a hill shouting te a wagoner not to-stop .
conduct of Gem Sykes’ division of regular troops up the entire road., :On we came to White Oak
during this day’s contest For sik hours they bore Swamp,: passed it,. and a,few miles beyond the,
to the enemy, were made by this body. They al- I aa ?' Thom-ands o! soldiers lay around, belonging
lowed no stain to fall .upon the bright escutcheon j: fof<
oi the regular army. The 95th and 96th Peunsyl- : to.bed together ISew V«l %*»t
vania Kliments wore also in the hattle, and be- her, exclusiveness in the embraces of little Dela
haved most gallantly. : .The latter was the last to ware, andM.cbigan gathered loaves to shade the
leave ibe ground, the brigade commander riding wemy brow of many an Eastern soldier Thus
awav after ordering it, but Col.TKke being reluo- and early in the afternoon
tant to follow. - A Federal battery- was- standing' I s S I P started off on my weary tramp, amid eon
hard by, and on its commander b'cmg asked why he - fneiot and hasie, to Jay my tired .body m a fence
was proparing to leave,. lio said there was not a coma 1 and puss the night,
single infantry soldier to Support Mm.; “The 98th J the kebei.sare after us.
will do ifc ”was the Th© most prolific : imagination cannot realize a
Col. Gosline, of the 95th, did his duty-bravcly. tn»W of this great retreat and pen-pictures
He with Major Hubte, 'was wobndedJpaiafuily, very, ltotte in iffi description. Oc-Way -
and lam sorry to say both have since died. The »°«ing the rebels discovered our retreat, aud
tm had three officers wounded-Lieui Elierick, aß »‘ housande upon thousands of loops after us
since dead, and Lieutenants Albert Saylor and All < our secrecy and strategy had gamed us but
Ernst Bauerbrey, though not dsngeronsly. Every the tme hetween midnight and morning and when
field and company offioer of the 98th, with the ■ «* Federal soldier was tired enough to lie down
. *V - - . w ' k Vi- air? v a ere m search of his so-much-needed rest,
nbovo three exceptions, came safely out of the tui J v , k
• . , ih.'nnii, . olart robe] cavalry and artillery came mailing after him,
oontefit, and Lieut. Col. t’own, of. the. 9uth, is also . , \ , . . ~ . .. ’
u * . ~ ; ~ and i ith wearv step he bad to wheel, into lma of
Mfe. A thousand of our mon must have boen hilled . . T* ,
and wounded in that day’s oontcsl, and the loss of battl The most heroic bravery was the rule
the rebels is beyond all calculation. tbro, gh<pt he army m battling against the robe
By midnight, on Friday, all our troops were g«™il«\who infested opr rear. Slocum fought
safely across the river, the killed and wounded, untill hie) men dropped down from fatigue aud
excepting the latter who managed to get over, HeinWlian relieved him Hooker came to the
beinc left in the enemy’s bands. Woodbury bridge rescui and the-impetuous Hoar-
UTSS a Pile of ruins by daylight, and the railroad ney charged into the very centre of the rebel lines,
bridge, twelve miles from Mechaniosvilio, was the In. every|fogngement the enemy wore soundly
first unobstructed crossing below that town. beaten, aafflour rear guard, first one armyoorpa
> • and then |nother, gathered: laurel upon laurel
■ A rnILABELPHIA IHOH-SOHOOL BOY IN BATTLE.
I cannot dose my acoonnt of the contests across
the Chiekahominy without sending you an hum
ble tribute to the worth of. one of my High-School ‘
brethren, Lieutenant Jamas F. MoElhone, of com
pany C, 14th Regular Infantry. Early in tho no
tion at Gaii es’ Mills he received a severe and
painful wound, one which , would have sent a less
bravo officer to hospital. The enemy were making
most tearful onslaughts upon his regiment.
Bleeding and almost exhausted he led his com
pany Upon them,, rallying around the regimental
colors, Volley after volley mowed down tho brave
troops, hut still the heroic boy foughton. Half of
bis company were killed or wounded, hut at the
front of the battle bis sword waved in the sunlight,
a beacon to victory. Tho weaker he seemed,' the
stronger was his voice, and the more powerful his
arm. ne had butene ebjeot, to see the enemy de
feated. A brave charge, he in tho front rank, did
it, when he sank to the ground, and amid a thou
sand plaudits was homo to the rear. Tho last I
saw of my schoolmate, ho was wearily journeying
towards Savage Station. A soldier of his company,
named McGrath, was by his side singing his pfawos
and cheering his sorrowful way. Another laurel
wreath is woven for tho Philadelphia High School.
A HEROIC PICXET PARTY.
Whilst one side of the Chiekahominy saw so much
blood and battle, the other was not allowed to rest
quietly.. During.aH of Thursday and Friday tho
most terrific cannonades rent the air. Our artille
rists. aware of the evacuation they were so soon to
moke, kDew that they could best cover it by fierce
and furious shelling. In the midst of all this ball
playing, on Friday, two Goorgia brigades oame
upon four companies of the 33d New York and
three of the 49ih Pennsylvania, who were picketing
in front of Fort Davidson, on the extreme right of
our position. Our five hundred Unionists fought
bravely, making scores of rebels bite the dust. We,
of course, retreated, but it was in good order, and
with flying colors. Gcnoral Lamar, of the rebels,
was killed, and a colonel and. lieutenant oolonel and
numerous privates taken prisoners. The bravery
of this skirmish, against vastly superior numbers,
cannot he sufficiently praised. The week was fall
of noble deeds.
Friday night found every regiment in, tho army
resting on its arms, momentarily expeoting an at
tack. The retreat was to be mode by first sending
away the wagons, beginning at the left, and going
around to tbe right, aßd then the troops from right
to left. Saturday morning, June 28, the mtin
bodies were sent off, picketers and rear guard alone
remaining. All along.the front demonstrations were
made by infantry and artillery to blind the enemy.
Marches, countermarches, feigned attacks,and every
Eort of military manoeuvre were made with endless
profurion. The bait took. The foolish enemy never
for onepnoment suspected ourreal design, aod,
thinking ihese movements demonstrations against
them, made for the purpose of weakening the effect
of their fancied turning of our right wing,con
tinued concentrating their entire army on the
Cliiokahominy, and sending tons of thousands of
troops across it as reinforcements for the advancing.
column. Deluded rebeldom little suspootod. she
was sending the flower of her army away from her
enemies, SDd that tbe hundred thousand, men she
bad aoross tho Chiekahominy had no other foe to
fight but a few helpless men, lying in an old house
opposite Woodbury bridge.
Saturday commenced the evacuation of tho right
wing, which was slowly, though snrely made-
White House, and all tho stores there, which could
not he onrried away, burned. Thirty thou
sand Federal muskets wero thrown into the Pa
muniy. The mail canao through tjmt morning
with newspapers, and Bottom’s bridge and tbe
railroad bridge were destroyed as suon as the train
passed over. All day the rear guard was march
ing and countermarching, still blinding tbe enemy,
and in every skirmish with his forces gaining a
-victory. Thousands of wagons were sent off on the
. road past Savage station, through White Oak
Swamp, towards City Point, on tho James river.
THE EVACUATION PROCEEDS.
All the sick find wounded who could walk wore
sont along with the teams—the helpless had to
ihift for themselves. I enlisted that day in the
squad who hunted sick and sent them away,
and at night was with the extreme rear at Wood
bury bridge.
Never in my life did an evening pass with snob
solemn grandeur as that one Bpent at Woodbury
bridge. On the Federal aide a solitary cempanyof
cavalry guarded the end of the destroyed bridge,
and soldiers burned the few vatuable articles which
were lying about. Camp-fires were lighted as for
a vast army.! Stragglers, tired almost to death,
lay on' the ground sleeping, each marked feature
sunk into a porfeot rest; A few wagons were still
there; The vast plain, once filled with all the
pageantry of war, was stretched out before me
dotted all over with fires, but having, save that one
cavalry company, not a single human being .upon
all its surface. Across the river, brightly reflected
upon the clouds, were the lights of the rebel camp,
and their forces, with no one to oppose them, no
. doubt were as they had been for many hours pre
viously, under arms upon the bloody field which
bore so many of their dead.
J( . . WOODBURY BRIDGE EVACUATED.
At ten o’olock on Saturday evening, the last of
iho Federal army had left Woodbury bridge, and
were in full retreat for White Oak Swamp. The
night was dark and cloudy, threatening rain.
Thousands of straggling soldiers were mixed-up
with the wagons, and as we proceeded, regiment
after regiment, from all parts'of the right wing,
joined us. Through a wilderness of wood and
swamp, the dose and damp atmosphere almost suf
focating us, we went rushing over logs and stumps,
the'men running ;to keep up with-the wagons, and
the wagons jolting along in the mo3fc outrageous
manner. Midnight brought us to Savage Station,
and here was the first horror of that night’s journey.
Savage Station was, a large depot of commissary
; stores, and an immense hospital. Sheds and tents
by scores had been erected, and were , filled to
overflowing with tho sick and wounded, whom ex
posure, and battle had rendered helpless. The
poor soldiers, - far too numerous to receive any
thing like proper care from the very few surgeons
who were at their posts, lay on the ground in heaps,
huggmfs each other for warmth. Officers and men,
‘ high and low, were; all reduced .to the same level
that night. Bach was waiting to have, his wants
attended to, and all, I am glad- to say, amid the
terrible scenes which surrounded them, bore their
agonies niih patience. This horror, however,'was
nothing to that which next morning saw. When
the rear guard came up, the enemy pressing them
on all. sides, the entire hospital was turned out.
Sick and wounded were told to shiffcfor themselve®
as they best could, and those who could hot got
intojthe few ambulances whioh wore there had to
walk forward, or, ifpossiblo, persuade some surly
teamster to carry them on'his overloaded wa
gon. In gloomy squads the lame and halt
limped off towards the James river, the groans
;of poor suffering humanity almost stifling
the words of; encouragement which the
slightly wounded, gave. They shifted for
themselves, and many did it by lying down by the
roadside to .die. When the enemycame there a
fe.w houTS afterwords, even their barbarity must
have been mollified by the terrible appearance of
Savage Hospital, Do'ad and dying soldiers covered
the ground. The ashes of a burning pile of com
missary stores, blown about hy the wisd of that
Sabbath morning, shrouded them, and the' explo
sion of a railroad train; laden with ammunition,
ythich was sent shrieking'through the woods, was
the knell sounded; for all. , That railroad station
will always be a sod spot in my recollection. For'
terrible: sights "and scenes, the world has not its
equal. ■. , , ;
in the hunted Bkirmishes of that retreat.
It tr as in this series of brilliant battles that Ge
nerals Mcdll and Meade were wonnded. In
Monday’s aht the-Keserves fought like tigers
against, tt inemy, and when they retroatod, lite
rally cut > nieces, from the field, General MeOaU
was left cljind, wounded, and, no doubt, a few
moments tote saw him a prisoner to the enemy.
General £ yjlolds was also taken, but, I am glad
to say, w s [uninjured. General Meade, though
badly wov dpd, was borne from the field by his
troops] 1 eneral Seymour .now commands the
remnant i 'that fine division, onoo the pride of
Pennsylva a. , -
Tbo jna ih was' fully protected. Not a sinale
valuable a iele fell into the enemy’s hands. Thou
sandst: dllars worth of property was destroyed
bce»us ittould not be carried, but tbo roar-guard
kept b> bin the last wagon, not allowing a single
learn t< fi li into the enemy’s possession, food
was bi rm I, ammunition blown Up, whisky and
molafsi i Wrrels broached, wagons, with horses
dead b tli wayside from sheer fatigue, were burn
ed, or'Ud :very spoke and axle broken. Soldiers
threw if| > (heir knapsacks, but attentive.fatigue
parties alii them in vast heaps, and their ashes
mockedjl s rebels, whose utmost exertions -were
too feeti to secure them. Muskets lying.in
ditches wre bent and broken. Not a single ar
ticle of 1} thrown away by that grand army on
its grant retreat could be useful to the rebels.
Tire amf water; tho knifo and the axe did-, their
work, snfdid it well. .
Still titpnemy pressed us, and through all tho
night- thekled army with its baggage had to be
urged out A vast herd of cattle passed me early
on Monddmorning, and, just after it, a drove of a
thousand tebel prisoners. .1 started early, and
again wittsed Sunday’s Fearfal scenes. Wounded
and sick liped along, many a ono lying down to
sleep his ll sleep under the grateful shade of the
roadside rjods. The same confusion of wagons,:
and soldiej and cannon, and the paraphernalia of
war, blocld the passage; and, in addition to the
rebels thufcritig behind us, and the long, weary,
dusty wadefore, hunger and thirst began to stare
us in the Be. Thousands had thrown away their
haversaoycontaining all their food, and not a bite
could th [procure. Not a Btream or a spring could
bo fount riy where to quonch tho thirst of the poor
soldiers They lay on the ground drinking from
ditches ed.with mud and filth. Wells, dug with
their ht s, sometimes furnished a scant supply.
But i ras not one-tenth enough for the army.
Horses td from thirst, and were left lying where
they fe Everywhere could be heard the cry for
water, fter, though above it sounded loudly the
voices jhe officers, who urged every one for
wardlffoDday was farmore terrible than Sunday.
Hung md thirst came to the aid of Secession, in
the in tion of deep and painful wounds upon the
Ucio:
v A *
the Ji
cum
Bow
whicl
jouru
feastd
streat
short
were t
witue i
troops
pIUDg
light,
tiog fi
water]
too, w
and th
wereei
my.
o’clock on Monday I came in sight of
is river, away off in the distance, its muddy
swiftly coursing between its low banks,
ny hailed with delight that glorious river
otokened the end of our weary, terrible
The hill-top was lined with gazors who
heir eyes with the sight of the glorious
Tho halt we made, however, was a very
>, and after a dusty inarch of four imlo3
ed Turkey Landing, on tho river. Here I
} the most frantic gloo on the part of the
Soldiers would rush down the hill-side and
do the stream in a perfect frenzy of de-
Uny whose thirst had been most oxorucia
iours before, standing neck deep in the
anb to'their heart’s content. ’ The horsed
'relieved —their wants were cared for,
i u ngry soldiers were the only ones left who
,|in worse misery than the army generally.
TURKEY LANDING.
Lauding is a rude wharf, some four or
jiiboYo City Point, on the Kiohmond bank
nes river. A few hogsheads of tobaooo,
seemed to be the extent of the trade
war, although a rather largo warehouse,
! tastefully decorated, showed the wealth
- Turh
five mi
of tbo
sent aw
before
and judgment of Sts owner. Otherwise it had
neither beauty nor attraction. Low and flat, burned
alnioat to a cinder by the heat of the sun, it seemed
the most uninviting spot in all Virginia, To the
tired troops, however, it was a paradise. Here
they wereallowed to encamp and find that rest of
which they had been for days deprived. The sick
and wounded crawled to a strip of wood, and there,
after long delays, some attended to their
•want*. The stragglers were picked up By the
Provost Guard, and pent to their regiments, and
quietly and speedily order seemed to come out of
the terrible confusion which had reigned supreme
for forty-eight hours.
REVEL ATTACKS. •'
The enemy, finding that their boldest efforts
made no impression upon our slowly-retreating
rear guard, but that, on the contrary, they only re
sulted in defeats, and capture of cannon and pri
soners, on Monday conceived a new design. A
vast column was sent down the bank of the James
river, on the City Point road, with the intention at
first of cheeking our advance to the river bank, or
if too late for that of flanking our rear guard and
euttipg it off. The movement was discovered early
in the day, and gunboats went up above Turkey
Landing to shell the rebclssosoon as they, were
within range. Along came the column raising a
terrible dust, and a half dozen gunboats, aided by
the signal corps, at once set to work to check it.
Prom three o’clock until evening, they kept up a
constant firing, every shell falling among the
rebels. Thousands must have been killed and
wounded, and: a hasty, disorderly; retreat ended
the hopes of any early achievement of the wishes
of the commander of that column, Monday and
Tuesday I spent at the landing, the army
steadily passing me on its road down to Harrison’s,
and at midnight,,on Tuesday, I recommenced'
the weary tramp which was being made by so
many of my soldier-brethren. At daylight, • I
reached Harrison’s, just below City. Point,
which is oil the opposite side of the. river. This was
the point ebosen for the encampment of the army,
and its gradual restoration from the excessive fa
tigue it had undergone, and is to be General
MeCleUan’s future source of supply.: The hundreds
of vessels, loaded with commissary stores,., which
onoe congregated at White House, were there when
we came, and every thing was; in readiness to pro
vide for the wants of the almost-famished army.
Wednesday morning, July 2, was ushered in by
a severe and unrelenting northeast storm; which
converted everything into mud sad mire. As the
weary troops arrived they were forced to pitch
their little shelter tents upon this disagreeable sur-
face. Bain fell in torrents. The sick and wounded,
granted a short rest at Turkey Landing, had again
been inhospitably turned out, and were feebly and
slowly tramping through the mud, to lie down in it,
the rain beating upon them, whilst they waited for
the hospital boats. There is always humanity in
the army, andnevor did I see.nobler .instances, of
it than on the plain pear Harrison’s wharf. Whilst
the .poor and helpless men were lying in the mud
or listlessly wandering about with despair
in every feature, regiment after regiment of troops
had their hearts touched and generously gave.up
their tents for the woundod to creep under. Two
hours raised quite a little town around the head of
the wharf, and many a deep sigh showed the grati
tude of the soldiers; who had given health and
strength to their country. The rain fell faster
and mud grew deeper. One eouid scarcely walk
and Wednesday night lowered down upon us, per
haps the most sad and dreary since the army enter
ed the'ficld.
On Wednesday and Thursday, every one labored -
at ehippibg the wounded and landing commissary .
stores.: Steamboat after steamboat passed down the,
river, filled to overflowing with troops, only too
glad to get into a comfortable resting place. Craft
of all kinds landed food, which was at ones sent to
the regiments and brigades to feed the hungry.
The rebels, too, attacked us; but we captured nu
merous prisoners and a battery, and they at length
concluded to allow us to enoamp in peace. The
rain did hot stop until Thursday at noon, and, of
course, the mud became worse and worse. Sunset,
on Thursday, however, was clear, and we could
safely prophesy better weather. The rain had
stopped the forward march of the rebels, even if it
were at the expense of our comfort, and the Fourth
of July found ns.in good condition, protected by
gunboats and earthworks, and prepared to shook
any attempt made against us. , : ; ,
THE RESULT Or THE MOYEKEKT.
Though accomplished at an immense.sacrifice of
life and property, it is plain that General McClel
lan's movement has been a grand success. He.has..
changed bis front'and source of supply. •By the:
former he has rcndcred.entireiy useless a series of.
rebel earthworks built at an immense expense, and
securing an impregnable position. By the lat- •
ter lie has released thirty thousand troops from the .
duty of guarding his railroad connection with
White House. a.bod.v.of jtnennever useful in the
•siege of'liicbmond, but who now can be employed
with great effect in every opnrat',—, ."e '
enemy. His present position is, a strong ono.
White Oak swamp-flanks ‘it on. the right; the .
James river, aided by the gunboats, on the left..
Tbo. distance between oannot be more than eight
miles. He is rapidly advancing up the Peninsula,
being to-day beyond Turkey Station, and within
twenty- five miles of the r ebel capital. •
.The result in our immediate operations against
the enemy has also been most flattering. So one
can conceive of the immense slaughter we have
made in their ranks in the constant battles from;"
Friday, Jane 27, t» Friday, tho 4th of July. Our
•course was to fight the entmy all day and retreat
at night. Thousands of them were killed ami
captured. Every one of onr battles was a Federal
victory. The contest at White Oak Swamp was
one of the Mood iest battles on record. Four lines
of rebels were drawn np in front of our cannon.
The second urged the first upon the sea, of flame
and smoko at the point of the bayonet, but it was
'oi no avail. Scarcely a man survived to tell the
tale -in either line, and the third and, fourth,
defying . all the . curses of their officers,-
thinking only of, the ; misery they wished
to avoid,’broke and fled, and left ns masters
of the field. Musket shot, and cannon ball, and
gunboat shell poured constantly into reheldom for
a week. It almost sickens me to write it, but Na
poleon nover caused more blood to flow than has
streamed from tho rebel army during this grand
retreat.
Bat the saddest story is the one which tells our
ownlosses. Millions of property were destroyed.
Forty pieces of artillery, broken, of course, fell
into'the ''enemy's hands. These, however, would
have been sacrifices easily made could they have
prevented any loss of life. I regret exceedingly
that my'duty compels me to tell the truth with
regard to, this matter. Thirty; thousand soldiers,
and there is the highest military, authority fori
stating it, were killed or wounded or captured by
the epemy in that one short week’s retreat. The
constant battles brought their too rich harvest of
dead and dying. Hospitals containing thousands of
wounded were given up bodily to the enemy. Sick
and wearied soldiers, too tired to proceed, a, step
farther, would prawl into out-of-the-way places, be
overlooked by our rear-guard, and only wake up
from, their sleep to be captured by the enemy.
Ten thousand sick and wounded were sent to hos
pital down the James river. Our loss has been
fearful; but. G?d L General §hipjd§’troops,
who are hourly arriving as reinforcements, go a
great way in filling up the void. .
' SriSKASAQBMKXT.
I cannot close this letter without expressing my
firm belief in the mismanagement of things among
subordinates in tbo anny of the Potomac. 'Xhe
Goyerßinent and country: provides everything on
the most ample scale, and hundreds of officers are
appointed, especially in the medical department,
to carry : out its wishes. This retreat was a
great and showed the utter" incom
petency of that department. Scarcely an am
balance could be found to carry a wounded
man, . yet there were enough somewhere to
carry all. Not one physician in twenty was at his
and the poor, soldiers screaming with the
agony of their wounds, went for days without hav
ing them dressed. Thousands sick and wounded,
who should now be safe in hospitals at the North,
have fallen into the enemy’s hands, through ' the
neglect of popinjay, surgeons. Many have died be
cause their wants never were cared for. And even
now, hundreds on the hospital boats are moaning
and groaning with festering wounds, which have
not received the slightest attention. A searching
investigation and prompt punishment of those -men
w.ho have violated the honor of their cloth in thus
neglecting the afflicted, will do much to restore the
confidence and alacrity of the troops. J- 0.
Steams a John A. Warxeh,
Os tub James Kiveh, July 5,1562.
This morning, at 10 o’clock, when I - left Harri
son’s bouse. General McClellan’s furthest advanced
post was within twenty-five miles of Richmond, and
he was rapidly pushing them forward, driving the.
enemy at all points,; His army had completely re
covered- from th*o fatigue caused by the retreat,
and be had been strongly reinforced. Gunboats
accompanied his advance, shelling the woods, and
scattering the enemy, and his tnain forces were
following at safe supporting distances. His position
was one whioh could hot be flanked by the enemy,
the James river and gunboats flanking it on the
left, and the lower end of White Oak Swamp on the
right, and three miles in length of laading-plaoes
on the river were amply sufficient to secure full
Supplies of every thing needed by the army.
The river was full of transports, loaded with am
munition, and the genial weather—neither extreme
of temperature bolding sway—will prove the best
reinforcement General McClellan- couid wish. ■
The capture of Richmond, from this; position,
will very likely be a tedious operation, requiring
great skill.and anovornholming force: The Fede
ral army has twenty-five miles of rebel country to
overcome, ami it may take as long a time as it did
to cross the Peninsula from -White'.-House to. Me- -
cbanicsville. -Oo May 11th we entered White
House; a month passed, and we were just capturing
tbat’burned-np town on the Cbiokahominy ; a so
oondinontb, and we werejust where the former left
ns—still before Richmond, but no nearer its cap-'
ture. - v 7:.
HONORABLE MENTION.
Inleavrog the army of the Potqmaq,.l,mustpub-‘
Jioly tbaDk three gentlemen who, among a legion
of inhospitable and selfish army offleers, have shown
rue tlie greatest kindness I allude to Coi. Henry
.L. Cake, of the,96th Pennsylvania, and Captains
11, M. Swift and'Nathah G.; King, of tho commis
sary department,''; I shall always hold their gene
rosity in grateful remembrance.- - J. q;
FROM WASHINGTON
Special Despatches to “Tfce Press.”
Washinotoh, Jnly 5.
Address of General McClellan to his
Army, on the 4th of J u!y.
Headquarters of the Army- of tub V
Potomac, Camp bear Harrison's V
Lauding, July 4th, 1102. J
SOIUSSRS OF THE ABJtT OF THE POTOSTAC :
Tour achievements of the last ten days have illus
trated the valor and endurance of the American
soldier. Attacked by superior forces and without
hope of reinforcements, you hare succeeded in
changing your base of operations, by a flank move
ment, always regarded as the most hazardous of
military expedients. Tow have saved atl your ma-
terial, all your trains, and all your guns, except a
few lost in battle, taking io return guns and colors
from the enemy.
TJyon your march- you have been assailed day af
hll day with desperate fury by men of the' same
face and nation, skilfully massed and led,
Under every disadvantage of numbers, and ne
cessarily of position, also, you have in every con-
flict beaten hack your foes with enormous slaughter.
Tour conduct ranks you among the celebrated
armies of history,
No one will now question that each of you may
always with pride say, “I belong to- the army of
the Potomac.”
Ton have reached this new base complete in or
ganization and unimpaired in spirit.
The enemy may at any time attack you. We
are prepared to meet them. I have personally
established your lines. Let them come, and wo
will convert their repulse into a final defeat.
Tour Government is strengthening you with the
resources of a great people.
On this our nation’s birthday we declare to our
foes, who are. rebels against the best interests of
mankind, that this army shall enter the capita! of
the so-called Confederacy, that our National Con
stitution shall prevail, and that the Union, which
can alone insure internal peace and external secu-
rity to each State, must and shall bo preserved,
oostwhatit may in time,treasure, or blood.
Geougeß.McClei.las,
Major-General Commanding,
Sick and Paroled Soldiers.
According to an army order, just' issued,when-.
ever sick men, paroled prisoners, or others, under
circumstances entitling them to their descriptive
lists and accounts of pay, clothing, <fcc., are sent
away from their regiments, or being already sepa-
rated from their regiments, are discharged from
any hospital, or moved from point to point ina
body, they will be put under charge of a trusty
officer, or non-eommiasionedofficer, to be selected)
if possible, from their own number, who will exer
’cise command over the party and conduct it to its
destination; and to the officer, or non -commissioned
officer, will be confided the descriptive lists of all,
for the safe keeping of which, until properly turned
over with each soldier, he will bo held strictly ac-
countable.
The paragraph of the order of June 12th, which
authorizes the discharge, when requested by them,;
of paroled prisoners, is rescinded.
Ho more furloughs will be granted to paroled
prisoners. All furloughs heretofore given to them
are hereby revoked, and all prisoners now at large
on their parole, or who may hereafter be paroled by
tbo rebel authorities, will immediately repair, if
belonging to regiments raised in New England and
the Middle States, to the camp,of instruction, es-
tablished near Annapolis, Maryland;. if belonging
to regiments raised in the States of Virginia, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana; and Michigan, to
Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio; if belonging
to regiments raised in the States of Illinois, Wis-
consin, Minnesota, lowa, and Missouri, to tho camp
near Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; and report for
such duty, compatible with their parole, as may be
assigned to them by the officers in command of said
camps; and all, whether officers or soldiers, who fail
to comply with this order within the space of time
Deeessary for them.to do so,- will he accounted de
sertera and dealt with accordingly.
The commanders of the different camp 3 of in
struction, to /which" paroled men are sent; will
have them organized into companies and batteries,
keeping those of the same regiment and same State
as much together as possible, dtp.
Brigadier General Prisce, United States Volun-
teers, is relieved from duty with tho army of Vir
ginia, and will report to Major General McOlel
i. ax . .....’
The nrtillorvnfUo"-" Oom.
-■OTcatri'dint; excepting those retained for the sum
mer on duty at the Military Academy, will repair
without delay to headquarters of the army of the
Potomac, and report to Major General McClel
lan. ' -;
Brigadier General Sturgis is ordered to report
to Major General Pode. ■”*
Prizes Captured.
The schooner Beauregard has captured the Eng
lish schooner Luo,, from Havana, for endeavoring
to run the blockade on tho Florida coast.
, The steamer Somerset 1 has captured the schooner
Curlew, off Cedar Keys, Florida. - She was from
Havana. L '. . ' ' ' ■ *
The same vessel surprised a steamer-in Dead
Man’s bay, loading with cotton. Before she oould
be reached, she was fired and destroyod by her
crew;. Her anchors, cables, Ao., were marked'
<‘W. S.” v v \
The steamer Montgomery, off the Bio Grande,
has captured the English sohoonerWill-of-the'Wisp,
loaded with kegs of powder, concealed in fish bar
rels and in bags, percussion caps, thick shoes, and
large cares marked clothing.
The United States steamer Bienville captured off
Cape Fear the sohooner Morning Star, from Nas
sau, heading for Wilmington, N. C. She was loaded
with salt, acids, cigars, &a. '
Convalescent Soldiers^
A large number of the military invatids, heretofore
brought to Washington, ate now con scent. The
mortality is small. The desire is wid read among
the thousands of patients iu thia city t 9 7 recover
and rejoin tbeir respective regiments- ressthe
utmost confidence in and the strongest enttoail
the general officers Of the Array of the F so. They
are.as patient in suffering as they were heroie in the field.
Gen. Fremont’s Staff.
Tho special order dated the Ist of July, discharging 1
,ihe staff of Msjor. General iFasnoXT, is suspended until
'further orders. Thia fact ia officially proclaimsd by the
War Department. , -
{Miscellaneous.
Commodore Dupont, under date of Juno 28th,
enoloaes another interesting report from Lieutenant
Commanding Bbind, of further operations in North
Edisto, saying: On the 21at inst, with the Criisa
der, the Planter, and piloted by KodertShall, he
ran up the North' Edisto river into Wadwillaa
Sound, SB far as Simar’s Bluff, whioh is on the main
land. .
The rebels had a o&mp tier# and some artillery,
but made no use of the latter. A few broadsides
from the Crusader dispersed the enemy, and Lient.-
Commanding Rhisd, onlandingwith a company of
the 53d Volunteers, under command of Capt. Bbn-
SEITj uret with no resistance. :
About thirty tents and some cabins used as quar
ters were fired, anjl a few, muskets, brought away
We had no casualties. ,
Colonel White, of the 55th Pennsylvania Regi
ment, is commanding the post there, an|i his of
ficers and men co- operated with the expedition.
Testerday morning, 345: prisoners of war were,
sent from the Old Capitol Prison, under a strong
guard, to Fort Delaware. The prison now contains
less than 75 prisoners.
Secretary Sbwakd has returned to Washington.
Agreeably to a programme made a year ago, the
Prince sx JoiNVinl.it, Count db Pahis, and .Hue
I)E Cn AKTKKs are about to leave for England, to
attend the World’s Pair. Hence their separation
from the army of the Potomac, where, as members
of the staff of Gen. McClellan, they have parti
cipated in every battle before Richmond, up to and
including Monday last, '
p coi. James S. Jackson, a member of the House
of Representatives from Kentucky, has not been
confirmed as brigadier general, but undoubtedly
will be. He waschief of cavalry in Gen. Shell's
command , and that officer considers him one of the
best cavalry officers in the Western army, and re
commends him as brigadier. :
As soon as Congress adjourns, which it is sup
posed will be in the course of a week, Col. Jack
son will return to his command, whether it be a
regiment or brigadb.. -
Upon the call by the President for three hundred
thousand additional troops, Colonel Frank P,
Bi.aip, chairman, of the Military Committee of the
House of Representatives, was to- day requested
by the Government to proceed" at once to Missouri
and raise a brigade. ; .
The request was promptly responded to, and
Colonel Boaib leaves for St Louis as soon as he,
can dose up important business now before his
committee." In tho meantime Colonel Bi.a'-e- has
. telegraphed to •■ffioers at St. Louis, whom ho is au
thorized to select! to raise companies and regiments.
Colonel Blair offers to raise two brigades, the com
mand of ono to bo tendered to General Jambs S.
Jackson, of Kentucky. 7
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Capture of a Fort at St. Marks, Florida,
, Wasbinoion, July 6 —The Navy Department
has been officially informed that on the loth ult.
Lieutenant Commanding Howoll, in tho gunboat
Tahoma, accompanied by Lieutenant Comm&ndiug
English, in the Somerset, crossed- the bar of St.
Marks river and drove out a company of artillery,
with four or five field pieces, from a fort near the
lighthouse, afterwards landing and burning the
fort, with the buildings used as barracks. This was
good service against a' nest of rebels who had cap
tured two of the Kiogfisher’a boats, and were pre
pared for other inisohief.
Capture of the Rebel Gunboat Teaser.
Fortress Monroe, Juty 6.—-The rebel gunboat"
Teaser was captured in a bend of- the James river,
on the 4th lust. Very important papers were
found on hex.
FROM THE tRHY OF GEN, JI'CLELIM,
ALL QiriET].
THE ARMY IN GOOD SPIRITS,
Washington, July 6.—Advices front the army
of the Potomac up to last night indicate that ail is
quiet and the army in good spirits,
AFFAIRS AT MOBILE.
Corinth, July s.—From a former employes' of
ti* Mobile and Ohio Bailread, who has arrived hem;
via Tupello, we learn that two gunboats and ono
ram' axe in Mobile hay. There are -10,008 troops
stationed below Mebile.
The fortifications around that city, which wars
commenced a month ago, arc completed, and tbs
inhabitants are sanguine,- believing that Mobil*
cannot he taken. He says that General Bragg is
in command at Tupello with 45,080 men.
Breckinridge had left there with thirty thousand
men. All the troops were short of clothing and
provisions. They have bacon twice a week, but no
coffee nor salt,
The rebels' say they came- to take Gorinth, and
the rebel impressions generally are, that a majority
of our troops have gone East.
It is the unanimous testimony of scouts and de
serters that no rebel troops, except cavalry, have
gone East.. _
CAPTURE OF VICKSBURG.
THE MISSISSIPPI FREE.
IfETPr Madrid, July s. — Vicksburg Jg ours- IF*
particulaia have yet been received.
FROM GENERA! H&LLECK-S ARMY.
Brilliant Cavalry Affair at Booneviile*
Miseiggippi,
Corinth, July 6. —To the lion, TZdmin iff.
Stanton, Secretary of- War : Official reports have
beeD just received of a brilliant affair of our cavalry
near Booneviile, Mississippi, on the Ist instant.
Colonel Sheridan, of the 2d Michigan Cavalry, with
two regiments, comprising seven hundred and
twenty-eight men, were attacked by parts of eight
regiments of rebels, numbering some forty-seven
hundred men, which he defeated and drove back
after seven hours’ fighting. Oar loss was forty-one
killed, wounded, and missing; tho.t ot the enemy
must have been very great, as he left sixty-five
dead on the field. The official reports will be for
warded by mail. I respectfully recommend Colo
nel Sheridan for promotion for gallant conduct in
battle, H. W. Hali/eck, Major General.
. ' Corinth, Miss., June 24,1862.
Everybody and everything s*eniß to be waiting for the
railroad to open. It is confidently expected that the
train leaving here to-morrow m»rmng will reach Mem
phis to-morrow night, that road having been folly re
paired, with tbe exception of one bridge, wbich will he
completed by to-morrow noon.
The-forces of Brigadier General Qnmby, working
Fonih from Columbus, and the forces of Major General
sKdemand, working nmfh. bave m*-t at tbe large bridge
near Trenton, Tennessee, and it is expected that will be
completed, so that the tr-un leaving here on tbe morning
of the 26th, wilt bo able to go through to Got amba*b
where there are targe numbers of cars and several loco
motives. The care are mostly all those ordered by Gen.
Fremont, at St Lotilp, last fall.
A few days since 1,200 or 1,500 rebel cavalry made *
sudden and tore up the track of tbe railroad and
destroyed & portion of the telegraah line between Tus
contbia and luka. A few momenta after an engine ran
off there, completely, disabling it<eif, at least nntil ne
ceß'arj malt-nails.for tbe repairs of engines and cars are
; received from St. Louts. As soon as those arereceived
a repairing shop will be started At Jackson lon, where
nuoibf rs of machinists from the ranks wtu be employed.
It is estimated there are Borne 2,000 men in onr army
here who have been employed in some capacity on rail
roads, and are only waiting for a chance to dhplaj thoir
skill. ' . : ‘ •
Major General Ord hag taken command of tho town of
Corinth.
The people and soldiers here in town are suffering
some irconvenience from tbe scarcity *f water. The wells •
are dryiDg up very fast, and what few remain in good
eoypty are.in danger of drying up from the Urge drain.
Tbe troops ew'uth of us are not troubled, bat have
several'Splendid artesian furnishing about fifty
gabone ar* hour each.
Colonel Becd, of the!stb lowa volunteers, baa dis
covered a funner near here, whose name ia not mention
ed, formerly employed In tho c depsrtmeat of •
■ the rehel army, under Colonel Polk, chief commissary;.
He told-Coloi el Bred where some papers of that depart
ment had been buried. The Oolsnel resurrected them, »
and found complete returns of tho army up to Aoril I.
Tbe rebel army »t tbat time numbered between thirty
seven tboosand and thirty-right thousand. This maw.
says bo saw the papers show! og that there were seven
months’ ratiima for the entire army at .Grenada. - Missis
sippi, Thepri itcipal depot of supplies. Colonel Bred as*
• purtom? informant that evprj thing tbe man had told
him, bo far as the Colonel knew, wfw true $ therefore
bp had ro reason to doubt the tmth of this statement. —
JV". Y, Tribune.
Jeff. Thompson’s Proclamation,
St. Louis. July S.—The following proclamation to the
planters aDd citizens cf Panola and De Soto counties,
Mississippi, has lately been issued: '
GnTrn.uiii,.v • Vnn npfbTl to fttutftlU yOUf tepW
tatton as brave and to show to the world ,
that the forty sons of your noble State, =
who aw now in the field, are fithting for principles which -
j ou endorse, and for which yon are wlllingto suffer sotne
iittSe“personanncoDVPmeDce
Tqu Rre need«i, old >nd yrunv, not to fight, but t#
perfoTm tbe watchine and picketing* duty, which your
knowhdpe of ihe sriuntry peculiarly fits you for, and
which will relieve-aufl> rest the soldiers, who have this
duty to perform, and thus sTve us great advantage .
any equal number of the enemy. The recent raid through
Be Sola countv ghonld pr<-ve the necessity of this vigi
lance. and show how easily ono man, riding an express,
five miles in advance of the enemy, coctd .have defeated
their purpose j aud any reliable man, with a probabla
report of their numbers, could have had £htm ail cut off ■'
, Ton who belong to the regular mioute-mm and militisf
turn out at once, so that the forces here can bave the
advAot&gCK'f your mimbore and local knowledge, and yon
who do not belong ; form yourselves into rqnads around
? the that two of you can be on the- 1
watch alt the time, day and night—one ef whom should '
come with information on the aporoach of the enemy,
and the o'heVsooidd'Hecrete himseif until the*? tjassai and
then coroeronnd and tell tbeir numbers By thisme&us,
raids end forays can be either prevented or defeated, and
tbe partiescapinred. Only alitUemotber-wltisnecessary
to frach everybody bow to perform this duty, but it will
be reoepeary to-notify the military commander of th»
poirt watebed- and the persons agreeing to watch it, an
be may know when a prooer person brings Informati-nn.
You nefd not fear making yourself anv more liable to
depredations by thus acting, for your all is gene If your
soldiers are conquered.; Every foot of ground, in Missis
sippi should be disputed—every stump should form arifie
.rest, aod canebrake a camp. You are not like Missouri,
Ken ucky, acd Maryland. Ho craven cowards have In- _
vittd the vandals to yocusoil—no reeimehts c»iUog tbem
selvf s MiHsissippians are marching with tbe Horthmen—
jour brothers are not in tbeir ranks. They are really and
froly Invaders, and should be met with resistance ia
every shape and manner, and death should meet them at
every step. Let them eee that this Is “
Let them feel that their ad vance wilt be oloody, and their
retreat bo'otlPßf, and yon will then be safe.
. Bemove your eolton from your pens and gln*bouses,
that H can rpeedily he burned (It need not be unbaieS);
and 'thm if we can fiebt and save it vre will, and If we
cannot pave It, then we cau destroy It without burning up
yonr.gins, which we will be compelled to do if we scare
it long enough to try to save it. If-this request is not
complied with, and notrnly tho people turn onfc to asrist
up, but tbe cotton prepend to be bnrned, we will hare to
hum it in our rear for fear of having to fall back toe
speedily to attend to it. Youre. reeow.lfuilv,
• Brig. Gen. M Jeff Thompson,
M. 8. S., on special service f;r Confederate States.
LATER NEWS FROM EUROPE.
The, Hibernian off Cape Race.
MORE TALK ABOUT INTERVENTION IN AMERICA,
A FBFNCH FLEET FOB AMESIOAN WATERS.
Cats Bacs, July s.—Tb» steamship Hibernian, from
Livfrpcol on tlie 27th, Tift Londonderry on the 28th,
peered tbw print this morning.
The steamship Bohemia, from Quebec, arrived at
Liverpool bn the 24th. ’
The steamship Persia arrived at Queenstown on tbe
26ai.
' The sates of cotton for the wefk amounted to 150.000
bates. The ttiHrki-t was much excited and prices have
advocclFd per lb.
Brcadrtuffs are tjuiet, but steady.
Provisions are very dull.
Consols formom y are quoted at 91 &
; The steamship City of Kew "York, fc-m Sew York, or*
d at Queenstown on the afternoon of the 25th,,and
reported only ore of her’boiters working.
Tbe eteomsbip Hansa, which was fo have left South
ampton on tha2srb, was compelled to put back to Bre
men, owing to an accident to her machjnai’v,
Tbe proceedings of Parliament on the 25th were un
important. The House of Commons was engaaed on the
bill relative to the government of tbe “ Inns of Court.”
Tbe case oMSdwln James was incidentally referred to,
acd *t transpired that he ref□ red even to bavehte friend®
with him at tho investigation of his 'care, bo that it was'
impossible for liim to complain of the secrecy of the tri
bunal which condemned him.
4 Tbe Morning Herald finds it impossible to acconntfor
the inactivity of McClellan. Possibly, it say*, after the
battle of Fair Oafca, and the breaking up of Beauregard’s
army in tbe West, he does not see hta way clearly, and
may feel himself outnumbered by the enemy, in a posi
iion which is impregnable, and from which the enemy
may fall upon bis lines and works at pleasure.
If so. he is likely to meet with a diaaster which may
change the whole aspect of the war, for a reverse to Slc-
Ctellnn involves the ruin of his army and of the hopes of
the Federal Government. ~ .
A meeting has been held in London relative to the Af
rican stove trade, preside! over by Lord Brougham.
American securities are dull, with a downward ten
dency. . ' , •
It is asserted that Napoleon has resolved to send suffi
cient troops to Mexico to force a-way to the capital
against all obstacles.
Admiral Jutes de la Graviere will immediately take
command of a strong concentration uf French war-ves
sels in the American waters, which concentration, the
'Hairie say*, is justified by what may arise out oftbe
American war and Mexican affairs.
Tbe London Herald urges intervention in American
affairs. '
Tie steamship Bohemian, from Quebec, arrived at
Liverpool on the morning of tbe 25th.
From California.
Sak Francisco. July I.—The steamer Pacific
brings mews from British Colombia to the 2Tth and
Oregon to June 25th, and about $0,500 in gold.
Both the Cariboo and Salmon-river mines appear
over-crowded with thousands of adventurers scat
tering over that hitherto unexplored country
searching for new mining regions and meeting
many discouragements.
Much suffering was anticipated. The emigra
tion northward is considerably checked by the dis
couraging accounts. The very considerable arri
vals of gold at Portland and "Victoria, however,
furnish positive testimony of the existence of some
gold diggings. ' V
Fires at Chicago.
Chicago, July s.—The alcohol works of J~. H.
Low were burned yesterday. The loss amounted
to SS,GOO, which was insured.
During tbe afternoon, the buildings from No. 220
North Clark street to No. 280 were also burned.
Loss $7,000, which was partially insured.
At- about the same time a fire broke out at the
corner of Ontario and North "Wells streets, destroy
ing th&tand the adjoining building. Loss $6,000.
Insured.'
The Kangaroo off Cape Race.
St. JqHXS, N. P., Jnly 6 Che steamship Kangaroo
passed nape Pace at 9 o’clock last night. Her advices
are unimportant and mainly anticipated.
Sick and Wounded Arrived at Newlcork.
New .Tons, July 6. --Tbe, steamer Daniel Webster has
ntrtveti with a large number of sick and wounded soldiers,