FIELD OF BATTLE,
June 1, 1862 – 12 o'clock.
Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:
We have had a desperate battle, in which the corps of
Sumner, Heintzelman, and Keyes have been engaged against greatly superior
numbers. Yesterday, at 1, the enemy, taking advantage of a terrible storm,
which had flooded the valley of the Chickahominy, attacked our troops on the
right bank of that river. Casey's
division, which was in first line, gave way unaccountably and disunitedly
[discreditably*]. This caused a temporary confusion, during which some guns and
baggage were lost, but Heintzelman and Kearny most gallantly brought up their
troops, which checked the enemy; at the same time, however, [General Sumner*]
succeeded by great exertion in bringing across Sedgwick's and Richardson's
divisions, who drove back the enemy at the point of the bayonet, covering the
ground with his dead.
This morning the enemy attempted to renew the conflict, but
was everywhere repulsed. We have taken many prisoners, among whom is General
Pettigrew and Colonel Long. Our loss is heavy, but that of the enemy must be
enormous. With the exception of Casey's division [our*] men behaved splendidly.† Several
fine bayonet charges have been made. The Second Excelsior made two to-day.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-general,
Commanding.
__________
*These words in revised copy. See McClellan to Stanto, Jun 5, 10:30 a.m.,
p. 751.
†See also general report, pp. 38-43
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume XI, Part I (Serial No. 12), page 749
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