Very soon our light batteries recovered from the surprise, and vigorously responded to the enemy, who was soon at a perceptible disadvantage, so far as accuracy and effect were concerned. Our infantry, too, fell in line ready to support the batteries, or meet half way any attempt of the rebel infantry to push across the creek. Thus the battle progressed late in the afternoon, with serious loss on both sides- more wounds from cannon shell, perhaps, resulting than at any other time in any battle. The rebels made some desperate efforts to cross the creek, but General Smith brought his men up to close quarters with them whenever they dared the contest; and although in each case some of our best and beloved soldiers bit the dust, there were no signs of holding off. The cannon firing was incessant here, some of the deepest and closest of the war, and the infantry fire extended along whole columns.

At five o'clock they engaged the enemy, hidden by woods and the swelling of hills, and the firing from musketry and field batteries was soon intense. The rebels did fatal execution among us, and some of our most valuable officers fell here, wounded and dying. The reports of ordnance had now been heard so many days that chaos seemed the normal condition of nature, and painfully the battle went on. It was scarcely an enthusiastic fight, for all the romance of battle had worn off by reason of its monotony. The men fought

well, however, though half dead with heat, thirst, and weariness. Some broke for the river, and plunged into the cool water for an instant, then emerging, rushed back to the fray, and fought like lions.

Fresh troops and superior numbers seemed bearing the tide of battle against us at five o'clock, and the fate of the army hung trembling in the sunset, when a new advocate-half of God, half of man our relief.

came to

The gunboats Galena, Aroostook, and Jacob Bell opened from Turkey Island Bend, in the James River, with shot and shell from their immense rifle guns. The previous roar of field artillery seemed as faint as the rattle of musketry in comparison with these pieces of ordnance, that literally shook the water and strained. the air. Thus was the tide of battle turned in our favor.

At this stage General Heintzelman ordered a charge by his corps. The gunboats were signaled to cease their fire. Rushing steadily ahead, defying all efforts of the enemy to break or turn its line, the corps had at last the satisfaction of seeing the enemy break and fly in confusion to the swamp, totally dispirited and repulsed. We took in this engagement over two thousand prisoners.

The battle at White Oak Swamp was scarcely second to that of Gaines' Hill in point of losses of life,

wounded, and prisoners. We suffered less than the enemy, who was literally butchered, but our own loss was very large. We lost all of Mott's battery but a single gun, the whole of Randall's battery, one gun of Captain Ayres', and several others in various parts of the field. Our loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was put down at twenty-five hundred.

General Brooks was seriously wounded. His Vermont Brigade behaved like veterans in the several engagements between Gaines' Hill and White Oak Swamp. The same indomitable pluck that instigated the charge across the dam at Warwick River, marked their course in the fight of Golding's Farm, Savage's, and White Oaks. The loss of this brigade was, perhaps, less than that of any of the brigades of Smith's division.

The battle was again renewed early on Tuesday morning by the enemy, who evidently expected to crush our army. It lasted about three hours, resulting in considerable loss to both parties. The enemy then retired, leaving the field to our troops. They again advanced about three o'clock in the afternoon, in considerable force, but retired after being shelled by the gunboats and artillery for about two hours, without coming near enough for the use of musketry.

The loss of our army during these seven days' engagement is not positively known, but could not be

less than twenty thousand, in killed, wounded, and missing. The loss of the enemy was very heavy, far exceeding our own.

The loss to the "Vermont Brigade" was reported

On the Fourth of July, General McClellan issued the following proclamation to his troops:

"Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac :

"Your achievements of the past ten days have illustrated the valor and endurance of the American soldier. Attacked by superior forces, and without hopes of reënforcements, you have succeeded in changing your base of operations by a flank movement, always regarded as the most hazardous of military operations. You have saved all your guns, except a few lost in battle, taking in return guns and colors from the enemy.

"Upon your march you have been assailed, day after day, with desperate fury, by men of the same race and nation, skilfully massed and led. Under every dis

advantage of number, and necessarily of position, also, you have, in every conflict, beaten back your foes with enormous slaughter.

"Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of history. None will now question that each of you may always with pride say, 'I belong to the army of the Potomac.' You have reached this new base complete in organization 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 we will convert their repulse into a final defeat. Your 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 capital of the socalled Confederacy; that our national Constitution shall prevail; and that the Union, which can alone insure internal peace and external security to each State, must and shall be preserved, cost what it may, in time, treasure, and blood."

Two days before issuing this proclamation, General McClellan had given an order for the army to retreat to Harrison's Landing, six miles down the James River, as he said to be nearer his base of supplies. This order was received by many of the generals of