The American‘s account of the battle of Monday says it was a warmly contested engagement. Owing to the roughness of the country and bad condition of the roads, but small portion of our troops could be brought into action. Sickles’ brigade, of Gen. Hooker’s division, bore the great brunt of the battle, and fought most valiantly, though greatly overpowered by numbers and the superior position and earthworks of the enemy.
The approaches to their works were through a series of ravines and swamps, whilst the rain fell in torrents all day. The men also had been laying on their arms all the night previous, and were soaked with rain and chilled with cold The battle raged from early in the morning until 3 P. M., when McClellan arrived with fresh troops, relieving Hooker’s division, who were nearly prostrate with fatigue and exposure, while the third regiment of Sickles’ brigade had its ranks badly thinned by the balls of the enemy. They are represented as having fought with such imprudent bravery that not less than 200 were killed and wounded.
After the arrival of Gen. McClellan the enemy was fiercely charged by Hancock’s Brigade, and was driven within their works before nightfall with heavy loss. Nearly 700 of their dead were left on the field, with many wounded, though most of the latter were carried into Williamsburg. Our loss was less than 300 killed and 700 wounded.
Night having come on we occupied the battle field, the rebels having been driven within their works, and our forces laid on their arms prepared to storm the works in the morning.
At daylight on Tuesday, Gen. McClellan sent out scouts whilst preparing to move on the enemy’s works, who soon reported that the enemy had again taken to flight. The works of the enemy at Williamsburg were then taken.
Fort Magruder was a most extensive work, and capable of a long defense, but the enemy abandoned it early in the night, retreating in the greatest alarm and confusion. A large number of wagons, munitions, and considerable stores of provisions, were found in the town, and the road was strewn for many miles with arms and accoutrements.
A number of deserters made their escape, and came within our lines, who stated that they had received intelligence that large numbers of Federal troops were landing on York river, above Williamsburg, to flank them.
Lamoille Newsdealer, Hyde Park, VT