The Portland Daily Press

COMMUNICATIONS.

[From our Regular Correspondent.]

Letter from the 7th Regiment.

Co. K, 7th Me. Vols., Camp near Harrison's Landing, July 8th, 1862.

To the Editor of the Press:

We have had a hard time. I cannot attempt at this time to describe our retreat, but will give you the outline of our operations, reserving details for a future occasion.

On the 23d ultimo, our right wing was attacked and thrown back on the line of Mechanicsville and Hanover. The former place, you will remember, was taken by our brigade, after a sharp combat, on the 26th of May. By 4 o'clock, P.M., the right wing had fallen back so near our camp on the south side of the Chickahominy, that we could hear the volley and see the smoke rising above the trees; at dark the firing ceased, and the night was quiet; but in the morning the action commenced in earnest, and continued through the forenoon: At 12 o'clock the enemy had gained possession of Gaines' Hill, and were there within shelling range of our camp. They at once began sending cast-iron compliments to us, but, our guns being heavier and of longer range, were soon silenced. At 6 P. M., they commenced an attack on our front and shelled our camp until dark. We replied with twenty well-served field guns, and for a time things were lively, I assure you. During the night, nothing of note occurred except the movement of heavy columns of troops in various directions.

On this day the loss in the regiment was slight: Corporal Scott W. Norcross received a severe wound on the shoulder, and was sent to the depot for wounded at Savage's station.

On Saturday, the 28th, all was quiet until 12.30 P. M., when a smart artillery engagement began, doing no damage to our regiment except wounding two men slightly. At 3 o'clock, the enemy had secured possession of two important points, which we were not strong enough to retake, and we at once saw that we must fall back. We then began to destroy everything which could not be removed, tents, rations, munitions, baggage, &c., leaving nothing whatever to go as trophies to Richmond; this complete, we retired slowly and in perfect order towards the James river.

At 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, our division (Smith's) was ordered to cover the retreat of the army. When three miles from Savage's station, Capt. Cochrane of our company, who had been feeble for several days, became so ill that Dr. Hunter ordered an ambulance for him, and he was taken along with the regiment, and after reaching James River was sent to Hygeia Hospital at Fortress Monroe, as were all the sick and wounded saved on the retreat. Lieut E. D. Johnson then assumed command of the Company. Before reaching Savage's station the enemy came up and commenced a furious attack, but we drove them back with heavy loss. At the station was a large amount of stores, ammunition and tents; the railroad having been already destroyed we could not remove them, and were forced to burn everything. At Savage's station were 300 sick and wounded soldiers, all poor or so badly wounded, that they could not be removed. We left surgeons, hospital stores and tents sufficient for them, and sorrowfully abandoned them to the mercies of the foe. Among them was Corporal Norcross, before mentioned, and Eugene Sullivan of our Company. We marched all that night, and at daylight crossed White Oak Swamp. We then halted until the other divisions of the army, with their trains could get out of our way. At 12 o'clock M. the enemy came on to us, and began a cannonade of two hundred shells per minute. We had a terrible contest. One of our batteries was silenced immediately, but being promptly supported by the reserve artillery, we held them at bay until after dark, and then resumed our retreat. The loss among the infantry of the division was light; the 7th, lucky as ever, did not lose a man that day and night, but the batteries suffered severely.

We marched throughout the night, and at daylight Tuesday, July 1st, reached the James River, six miles above here. At 9 A. M. we marched back to the front and waited an attack, but we did not get a chance at them that day, but the division on our left, and nearer the river, had a heavy battle, in which the gunboats participated, routing the enemy with terrible carnage. Wednesday, at 2 o'clock A. M., we took up our line of march, and at 3 o'clock it came on to rain, and continued to fall heavily until 1 P. M., at which time we reached Harrison landing near City Point, the wettest and muddiest set of fellows you ever saw. The whole army came in during the day, and Gen. McClellan in person established the line of the new position. On the 3d inst. we moved to the front about two miles, and are now throwing up strong field works. We have already mounted 20 heavy siege guns in this division, and I am told that works are being extended along our entire front. Our position is a strong one, and with the aid of the gunboats we can hold it against any force the enemy can bring against us.