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HANOVER COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL.

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CONFEDERATE RETREAT THROUGH MECHANICSVILLE BEFORETHE ADVANCE OF McCLELLAN’S ARTILLERY, MAY 24TH.FROM A WAR-TIME SKETCH.

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The view is from the east, and the retreat is in the direction of the Mechanicsville Bridge.

about, pushed his brigade through the woods and fell with vigor upon theenemy’s flank. The united attack quickly routed the enemy, inflictingheavy losses in killed and wounded and prisoners. it.

Warren, greatly delayed by muddy roads, swollen streams, and the workof building bridges, arrived about 3 p. m., at the close of the first battle, andwas sent northward in pursuit of the enemy, and to destroy bridges andboats on the Pamunkey. He, with Rush of the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry,captured a company of North Carolina infantry just before reaching thewagon road bridge, which they destroyed. Night put an end to the contest.

The succeeding day was occupied in gathering in the results of our victoryand in pushing the troops to Ashland, destroying two of the enemy’s rail-road trains, abandoned camps, and railroad and other bridges over thePamunkey and South Anna, and injuring the railroad tracks — it having-been decided at Washington that McDowell was not to join us, and that alarge portion of his command had been ordered to Northern Virginia inpursuit of Jackson, then on a raid into the Shenandoah Valley. Our move-ment had caused the rapid retreat to Richmond of General Joseph R. Ander-son’s command, thereby releasing McDowell’s command for active operationsin Northern Virginia, as well as opening the way for him to join us. Thedestruction of the railroad bridges was accomplished by Major LawrenceWilliams, 6th U. S. Cavalry, who, while on the South Anna, fell in with someof McDowell’s scouts, who were hourly looking for the advance of their corps.

McClellan joined me on the battle-field, and was well pleased with the resultsof our labors. Besides the destruction of the bridges, trains, etc., we were inpossession of a large number of arms and one cannon, of some 730 prisoners,

& The affair at Hanover Court House was with the brigade of General L. O’B. Branch, who says inhis report that he contended against odds in the hope that Confederate troops would come to hisassistance. His loss was 73 killed and 192 wounded. —Editors.