Time passed on, days lengthening into weeks, and no decisive step was taken, that is, no engagement of great moment with the enemy took place, for circumstances rendered it impossible. The Chickahominy, already so high as to render crossing it impracticable, was still further swollen by heavy rains on the nights of June 3d, 4th and 7th, till finally it flooded all the bottoms to the height of four or five feet, rendering the country, for the time, impassable for either artillery or cavalry. General McClellan meanwhile continued to urge upon the War Department at Washington the necessity for reinforcing his army; and continued to push on the construction of bridges across the river. It was his wish to place the two wings of the army, separated only by the river, in the most direct communication with each other. On the 10th and 11th June, General McCall’s troops commenced landing at the White House. On the 25th, the bridges and intrenchments being at last completed, an advance of the picket lines was ordered, preparatory to a general movement forward. The advance was begun by Heintzelman’s corps, at about 9 o’clock on the morning of the 25th, the object in view being to gain possession of a spot called Oak Grove, which had long been disputed ground. The enemy was in strong force all along the line, and stubbornly resisted the advance of the Union regiments, obliged at first to push forward cautiously, and with great difficulty through the heavy swamps. The rebel pickets were routed, and a brisk engagement opened with their supports. The battle soon became general, and it was impossible to distinguish any thing but smoke, and mounted officers dashing to and fro along the line. It was as easy to distinguish the firing of the enemy from our own, as it is to distinguish the sound of two voices from each other: for they were armed with Harper’s Ferry muskets, we carried Springfield and Enfield guns. The firing of our soldiers was sharp and ringing, that of the enemy slow and dull; but on both sides heavy. In this fight, General Sickles commanded in turn each regiment of his brigade, encouraging his men, and leading, and inspiring them with his own fiery ardor. The fire rapidly extended over Hooker’s entire line to Hinks’s flanking regiment, ever increasing in intensity, as reinforcements of the enemy joined those already engaged. The Union men behaved splendidly. General Hooker’s division merited and obtained great praise. At 5 o’clock the fighting was over; the enemy was entirely driven from their camps in front of redoubt No. 3; and the brave soldiers rested on their laurels, having achieved a dearly bought victory. Our loss was very heavy. The rebel loss was not so severe. BATTLE OF GAINES’ MILL. JUNE 26, 1862.