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was placed in line of battle near the scene of action, and under fire, but passive.

never before been under fire. Two of my batteries, Pegram's and Davidson's, (the latter having just been ordered up from my camp,) were engaged at Malvern Hill, and for two hours each nobly did their work, as their battered condition and many casualties sadly attested.

becoming very heavy, I was ordered forward with my division. Branch's brigade took the route, and, with springing steps, pressed forward. In this series of battles, in which my troops Arriving upon open ground, he formed his line so well did their part, I beg leave to remind the and moved to the support of the troops engaged General-in-Chief that three of my brigades had in his front. Field and Pender were successively thrown forward. Field pressed forward with such ardor that he passed far in front of my whole line. The Sixtieth Virginia, Colonel Starke, and Fifty-fifth, Colonel Mallory, charged and captured two batteries of Napoleon guns, and the Sixtieth crossed bayonets with the ene- Among the general and field officers killed and my, who obstinately contested the possession of wounded during these battles are Colonels Campthese guns. General Pender, moving up to the bell, C. C. Lee; Lieutenant-Colonels_Johnson, support of Field, found that he had penetrated Smith, Green, Shackelford; Majors Bronaugh, so far in advance that the enemy were between Burke, and McLaughlin, killed, and Brigadierhimself and Field. A regiment of Federals, Generals J. R. Anderson and Pender; Colonels moving across his front and exposing their flank, W. J. Hoke, Riddick, Connor, McGowan, Goodwere scattered by a volley. Pender continued to ner, Cowan, A. J. Lane, J. H. Lane, Thomas, move forward, driving off a battery of rifled Hardeman, and Starke; Lieutenant-Colonels pieces. The Forty-seventh Virginia, Colonel Folsom, Simmons, Barber, Christian, H. H. Mayo, having gotten possession of a battery, Walker, Howard, and Majors Fite, Livingstone, turned its guns on the enemy, and thereby greatly Hickerson, and Grice, wounded. Lieutenantassisted Gregg, who was hotly engaged on the Colonel Coleman, of the artillery, during the ableft. To this regiment also belongs the honor sence of Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Walker, from of capturing Major-General McCall. The bri- sickness, acted as my Chief of Artillery, and with gade of General Featherstone having become energy and efficiency. The gallantry of Lieuvery much scattered, and been forced back, Col- tenant Chamberlaine, the Adjutant, was conspicuonel McGowan, with the Fourteenth South Caro- ous. The members of my staff- Major R. C. lina, retrieved our ground. On our extreme Morgan, A. A. General; Major J. G. Field, A. right matters seemed to be going badly. Two Q. M.; Major E. B. Hill, Division Commissary; brigades of Longstreet's division had been Major J. M. Daniel, Volunteer A. D. C., (woundroughly handled, and had fallen back. Archer ed severely at Cold Harbor ;) Captain Adams, was brought up and sent in, and, in his shirt- signal officer, serving on my personal staff; my sleeves, leading his gallant brigade, affairs were Aids-de-camp, Lieutenants F. T. Hill, and Mursoon restored in that quarter. About dark the ray Taylor, and Captain Douglass, my chief enenemy were pressing us hard along our whole gineer officer were all gallant and zealous in line, and my last reserve, General J. R. Ander- the discharge of their duties. Surgeon Watson, son, with his Georgia brigade, was directed to ad- Medical Director, made efficient arrangements vance cautiously, and be careful not to fire on our for the care of the wounded. The ambulance friends. His brigade was formed in line, -two corps and drivers deserve especial mention for regiments on each side of the road, and, obey- their active and untiring exertions in bringing off ing my instructions to the letter, received the fire the wounded. Especial mention for conspicuous of the enemy at seventy paces, before engaging gallantry is made of the following officers: Colthem. Heavy reenforcements to the enemy were onels Starke, Mallory, McGowan, Thomas, Ridbrought up at this time, and it seemed that a tre- dick, Barnes, Hamilton, Hoke, J. H. Lane, mendous effort was being made to turn the fortunes Cowan; Lieutenant-Colonels Folsom, Gray, Mcof the battle. The volume of fire that, approach- Elroy, Simpson, H. H. Walker; Majors C. C. Cole, ing, rolled along the line, was terrific. Seeing Vandegraff; Lieutenants Young, Norwood, Critsome troops of Wilcox's brigade who had rallied, tenden, Bryan, Haskell, Shotwell, Thirty-fourth with the assistance of Lieutenant Chamberlaine North Carolina; Captains Collins, Engineer; and and other members of my staff, they were rap- of the artillery, Pegram, Davidson, Braxton, idly formed, and being directed to cheer long Crenshaw, Andrews, McIntosh, and Lieutenant and loudly, moved again to the fight. This seemed to end the contest, for in less than five minutes all firing ceased, and the enemy retired. My brigade rested upon the battle-ground until relieved, near dawn, by Major-General Magruder. The trophies of my division this day were fourteen pieces of artillery and two stands of colors.

The next evening was fought the battle of Malvern Hill. Finding that General Magruder needed assistance, I sent two brigades - Branch's and Thomas's, (Anderson's.) They were, however, not actively engaged. My division, however,

Fitzhugh, and Sergeant J. N. Williams. Sergeant-Major of Nineteenth Georgia regiment, Captain Wright and his company of cavalry, from Cobb's legion, acting as my escort, were of great service to me, and by my permission made a gallant charge upon a body of the enemy's infantry. There are many cases of individual daring, both among officers and men, and I regret that I do not know their names.

This report, being made out so long after the events transpired, is not, of course, so perfect as I would desire, and injustice may be done officers and regiments. I respectfully refer you to the

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HEADQUARTERS DIVISION.

Captain A. S. Pendleton, A. A. G.:

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit a report of the part taken by my division in the engagements around Richmond, which resulted in lifting the Young Napoleon from his intrenchments around that city, and setting him down on the banks of the James River, twenty-five miles farther off, with a loss of fifty-one pieces of artillery, twenty-seven thousand stand of arms, and ten thousand prisoners.

On the twenty-fifth of June, my division constituted the supporting force to a portion of the brigades of Generals Wright and Ransom, which were engaged with the Yankees near King's School House, on the Williamsburg road. We were exposed all day to an artillery fire, but with little loss. We marched that night through the mud to the vicinity of the Mechanicsville Bridge, and there awaited the advance of Major-Generals Jackson and A. P. Hill. The plan of operations was, for the former officer to come down by the way of Hanover Junction, and get in the rear of Mechanicsville, so as to unmask the bridge opposite it, and enable my division to cross over, followed by that of Major-General Longstreet. To the four divisions of Generals Longstreet, Jackson, A. P. Hill, and myself, was intrusted the task of turning the right flank of the Yankee army. About three o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty-sixth of June, the firing commenced at Meadow Bridge, and was followed by the rapid running of the Yankees toward Mechanicsville. My division was put in motion, and crossed the Chickahominy, after a little delay in repairing the bridge. General A. P. Hill was then hotly engaged about the town, and my leading brigade (Ripley's) was pushed forward to his support. The Yankees were beginning to retreat across the

creek (Beaver Dam) toward Ellison's Mill, but their artillery was still on the plain on this side. The three batteries of Jones's battalion, of my division, and Hardaway's battery and Bondurant's, were brought into action, and drove the Yankee artillery off the field. In the mean time I had received several messages from General Lee, and one from the President of the Confederate States, to send forward a brigade. In advancing this brigade, I met General Pender, whose brigade had just been roughly handled, who told me that, with the assistance of two regiments of Ripley's brigade, he could turn the position at Ellison's Mill by the right, while two regiments should advance in front. Brigadier-General Ripley was directed to cooperate with General Pender, and the attack was made about dark. The enemy had intrenchments of great strength and development on the other side of Beaver Dam, and had the banks lined with his magnificent artillery. The approach was over an open plain exposed to a murderous fire of all arms, and an almost impassable stream was to be crossed. The result was, as might have been anticipated, a disastrous and bloody repulse. Nearly every field officer in the brigade was killed or wounded, and a large number of officers of all grades were equally unfortunate. These hero-martyrs, Colonel Stokes, of the First North Carolina regiment, and Colonel Robert A. Smith, Forty-fourth Georgia, deserve more than a passing notice. The former had served with credit in the Mexican war, and was widely and favorably known in his own State. The latter, though in feeble health and scarcely able to walk, insisted upon being at the head of his regiment, and attracted my particular attention by his gallantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Estes, of the Forty-fourth, was severely wounded, and two captains, ten lieutenants, and three hundred and twenty-one privates were killed and wounded in this regiment. Of the First North Carolina regiment, Colonel Stokes and Major Skinner, six captains and the adjutant were killed, and one hundred and thirty-three privates were killed and wounded. These two regiments (never before under fire) were badly demoralized, and scarcely preserved their organization in the subsequent operations. Captain N. A. Brown, of the First North Carolina regiment, and Captains Beck and Lumpkin, of the Fortyfourth Georgia, rallied the fragments of their commands, and are handsomely spoken of by Brigadier-General Ripley. The Third_North Carolina regiment and the Forty-eighth Georgia were less exposed than the other two regiments of Ripley's brigade, and, in consequence, suffered less severely; but Major Savage, of the Third North Carolina, fell badly wounded. The batteries of Captain Rhett and Captain Hardaway were particularly distinguished in this engagement.

The division slept on the field that night. About nine P.M., I received an order from General Lee, to cooperate with Major-General Jackson, on the Cold Harbor road, going by way of Bethesda Church. The route we had to take was found at daylight, to be held by the enemy

in force with strong intrenchments, mounted brave Colonel O'Neil, kept steadily with it." In with artillery. I sent the brigades of Garland crossing the swamp, "the Third Alabama enand Anderson to the left, to turn the position, while my other three brigades and all the division artillery were kept on the main road, ready to advance when the rear of the works was gained. The Yankees abandoned their earthworks, when Garland and Anderson gained their rear, and the whole division moved on. The shorter road, upon which Major-General Jackson marched, being obstructed, he was compelled to turn off and follow in my rear. We therefore reached Cold Harbor first, capturing a few wagons and ambulances and prisoners. The division moved up cautiously to the edge of the Powhite Swamp, where the Yankees were found to be strongly posted with ten pieces of artillery, commanding the only road upon which our guns could be moved. Captain Bondurant's battery was brought into action, but in less than half an hour was withdrawn, badly crippled.

countered troops of our own ahead of them, and was halted. The Sixth did not, but moved on at a rapid pace into the field in front of the enemy's battery, and in face of their infantry, encountering there an enfilading fire from the battery, and a heavy fire of musketry in front, and, finding themselves unsupported, the men were required by Colonel Gordon to lie down; and finally, no support arriving, they retired under cover, in perfectly good order, and there awaited, with the Third Alabama, further orders." In regard to the Twelfth Alabama, General Rodes, it had shifted to the left late in the evening, and joined the troops which came up on the left of Hill's division. Anderson's brigade, on the left, met the Yankees on the edge of the swamp, and was first engaged. The contest was short, but bloody, and the woods were entirely cleared of the Yankees, who fell back behind a fence and By the order of Major-General Jackson, the ditch and the brow of the hill. My division now ocdivision was moved back to the edge of the cupied the edge of the wooded swamp, separated woods, parallel to the road, to cut off the retreat from the Yankees by an open field, some four of the enemy from the attack of Major-Generals hundred yards wide. Confederate troops upon Longstreet and A. P. Hill. It soon became our right (subsequently discovered to be Winapparent, however, that the fire on our right was der's and Lawton's brigades) were advancing receding, and that the Yankees were gaining across the plain to attack them. I found Generground. Jackson's division and mine were then als Anderson and Garland discussing, with great ordered forward to the support of Longstreet and enthusiasm, the propriety of attacking the YanA. P. Hill, who had been hotly engaged for sev-kees in flank with their two brigades, while Laweral hours. My division occupied the extreme ton and Winder attacked in front. The only obleft of the whole confederate line. The order of jection to the movement was, that a Yankee batadvance of the division was, Garland on the tery on our extreme left could enfilade our line left, next Anderson, next Rodes, next Colquitt on its advance. Garland observed: "I don't Ripley being on the extreme right. In advan- think it can do much harm, and I am willing to cing we had a dense swamp to cross, with tangled risk it." Anderson responded in the same spirit, undergrowth, and the radius of the wheeling cir- and I ordered an advance of the whole division. cle had to be shortened. These combined causes To prevent the destruction of life from the batproduced much confusion, and a lapping of bri-tery, I resolved to make an attempt to capture it. gades, and the separation of regiments from their Two regiments of Elzey's brigade, I think, were proper places. Several regiments of my division found separated from their command, and these were thrown into the rear, and did not engage I ordered, under my volunteer aid, Mr. Sydnor, the enemy. The Forty-eighth Georgia and the perfectly acquainted with the ground, to get in fragments of the Forty-fourth Georgia (Ripley's rear of the battery, while the Twentieth North brigade) were thus thrown into the rear. The Carolina, Colonel Iverson, the Third North CaroSixth and Twenty-seventh Georgia (Colquitt's lina, Colonel Meares, and the First North Carobrigade) were the only regiments of their brigade lina, commanded by Captain H. A. Brown, were which drew triggers. The other three regiments ordered to make a direct advance. Unfortunateof this brigade, Twenty-third Georgia, Twenty-ly, Colonel Iverson alone carried out his orders eighth Georgia, and Thirteenth Alabama, preserved their positions in rear, but did not engage the Yankees. The Fifth and Twenty-sixth Alabama (Rodes's brigade) encountered a battery in their front, which they charged and captured. Colonel C. C. Pegues, the noble Christian commander of the Fifth Alabama, fell, mortally wounded in this charge. Upon falling," says General Rodes," he called to the next officer in command, Major Hobson, and told him that the Fifth had always been in the advance, and that it was his last wish it should go ahead, and allow no regiment to pass it. Major Hobson gallantly carried out his wishes, and led the regiment constantly ahead of all others in the division, except the Twenty-sixth Alabama, which, under the

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fully. Says General Garland: "Colonel Iverson was seriously wounded at an early period, while gallantly leading up his regiment to take the battery. The regiment, after he was wounded, was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin J. Faison. They advanced gallantly and took the battery, which they held for ten minutes. The gallant Faison received a mortal wound in the very act of turning 'a captured piece upon the flying foe. He was greatly beloved, and his memory will be cherished with veneration and pride. The enemy soon returned to the battery, and the regiment, having sustained a loss of seventy killed and two hundred and two wounded, and being without support, retired by order of Major Toon." Heavy as was this loss, no doubt a greater loss

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was saved to the division in its advance by this of his regiments did not draw trigger. The gallant attack. The temporary silence of the Sixth Georgia and Twenty-seventh Georgia, of battery enabled the division to move up in fine this brigade, commanded by those pure, brave. style, and turn the tide of battle in our favor. noble, Christian soldiers, Lieutenant-Colonel "The effect of our appearance," says General Newton and L. B. Smith, behaved most heroicalGarland, at this opportune moment upon the ly, and maintained their ground when half their enemy's flank, cheering and charging, decided number had been stricken down. My seven dithe fate of the day. The enemy broke and re-vision batteries, under Captains Carter, Hardatreated, made a second stand, which induced my way, Bondurant, Rhett, Clark, Peyton, and Nelimmediate command to halt under cover of the son, were all engaged at one time or another, at roadside and return their fire, when, charging for- Mechanicsville, and all, in like manner, at Cold ward again, we broke and scattered them in Harbor. Bondurant had three men killed, ten every direction." The statements of the Yan-wounded, and twenty-eight horses killed and diskees themselves, and of the French princes on abled at the latter place. The other six batteries McClellan's staff, fully concur with General Gar- suffered but little. Under the immediate superland that it was this final charge upon their right vision of Major-General Jackson they opened flank which decided the fortunes of the day. across the swamp upon the Yankee batteries just The Yankees made no further resistance, but fled before our final charge. in great confusion to Grapevine Bridge.

On the twenty-eighth of June, Major-General It was now fairly dark, and hearing loud cheers Ewell was sent, with his division, to Dispatch Stafrom the Yankees in our immediate front, some tion, on the York River Railroad, while General two hundred yards distant, I ordered our whole Stuart went down to the White House, the termiadvance to halt, and wait the expected attack of nus of the road. Both expeditions were completethe enemy. Brigadier-General Winder, occupy-ly successful, and the Yankee line of communiing the road to Grapevine Bridge, immediately cation being thus cut, McClellan was compelled to halted, and the whole advanced columns were change his base. We spent two days in destroyhalted also. The cheering, as we afterwards ing vast military and medical stores south of the learned, was caused by the appearance of the Chickahominy, and attempted to hold the crossIrish brigade to cover the retreat. A vigorous ing over that stream. Scouts from Hood's briattack upon it might have resulted in the total gade and the Third Alabama, Rodes's brigade, rout of the Yankee, army and the capture of succeeded in crossing, and my pioneer corps, thousands of prisoners. But I was unwilling to under Captain Smith, of the engineers, repaired leave the elevated plateau around McGee's house Grapevine Bridge on the twenty-ninth, and we to advance in the dark along an unknown road crossed over that night. McLaws's division had skirted by dense woods in the possession of the a bloody fight at Savage Station on the afternoon Yankee troops. The night was spent in caring of the twenty-ninth instant; that night the Yanfor the wounded and making preparations for the kees continued their retreat, leaving eleven hunmorning. I drew back the advanced troops sev-dred sick and wounded in our hands. Jackson's eral hundred yards, to McGee's house, and sent command (my division leading) passed Savage across the swamps for my division artillery. This, Station early in the morning of the thirtieth however, did not come up until after sunrise next instant, and followed the line of the Yankee remorning. All of the advanced troops of General treat toward White Oak Creek. We picked up Jackson reported to me for orders, and, with my about a thousand prisoners, and so many arms own, were intrusted with guarding the road to that I detached the Fifth and Fourth North CaroGrapevine Bridge. Soon after daylight, it was lina regiments to take charge of them both. At discovered that the Yankees had retreated across White Oak Creek we found the bridge destroyed, the Chickahominy, destroying all the bridges. and the Yankee forces drawn up on the other The Yankee General, John F. Reynolds, with side. Twenty-six guns from my division, and his aid, was discovered in the woods by my pick-five from Whiting's division, opened a sudden ets and brought to me. Major-General Jackson and unexpected fire upon the Yankee batteries came up after sunrise, and assumed the command of his own and my division.

and infantry: a feeble response was attempted, but silenced in a few minutes. Munford's cavMy thanks are especially due to Brigadier- alry and my skirmishers crossed over, but the Generals Garland and Anderson for their skill Yankees got some guns under cover of a wood, in discovering the weak point of the Yankees, which commanded the bridge, and the cavalry and their boldness in attacking it. Their bri- was compelled to turn back. The skirmishers gades, being more exposed than the others of my staid over all day and night. We attempted no command, suffered more severely. Brigadier- further crossing that day. The hospitals and a General Rodes was on the field, and displayed his large number of sick and wounded, at White usual coolness and judgment, though very feeble Oak Creek, fell into our hands. Major-Generals from the unhealed wound received at Seven Pines. Longstreet and A. P. Hill attacked the Yankees The brigade of Brigadier-General Ripley was not in flank at Frazier's farm, some two miles in adengaged, owing to that officer not keeping it in vance of us, that day, and a corresponding vigorhand, and not pressing vigorously in front. Col-ous attack by Major-General Huger on their rear onel Colquitt, commanding brigade, in like man- must have resulted most disastrously to them. ner, did not keep his brigade in hand, and three The obstacles he met, which prevented his ad

vance, may have been of a character not to be Jackson that the firing from our batteries was of overcome. I do not know and cannot judge of the most farcical character. He repeated the orthem. The bridge being repaired, Jackson's com- der for a general advance at the signal of the mand crossed over (Brigadier-General Whiting's shouting from General Armistead. As well as I division leading) and effected a junction with could learn the position of our troops, BrigadierGeneral Lee near a church a few miles from Mal- General Whiting was on my left, Major-Generals vern Hill. Whiting's division was turned off the Magruder and Huger on my right, and Majorroad to the left at the foot of this hill, and mine General Holmes some miles in our rear. While to the right. We had to advance across an open conversing with my brigade commanders, shoutfield and ford a creek before getting under cover ing was heard on our right, followed by the roar of the woods. We were in full view while effect-of musketry. We all agreed this was the signal ing these objects, and suffered heavily from the agreed upon, and I ordered my division to adYankee artillery. vance. This, as near as I could judge, was

Brigadier-General Anderson, on the extreme about an hour and a half before sundown. We left, had become engaged, his brigade roughly advanced alone, neither Whiting on the left, nor handled, and himself wounded and carried off Magruder or Huger on the right, moved forward the field, before the other brigade had crossed an inch. The division fought heroically and well, the creek. By the order of Major-General Jack- but fought in vain. Garland, in my immediate son, the division was halted in the woods, and an front, showed all his wonted courage and enthuexamination made of the ground. The Yankees siasm; but he needed and asked for reënforcewere found to be too strongly posted on a com- ments. I sent Lieutenant-Colonel Newton, Sixth manding hill, all the approaches to which could Georgia, to his support; and observing a brigade be swept by his artillery, and were guarded by by a fence in our rear, I galloped back to it, and swarms of infantry, securely sheltered by fences, found it to be that of Brigadier-General Toombs. ditches, and ravines. Tier after tier of batteries I ordered it forward to support Garland, and acwere grimly visible on the plateau, rising in the companied it. The brigade advanced handsomely form of an amphitheatre. One flank was pro- to the brow of the hill, but soon_retreated in distected by Turkey Creek, and the other by gun- order. Gordon, commanding Rodes's brigade, boats. We could only reach the first line of bat-pushed gallantly forward, and gained considerteries by traversing an open space of from three to four hundred yards, exposed to a murderous fire of grape and canister from the artillery, and musketry from the infantry. If that first line was carried, another and another, still more difficult, remained in rear. I had expressed my disapprobation of a further pursuit of the Yankees to the commanding General, and to Generals Jackson and Longstreet, even before I knew of the strength of their position. An examination satisfied me that an attack would be hazardous

to our arms.

able ground, but was forced back. The gallant and accomplished Mears, Third North Carolina regiment, Ripley's brigade, had fallen at the head of his regiment, and that brigade was streaming to the rear; Colquitt's and Anderson's brigades had also fallen back. Ransom's brigade had come up to my support, from Major-General Huger. A portion of it came, but without its Brigadier. It moved too far to the left, and became mixed up with the mass of troops near the parsonage, on the Quaker road, suffering heavily and effecting little. Brigadier-General Winder About ten o'clock, I think, I received a note was sent up by Major-General Jackson, but he from General Jackson, enclosing one from Col- came too late, and also went to the same belt of onel R. H. Chilton, chief of General Lee's staff, woods near the parsonage, already overcrowded saying that positions were selected, from which with troops. Finally, Major-General Ewell came our artillery could silence the Yankee artillery, up, but it was after dark, and nothing could be and as soon as that was done, Brigadier-General accomplished. I advised him to hold the ground Armistead would advance with a shout, and carry we had gained, and not to attempt a forward the battery immediately in his front. This shout movement. was to be the signal for a general advance, and all the troops were then to rush forward with fixed bayonets. I sent for my brigade commanders and showed them the note. BrigadierGeneral Rodes being absent, sick, the gallant Gordon was put in command of his brigade. That accomplished gentleman and soldier, Colonel C. C. Tew, Second North Carolina regiment, took command of Anderson's brigade. Garland, Ripley, and Colquitt, and these two Colonels, were present at the interview. Instead of ordering up one or two hundred pieces of artillery to play on the Yankees, a single battery (Moorman's) was ordered up, and knocked to pieces in a few minutes; one or two others shared the same fate of being beat in detail. Not knowing how to act under these circumstances, I wrote to General VOL. IX.-Doc. 23.

The battle of Malvern Hill might have been a complete and glorious success, had not our artillery and infantry been fought in detail. My division batteries, having been three times engaged, had exhausted all their ammunition, and had been sent back for a fresh supply. If I had had them with me, with a good supply of ammunition, I feel confident that we could have beaten the force immediately in front of us. Again, the want of concert with the infantry divisions was most painful. Whiting's division did not engage at all, neither did Holmes's. My division fought an hour, or more, the whole Yankee force, without assistance from a single confederate soldier. The front line of Yankees was twice broken and in full retreat, when fresh troops came to its support. At such critical junctures, the general advance of the

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