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CHAPTER VIII.

PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN-MALVERN HILL-HARRISON'S

LANDING.

Battle at Turkey bridge-Withdrawal of troops to Malvern hillNoble efforts to save the wounded-Line of battle on Malvern hill-The battle-Retreat to Harrison's landing-March of the Reserves-Situation at Harrison's landing-Casualties in the Reserve Corps-Reorganization -Labors of the surgeons-Promotion of officers-Colonel McCandless -Fisher-Ricketts-Sinclair-Harvey-Hays-Jackson-Anderson— Taggart-Hardin-Donations of delicacies and vegetables-Mrs. Harris -Prof. Kevinski-Return of prisoners from Richmond-Their reception-McCall at home; sword presentation at West Chester-Resignation-General Reynolds assumes command of Reserves-President Lincoln and General Halleck visit the army-General Pope assigned to the army of Virginia-His mission—McClellan ordered to withdraw from the Peninsula-Tardy obedience-Critical situation of the armies -General Hooker's reconnoissance to Malvern hill-End of Peninsular campaign.

GENERAL Fitz John Porter having been misled on the night of the 29th of June, did not reach Malvern hill until nine o'clock on the following morning. He then placed his troops in a position to command all the roads leading from Richmond and the Chickahominy swamps, to the James river, converging at Turkey bridge. Through the command thus posted, the supply trains and the reserve artillery passed in safety to the river behind Malvern hill.

The splendid artillery was picturesquely placed on the hill, formed in fan shape at the salient points, and its supports were disposed in admirable cover in the hollows between the undulations of the bluffs. Some of the powerful batteries of seige guns were posted in the centre so as to sweep the plain towards Richmond.

At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th of June, the

rear of the immense supply train had passed Charles City cross-roads, and soon, the last wagon arrived in camp at Haxall's landing. The furious battle raging in front of General McCall's division gradually expanded, and extending towards the left, the shock was felt by Porter's troops at Turkey bridge, and at Malvern hill at about five o'clock. Finding that he could not pierce the centre on the New Market road, General Lee attempted to turn the left at Malvern hill. He planted his artillery under cover of a skirt of timber in front of General Porter's position. Under fire of these batteries he pushed forward a body of infantry to attack a point held by Colonel Warren's brigade. The discharge of artillery was very heavy, and though a concentrated fire of about thirty guns was opened on the enemy, his forces coolly braved the storm of shot and shell, and vigorously attacked the hill. The gunboats, Galena and Aroostook, took a position at the head of Turkey island and opening their ports plunged their awful metal into the woods among the rebel masses. As the sun settled down behind the forests, the artillery firing became heavier and more powerful. The missiles of the enemy plowed and tore through the fields and bluffs on Malvern hill, and the terrific concussion of the great guns on the boats in the river, and the explosion of the huge shells they sent tearing and crashing through the forest, made the earth quiver, and filled all present with awe. At last the terror of the artillery fire and the deep darkness that covered the scene put an end to the conflict. The enemy withdrew and sullenly sat himself down to watch his prey.

Late in the afternoon General Franklin withdrew from White Oak creek bridge, and marched slowly towards the James. Other divisions along the line were ordered to follow Franklin's corps, and before midnight, all the troops north of the New Market cross-roads were in motion towards Malvern hill. Early in the evening, General McClellan, who had all day been on the James, heard of the withdrawal of Franklin, and sent out one of his aids to learn the situa

tion in the front. The messenger had not gone far before he met two officers despatched from General Franklin to headquarters with the report, that he was falling back. Orders were then sent to General Sumner and General Heintzelman to retire their commands to Malvern hill. At midnight, General Seymour commenced the withdrawal of the Reserve Corps. He directed that the wounded should be left behind, and that the regiments should retire with as little noise and confusion as possible. The men felt incensed at the order to abandon their wounded comrades to the cruelties of the enemy; many of the soldiers stole away under cover of darkness, and went to the hospitals to search out and carry away their suffering companions. Captain Henderson of the Seventh regiment made diligent and successful efforts to remove the wounded men of that regiment. Lieutenants Harvey and Laycock of the same regiment assisted Colonel Harvey, and Lieutenant Watmough of Meade's staff, to escape to the river; both of these officers were wounded and in the hospital, and but for the humane conduct of their fellow officers, would have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Many noble men that night, who were wearied, jaded, hungry, and thirsty, did not leave their unfortunate comrades in arms, without an effort to deliver them from the dreadful fate that threatened them. Some succeeded, but most of the efforts failed; yet the self-sacrificing spirit, evinced under the most trying circumstances, demonstrated, that the soldiers in the Reserve Corps were as affectionate and humane, as they were patriotic and brave.

Late in the night of the 30th, General McClellan came up from the James river, and remained at General Porter's headquarters on Malvern hill until twelve o'clock. When he then learned that the enemy had been repulsed on the New Market road, and that Franklin, and the troops on the road were retiring towards Malvern hill, he returned to the river at Haxall's landing, and sent General A. A. Humphreys, chief of topographical engineers, to Malvern hill, with orders to receive the troops as they arrived, and post

them in line of battle on the hill. General Humphrey's proceeded at once to the hill, and reconnoitred the grounds in order to place the army in a position to defend itself against the pursuing enemy. Soon after three o'clock in the morning, he met General Barnard, chief engineer on McClellan's staff, who had also been ordered to post the troops, and was at that hour engaged in the examination of the grounds. The two officers joined their efforts, and before daylight, had succeeded in constructing a line of defence.

The line of battle was so formed, that the left and centre rested on Malvern hill, and the right curved backwards through a wooded country towards a point below Haxall's, on James river. Malvern hill is an elevated plateau about a mile and a half by three-fourths of a mile in area, well cleared of timber, and with several converging roads crossing it. In front are numerous defensible ravines, and the grounds slope gradually toward the north and east to the woodland, giving clear ranges for artillery in those directions. Towards the northwest, the plateau falls off more abruptly into a ravine, which extends to the James river. From the position of the enemy his most obvious lines of attack would come from the direction of Richmond and White Oak swamp, and would almost of necessity strike upon the left wing. Here, therefore, the lines were strengthened by massing the troops and collecting the principal part of the artillery. Porter's corps held the left of the line, formed with Sykes' division on the left, Morell's on the right with the artillery of the two divisions advantageously posted, and the artillery of the reserve so disposed on the high ground that a concentrated fire of some sixty guns could be brought to bear on any point in his front or left. Colonel Tyler also had, with great exertion, succeeded in getting ten of his siege guns in position on the highest point of the hill.

Couch's division was placed on the right of Porter; next came Kearney and Hooker; next Sedgwick and Richardson;

next Smith and Slocum; then the remainder of Keyes' corps, extending by a backward curve nearly to the river.

The Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, which had been on the most severe duty since the 26th of June, having fought three battles, and performed the most fatiguing night marches, was now, properly, held in reserve, stationed behind Porter's and Couch's troops. One brigade of Porter's corps was thrown to the left on the low ground to protect that flank from any movement direct from the Richmond road. The line was very strong along the whole front of the open plateau, but from thence to the extreme right the troops were more deployed. The right was rendered as secure as possible by slashing the timber and by barricading the roads. Commodore Rodgers, commanding the flotilla on James river, placed his gunboats so as to protect the flank, and to command the approaches from Richmond.

The enemy appeared in front of this line soon after nine o'clock, in the morning of the 1st of July, and commenced feeling the strength of the troops in position.

About two o'clock, a column of the enemy was observed moving towards the right, within the skirt of woods in front of Heintzelman's corps, but beyound the range of his artillery. Arrangements were at once made to meet the anticipated attack in that quarter, but, though the column was long, occupying more than two hours in passing, it disappeared, and was not again heard of.

About three o'clock, a heavy fire of artillery opened on Kearney's left and Couch's division, speedily followed up by a brisk attack of infantry on Couch's front. The artillery of these two divisions returned the fire with good effect; the infantry remained lying on the ground until the advancing column was within short musket range, when the men sprung to their feet and poured in a deadly volley which entirely broke the attacking force and drove it in disorder back over the ground. This advantage was followed up until the right of the line had advanced some seven or eight hundred yards, and rested upon a thick

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