The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-19

less OF the same Sax9 OF this disastrous mis- /
sile, lying unexploded on the field, which
measured twenty-five inches IN length and ten
inches in diameter.
4 Mean while, the infantry column having
been thinned cut to mere handful of men, BY
the whitening fire of the enemys field pieces,
were compelled to fall hack in disorder, and
the Purcell battery having lost more than sixty
men killed and wounded, and nearly all its
horses, was Withdrawn, and the Letche- artil-
lery ordered to replace IT, The cannonade
was still continuous and desolating. a second
and larger body of infantry now marched for
ward on the outer edge of the plateau to the
left of our position, and after gaining the very
crest of the gentle summit occupied by the
Yankees, was driven back with heavy loss.
The Letcher artillery at tais moment bore
the brunt of the destructive fire of the TWEEN
ty-four pieces of the Yankees, and every mo-
ment suffered some loss. a gallant lieutenant
was killed at his gun. Two of the man were
so mutilated as to be scarcely recognizable in
death, and IS others were wounded. When it
became apparent that this company could no
longer maintain its position without immedi-
ate support the third attack was made in heavy
column from the centre, the men moving for
ward in great steadiness but only to be re-
pulsed as before. Night was now coming on
and flank movement having been made by
jackson on the enemy's right with great havoc
| to their ranks, they withdrew their batteries
and retreated in the darkness. Thus was
| brought to a close the memorable fight Of
| Tuesday the LIST of July. 1t differed from the
sanguinary battle of Gaines mill in this, thai
| it was fought principally at long range with
artillery, whereas the encounter at the mill
was between the infantry hand to hand and
under the breastworks of the foe.
| During the whole of this tremendous can
nonade of Tuesday, Gen. Lees headquarters
were at a small house on the roadside within
range. Several of the enemys case shot burst
| in the yard, and upon the day of my visit the
| fragments of shells could be picked up all
around the building.
! Continuing my ride beyond the battle field
of Tuesday about mile and half, i came to
| the Malvern Hill mansion, which is occupied
! as Federal hospital, and there / saw $50 of
| the wounded Yankees in all conditions of hor-
| rible mutilation, many minus a leg or an arm,
| Others with wounds in the head, others again
shot in the bedy, all requiring the utmost care
of the surgeons, and yet Mcclellan had left
but three in charge of this and several other
| hospitals in the neighborbood. 0ue of the
wounded men told me their loss in the fight of
Tuesday far exceeded for the number engaged
that of the Seven Pines; another said that had
| the first attacking column been 5000 strong,
the day would have ended at once in rout,
for the cannoniers of one battery had left their
guns, ard the infantry supporting it had fled
in confusion before the Confederates had pro-
ceeded twc-thirds the way across the field; and
a third confessed that Mcclellan had pro-
claimed it in general order that all the United
States soldiers who should fall into the hands
| of the rebels would be put to death
! The house at Malvern Hill is quaint old
structure of the last century, built of red brick,
and stands on lofty hill thousand yards
from James river of whose meanderings for
| several miles it commands beautiful view
| The house was standing in Tarleton's time, and
is marked down upon the map accompanying
| the early English edition of his campaigns. A
| fine grove of ancient elms embowers the lawn
in grateful shade, attending numberless vistas
of far off wheat fields and little cleaning
brooks of water, with the dark blue fringe of
| the primitive pines on the horizon. It seemed
/ bitter satire on the wickedness of man, this
/ peaceful, serene harmonious aspect of nature
and turned from the joyous and quiet land
seape to the mutilated victims around me with
something very Ike malediction upon Sew
ard and Lincoln and their participants in the
chine of bringing on this accused war
| We are not surprised. of course, that the
operations of the last ten days are claimed as
victories by the Northern press. Gen. Nc
Call, who, you know, is prisoner in Rich
mond, eonversing with an Episcopal clergy
man of this city, declared that McClellans
/ "change of base line" to the james river, was
| but the carrying out of plan some time re-
/ solved upoR. "And was it a part of the plan,
| sir" asked our clergyman, /" that you should
be in Richmond prisoner p The general
was silent.
Every day adds TO the amount of arms, am
munition, and stores captured by our forces.
| Trenches of uncommon size and suspicious
looking graves have been opened and found to
contain boxes of fine Belgian rifles; large
quantities of fixed ammunition and sabres have
been dug up IN the same manner, and wagons
| have been discovered concealed in the woods
with clothing and commissary stores in good
order. On Friday, Col. Thos 7. Mumford,
of Jackson's cavalry, oyerhauled wagon con-
tanning the drawings of McClellan's engineer
/ department, embracing plans of all his earth
works executed and projected, and an excel
lent map of the country from actual survey.
The value of this acquisition is incalculable.
While the army has thus been winning vic
tories and plumber, it was natural enough that
the Confederate navy (what there is left of it
under Mr.. Mallory should meet with disaster
and loss. The steam guRboat Teaser has fal-
| len into the enemy's hands with balloon on
board, and its armament of two guns and am
munition unframed.
The Government has so successfully kept
from the public all intelligence of the move
/ uLA AicPOslbAOn VI our 1OrC6S curing the
last four or five days that am unable to give
you any information of affairs. All that we
know is that Mcclellan is at Berkeley, On
james river, where he has established his line
of communication with Old Point and received
large endorsements. The weather Is blazing
hot-96 degrees of Fahrenheit in the shade
and week of such fierce suns acting on the
"impenetrable morass which protects his
flank, will probably reduce his army to one
half its actual number. But then it will alsa
decimate our own force.
Let US hope for the best. Patience says
Sancho Panza, g and shuttle the cards"
Dixie.
Test Vote ON Armtng Negroes.
Yeas-Messrs. Aldrich, Alley, Ashley, Bah