Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-09

) I now T--
clamor, and both sides handled their guns slrf
fully. The object Of the enemy seemed to be g
break our right center, and consequently Burns
brigade was the recipient Of the principal shar
Of their favor As the afternoon wore away
the cOmbatants drew closer together, and th.
conflict became one Of the shgrpest Of the bat
ties on Virginia soil. Two companies Of on,
regiment stsmpeded. Gen Burns flung himself
across their track, waved his bullet shastsre5
hat, expostUlsted, exhorted, entreeted, threat
ened, impreeated, under a storm Of lead, and 81
last, throwing his hat, in agony Of despair, upon
the ground, begged them to rally once more
and preserve them and him from disgrace. The
| last appeal touched them. The men wheeled
with alecrity, and fought ike heroes until the
carnage ceased. Each regiment distinguished
| itself so c0nspiciOusly, that in happier times
their names viii be inscribed in general orders.
But there was such a number Of regiments and
| officers engaged that the record would make a
volume. Suffice it that none but those / ex-
pected, and who redeemed themselves sUbse-
/ quently, faltered IN the fight Summers corps
held the field till Heitzslman's corps had retired
and then moved quietly and swiftly back, under
cover Of night and the forests, across White
Oak bridge.
Our trains had now passed White Oak bridge.
Such an achievement IN such order, under the
circumstances, might well be regarded wonder
iul. The retreat was most ably conducted.
Until this day (SlOnday) the enemy. seems con-
stantly to have operated upon the suppositiOn
that our army was intending to retire to the
Pamunkey. They had been aslUded into this
belief by the 18th New York and 18th Massa-
chu5etts regiments, together with part Of ths
lst, I'd, and 9th regular cavalry which had been
sent out to Old Church on Thursday morning
to impress the enemy with that notion. Par
parenthesis-they retired safely to Yorktown,
and are now at Malvern Hll But our true
object must now have become apparent, and It
was vitally necessary to get the trains through
before the enemy could push columns down tha
Charles City, Central and Newmarket roads.
But until eight o'clock in the morning we had
no knowledge Of any but the Quaker road %
the point at which we now aimed-Hardin's
Landing and Malvern Hill, In Turkey bend
Sharp reconnaissance, however, had found an
other and soon our tremendous land feet was
sailing down two roads, and our long artillery
train of 80 guns, and equipments were lum-
bering after them with furious but orderly speed.
So perfect was the oTder-althougb to An IN
practieed eye it would have seemed the c0nfu-
sion of Babel-that the roads were blsekaded
but two or three times. The typography Of the
country had now become such that infantry
could march through the woods in parallel lines
on both sides Of the trains, while White Oak
swamp fortunately protected our TANKS from
cavalry. We were getting On admirably, and It
was apparent that the whole army would be
safely in position before sunset unless the enc
my should attack.
BATTLE OF WHITE OAK SWAMP.
About 10 o'clock, Gen. Mcclellan pushed to
the river, communicating with Com. Rodgers,
and had the gunboat feet posted to aid US
against the enemy. The cause was desperate,
but it was a relief to reach the river where We
could turn at bay with our rear protected By the
James, and fsnks partially covered By gun
boats. Tidings, however, had been received
that the enemy was pushing swiftly upon Us IN
several columns Of immense numbers, sppa-
renily determined to crush Us, or drive Us into
the river that night. They opened hercely with
shell upon Smiths division at White Oak bridge
After burning down the house Of a good seces-
siOnist and breaking his leg, the enemy extend
ed his line Of FIRE and soon engaged our entire
rear guard, striking at Socum, who was gua-d-
ing against flank movement designed 70 cut
our column in twain
Long before this our vanguard lad deb0uchsd
from the road into the field before Turkey Bend.
and our reserve artillery was powerfully posted
on Malvern hill, a magnificent bluff, covering
Hardin's Landing, where cur gunb0ats were
cruising. Here was glorious prospect. Though
our gallant fellows were brsyely holding the
fierce enemy at bay to cover the swiftly escaping
trains, it was clear our troubles were not ended
We had again deceived the enemy by gong 70
Turkey Bend. He had imagined We were
marching to New Market destined to a point on
Cliff Bottom road near Fort Darling It was
not far away, and the enemy was msssing
his troops upon US on the left, and on our new
frOnt-for when we arrived at Malvern hlll, the
wings Of the army as organized were reversed
Keyes taking the right, POrter's corps the LETT
as we faced Richmond. Our line now described
a great arc and there was fighting around thres-
fOurths Of the peTimeteT.
Gen. Mcclellan, who had already eommuni-
Gated with the gunbosts, returned rom the mont
to Malvern Hills, which were made his battle
headquarters, and dispositions for final emer-
gencV were made Fitz John Porter, was
marched from the valley under the bill to his
position on the western crest Of the hill, where
be could rake the plains toward Richmond. Our
splendid artillery was pieturesquely poised N
fan shape at salient points and its supports
were disposed in admirable cover in hOl0Ws be-
tween undulatiOns Of the bluff. Powerful cor
centrating batteries were also posted in the CEN
ter so that, to use the language of Col. SUItZeT,
50 wen elothe this hill in sheets of fame before
they take it." 1t was magnificent spectacle
You see, friend, how desperate was the hour
The roar of combat grew tremendous as the al
ternOOn wore away. There was no time then
nor afterwards to ascertain dispositions OF par
ticular organizations. They were thrown TO-
gether wherever emergency demanded Wnite
Oak bridge, the Quaker road, Charles City road
the banks Of Turkey Creek, were enveloped IN
smoke and fame, iron and lead crUsnine,
through forests and men Ike a destroying pestl.
lsnce. A masked battery which had opened
from the swamp under Malvern Hill, begun to
prove inconvenient to Porter. II ploWed and
crashed through some Of cur wagons, and DIS
turbed orouDs Of officers in the splendid groves cf
Malvern mansion.
The gunboat GaIena, anchored on the oppo-
site side of Turkey island, and the Arostooks
cruising at the head Of the island, opened their
ports and plunged their awful metal INTO me
rebel cover with Titanic force. Toward sunset
the earth quiveTed with the terrific eoncusslon
of artillery, and huge explosions. The vast
ariel auditorium seemed cOnvulsed with tho
commotion of frigAtful sounds Shells raced
like dark meteOrs athwart the horizon, crossing
each other at eccentric angles, exploding mo
deadly iron hail and fantastic pulls Of smoke.
until ether was displaced by a vast cloud Of
white fumes, through which even the fierce blaze
Of a setting summers sun could but grimly pen
citrate. Softly putting above the dark curtain OF
forest which masked the battlefield, there was
another fleece whichstruggled through the dense
foliage like heavy mist clouds, and streaming
upward in curious sddies with the ever varying
current of the winds, mingled with, and aD-
sorbed the canopy of smoke which hOated nom
the surface of the plains and river. The battle
stained sun, sinking majestically into the hoFi-
zon behind Richmond, Furnished the fringe OF
gossamer with lurid and golden glory and AZ
| fantastic columns cspriciOusly whifed up nom
the woods, they were suddenly transformed INTO
pillars of lambent fame, radiant with exquisite
| beauty, which would soon separate into tnou-
sand picturesque forms and fade into am OPac-
/ - Ap4 tba oonvTIsiou beneath was not q
/ spectacle for curious eyes.
| The forms Of smOke-masked warriors. the
/ qlesm Of muskets on the plains, where soldiers
were disengsged the artistic order Of 5stte on
| Malvern Hill the wild career of wilder horse
men plunging to and from and across the Geld,
formed a scene Of exciting grandeur, In the
forest where eyes did not penetrate, there was
nothing but the exhilarating and exhausting
spasm Of battle. Baletul TRES blazed among the