Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-07-18
VOL. XLI7
BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.
FOUGHT TUESDAY, JULY lsT, 1862.
Final Defeat Of the Rebels.

ed, and the army felt ray Of hope as the
heavy booming Of the Galena's guns echoed
around them. During the night the army fell
back across peninsula 10 another bend Of the
river further down, and known as Malvern
Hill, slight emlnence well calculated for a
desperate resistance and permanent position,
but exposing the supplies below. Wagon trains
in the meantime proceeded towards Harrison s
Bar, some miles still further below, where the
headquarters were to be stationed and supplies
were ready to land.
But all the trains had not got away. The
immense train Of siege guns was still waiting
a clear road, aud on Tuesday Gen. Mcclellan
gave the command Of the position and prepa-
TatiOus for the defence TO Gen. F. J. Porter,
than whom a cooler, braver officer and a more
perfect gentleman does not live.
During the night and early in the morning,
the emminepee and its slopes had been planted
with artillery, rising tier above tier with the
heaviest guns, until near two hundred pieces
were ready for the reception OF any foe des-
perate enough to approach. Gen. Porter him
self an old artillery officer and instructor,
took personal supervision of battery of beau
tiful 32-pound rifle guns, the excellence of
which dees credit to our recent improvements
in artillery warfare.
The forces under Gen. Porter were his own
corps, Gen. Moreil's and Sykes Divisions, Col.
Hunts reserve artillery of ferty pieces, incIu-
ding the heavy Connecticut artillery which did
such fearful execution at yorktown, General
Couch's Division, Gen. Meagher's Irish Brig
ade, and Gen. Sickle's Brigade, kindly volun-
teered during the day, by Gen. Heiutzelman,
10 his brave companion in arms at Just the
right time, and when his experienced eye
thought them of service. They we're quite
acceptable. Such little exchanges Of courte-
sizes on battlefield are appreciated when heat
and toll have exhausted brave band. One
who looked on as Gen. Porter advanced TO re-
ceive the proffered aid, stated to me that neith-
er the General nor himself could suppress
trickling tear at the unexpected thoughtful
ness and kindness of General in whose corps
he had served all along in front of Yorktown,
and until lately.
The force of Gen. Porter was stationed with
Gen. Couch on the Quaker City road. at the
extreme right, with Gen. Morell on the left,
aud Gen. Sykes Division of regulars in the
centre.
Here again was the army which had engag-
ed TIE enemy at Mechanicsville and Chicka-
hominy face TO face with nearly treble their
number, as before. The enemy seemed in no
haste to make the attack; in fact he thought
it necessary to bring up all his available force
before doing so. At 10 O'Clock the enemys
line was fond to extend in bali square, his
right wing extending nearly to James river,
and his left directly in front and facing the
river in a parallel ine when be opened fire
from an eighteen gun battery placed near our
lines under cover of the woods
Il was Immediately responded to- and at
the same time the gunboats on the river swept
out the line on the right, compelling the rebels
to abandon their dead on the Geld. The ac-
tion became general as soon as the position of
the rebels and their approaches were fully dis
cerned. As the battle progressed and the en-
emy advanced, the roar of the siege guns and
artillery was terrific beyond any language of
description. Nearly fifty shell minute were
exploded above and amid the solid columns Of
the approaching enemy, and so continued du-
ring the day with no apparent cessation, and
up to 9 o'clock p. m.
The determined manner in which the enemy
pressed up showed that they had determined
to make this decisive battle, either to cap
ture the Union army or drive it into the river.
The rebels could depend less upon their artil-
lery from lack of numb.rsand our better po-
sition, aud therefore. pressed colu mn after col
umn up in feverish haste, to see them break
before the terrific iron hail of our shell, and
either fly precipitately or march rapidly out
of danger.
All this time, and up to near o'clock, our
infantry were resting upon their arms and
waiting the moment when the hardihood of
continually advancing columns should render
st necessary 10 meet them with the bayoIet.
II had been determined that very little mus
kct ammunition, comparatively, should be ex-
pended, but that the enemy should rather be
kept back at the poiut Of the bayonet, under
range Of the artillery.
Col. Hunt, in command of the artillery, had
his horse shot, early in the day, and mounted
another, and personally directed the operations
until a second was shot under him. At one
o'clock the rebels came up ia solid phalanxes
and pressed forward toward the guns, support
| ed by column after column, as far as the eye
could reach, and presenting one of the mos
fearful as well as interesting sights inagina
bIe.
For some miles around, with the exception
of point on the left. the country is almos
cleared of forest, and one of the largest an,
most beautiful estates extend, over which tht
eye sweeps at pleasure.
The fearful havoc of the rapidly bursting
shells from guns ranged so as to sweep any po
sition far aud near, and in any direction, wa
terrible to behold. The burning sun whic!
had poured down its terrible heat during tn
previous few days and up to noon, had becom
over-clouded, and the day was comparativel.
cool. Still the dust and smoke partially con
cealed the dreadful carnage.
The enemys guns were by no means with
out their effect on our side, and the dead anC
wounded were literally covering the field
while as the enemy advanced nearer and neaT
er, the old dwelling turned into a hospital wa
Immediately under fire; still the surgeon au,
nurses never finched, and the stretchers am
ambulances came in with their loads of woun
ded. As the enemy approached, Gen. Morell'
division met them, received their distant fir
and, advancing, poured in volley after volley
while the several pieces of artillery directed t
this point threw canister and grape, and, as
were, moved them down by battallions. Th
enemy could not bear it, and our troops fough
against a second relief of fresh troops in sev
, eraI instances, and then charging, drove thel
| from the field. Another column came up
front Of Gen. Sykes, when the regulars mt
them in a most admirable and determine
manner. Perfectly disciplined, they obeyt
each order with promptness and precision, ar
t with as much GOODNESS as if merely at DIRE
parade, with white gloves and shining button
e THE FIERCENEss OF THE CONFLICT.
Colonel Warren, commanding a divisio