Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-28


LOngrett had just driven the enemy. Here hO rested
for the night relieving General Jopgsreets corps.
TIE BATTLE OF NALvIks HILL.
Rcccnnoissancos on Tuesday morning disclosed the
fact that Mcclellan had taken refuge at Malvern Hill
remarkably strong position James river. 1t has
been generally supposed that only his rear guard was
posted here and that his battle, like those Of Savage
Station aud White Oak Swamp, was fought merely to
cover the further retreat Of the main army. This
entire mistake. On Malvern Hill we met the whole army
Of the Potomac for the first time. There are abundant
evidences to show tina. Mcclellan had selected this point
a. permanent position, with view Of using Shirley az
base Of operations janice river. He had already
commenced terrifying the hill and had established
general hospital Immediately behind il neither Of which
would lie have DONE had he intended to the position
merely for transien resistance TO our advance. Ca ar
irving in front Of this position forces stationed
in line curving around from the neghborhood OF
James river, the right to point the extreme left
Gen. Holmes occupied the extreme right, and General
Jackson with his and Gen. D. y. His troops, the
extreme left By the plan OF attack adopted by Gen.
Lee, simultaneous assault to be made all points
Of the enemys position and this attack, had IL been
made, would inevitably have resulted in the total rout
AAd dispersion of hcUelans army. In consequence OF
unfortunate Misunderstanding and the total mac
viy Of Gen. Holmes DIVISION the whole burthen of the
assault thrown upon Gen. hagruder, until towards
evening. when some OF Gen- Jaekson's farcss sere
brought into action. About / o'clock in the morning
Gen. Hugers division had been thro1n forward 10 the
centre Gen. ArmseAds brigade In advance. This bri-
gade encountered powerful body Of the enemys Skin
misheIs, whom, after sharp conflict they succeeded in
diving back aud thus clearing the way TO the position
III front Gen. hsgruder was nov ordered to move Tor
ward by the iaker road AID take position, with his
right resting Holmes DIVISION and his lett commu.
nicatng With Jackson. Having Just arrived on the field
Gen Asguder found II necessary to employ the services
Of guides to conduct him 10 his position He secured
three neO Who born aud brought up 10 the imme.
date vicinity ana knew every foot OF the grouHd. Un
der their euidalce he commenced bis march along tie
Quaker road He had accomplished about half The dis.
iance when he received orders turn back and take
another road to the left Of the one he following Il
that there some Misrepresentation about which
the true .sker road Gen hGgruder followed the
pointed Out Dy natives OF the ghb0tL00d which
10 fact the IskeF road but another road Was in
tended In consequence Of The time consumed BY these
MARCHES and counter marches 1t four O'Clock 10
the afternoon before Geo. hagfudsr faay reached the
position assigned 10 him. Here he found that the ground
admitted OF deployment OF only four bhgades--the
Of his troops consisting Of his forces aud those
j Ol Gen. Huger, OF which he had astumed command
lac was compelled 10 dispose sehsos N the rear Gov
| cred by the woods Immediately ia his front
open space Of 200 yards ss1lng up TO the enemy
position OIL his right VAS = meadow, 10 swept by d.
ire Of infantry aud batteries, that the officers, Who
amiued it, reported attack iu that direction TO be TO
tally impractcable. The Federal forces strongly
posted On Malvern Hi their batteries in commanding
positions, aud their infantry drawn up in the
supports to the artillery. Gen. hagruder at once pei
csised that occasion aud situation for the
Of artillery Tut hs smoos bore guns would have been
totally in c,ual great distance. He, therefore
despatched 40 oser With Instructions gather together
thirty s pieces from the various bstteriss In Ords
that he might open vigorous fire Oh the strong lines o.
Federal infantry and shAter them that be would
nothing 10 fear IRON them in attacking the batteries. Blu
the hour was late il would take long time fnC
aud 10 place ia position the qusite number Of pieces
and moreover, the order, three times repeated ant
finally in = peremp!ory manner, Wa- that the attach
should he made without further delay. There VA
nothing lett 10 do but TO push forward the Infantry
70 the assault Of the enemy's position with rApdit,
and resolution. As the ground admitted OF front o
only feur bgIdes, only that amount OF force could b,
us,d at one time Nevertheress, the assault was mad
with All impetuosy and yigor which have never beef
surpassed. Over All open space, swept by the fee o
artillery aud OF nluskelry, rushed fer twel,
hundred yards charging up TO the very muIEes of th
-. n.
unparalleled IN the history Of this Nothing like
has been seen beiore-perhaps nothing like il will b,
seen sgAin D1rsg the whole afternoon, and until dark
uess Tell upon the sceue thsterrbe struggle continued
Brigade alter brig AIDE advanced to the charge Ishn,
forward with enthusiasm. aud delivering, they wen
on.Ard, fire 8, dead that the enemy's ranks wer,
shattered almost 10 pieces aud reeled aud quvered il
the tempest When night came, our men had gainet
all the ground ia front Of lher original iGes quite vi
to the enelnys position. IL being then imprsclcable il
cous. ,sucs Oi the darkaess to keep up the attack
Ten Aagruder decided 10 hold the field he had wop All,
Wait or tue morning light show what ct ous assault
had caused upon the enemy He thought that 10 with
draw his troops would impair the prvstlgs OF series
brilliant victories aud Le believed that our attack ha,
been vigorous aud energetic 10 have produced
rOus coatt qlences upon Tue federa troops Tie esul
proved the correctness OF his anticpauons Before mid
NIGHT the enemy ID from she field in panic and confu
son. having lost by the confession Of their
papers, between 1900 and 900 men, in killed ant
| wounded. Malvern Hill won. The battle, though
delivered by portion only Of the Confederate forces
against hcOlesns whole army, terminated in brillau
success We gained the position for which We fought
aud drove Mcclellan from the ground be had deliberately
chts,n, and which he had begun TO ory With the Oh
| &C: of holding l. IS a permanent enosmpment. rh
bhg.dss OF Generals Malone aud Wright bivouicke'
upon the felj aud put out picsets within hundred
yards of the ssemy's guns but before day CAME th'
batteries sone and the Federal army, again beaten
ID humilsted by Sssy inferior Numbers, wss 10 full
retreat towards WestOver The force engaged In thu
battle under General hagruder. vas 2s 900 men,
this plumber his total lOss in killed aud wounded was le