Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-08
4;o, ~ Malvern Hill By Federal Troops.

,a+;on Of Malvern Hill By Federal troops.
1~s~..,ondence Of the Philadelphs Inquirerl
a., Nondav afternoon, Gen. Joseph Hooker,
~ ~ ontire Division, together with the d.
S :;:on under command Of General Sedgwick; a
, ,.: Of cavalry under Gen, Pleasonton, and
snn batteries, commanded respectively by Cap
49,, DeRnssv. Benson, Bramal|, and Tldbal',
ia whole under the immediate command of
c.n Hooker, were ordered to make recon
oo;sxance towards the enemy's lines.
A. four o'clock they left tn encampment
.a1 nrocceded out the Charles City road; after
ALLOWING it q few miles they struck off into the
5v-roads ana about ten reached Nelson's
Farm. where they bivouacked for the night
r.r),, in the morning they were again on their
u.v ar still following a roundabout way; in
an hour after this second start, they found
themselves in the rear Of Malvern HILL and
ebo Confeierates there stationed, thus effec-
.ualIv getting between Richmond and its pro-
factors. Judging from the preparations that
had been made for our reception, it was evi-
dent that some of their many spies, which, at
ii times, are believed to be among Us, had
riven them the information OF our coming.
Soon after reaching cur post on the forces
we're formed in line Of battle. The artillery on
the front, supported by infantry, and the cav
arv 10 the Left 10 DO the scouting
Soon after six 0 clock the enemy opened upon
Us with their field pieces, our forces promptly
returning. The fight lasted nearly two hours,
WHEN the enemy retired towards the river,
taking with them their pieces.
It was the opinion Of the Command Il Gen.
oraI, when commencing the battlt, that the
enemy were in large force at this point, the
nature Of the grould and the character Of the
country preventing s sight at their encamp-
ment, and hence their numbers we're not de-
tOituly known. After the fight it was discUy-
orel that they hrd Oh y three regiments infan
try, four pieces Of artillery, and a small NUM-
Der Of cavalry. The prisoners were tlken all
concur IN saying that they would have retired
upon the lrst intlmatlon Of our approach, had
they not been momentaIlly expecting the ar
rival Of General Ioonlbs and his division, Up
to late hour last night it had not arrived
During the engagement we on'y had two
batteries engag d, Captains Benson and Bram
Sa!; 50 effectively We're they II anaged that the
infantry were not called upon to fire q single
SHIT
Our gunboats, TOO; should not be forgotten,
j'r during the engagement they occasionally
let ship some few shells among them; if doing
no lmmcdlate damage, they succeeded in crea
(ing an Immense fright for nothing are the
Vontederate' 50 much afraid Of as they are OF
the shells whi;h are fred from these same gun
boats.
u: The non-arrivs) Of Gen. Toon1bs, with his
OYl&on, Is by some, attributed to the pre-
S1nce OF our gunboat. There is sufficient rea
S ',a 1or this suppo5ition, as there is no road
,0l previously occupied by u by which he
x v, nave REACHED th3 hill, except one that
: tbs us directly along the bank Of the river, and
Y zen 70 q rahlno FIRE from I'll the rnnh LIZ