Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-28

to he mouth OF the ohckaheuy aud asssstsn the land
ing places proceed up the Chckahomny to the head 81
navigation aud the places where the army could
ui nectsy aud then to headquarters
and report He left Sayages Station that night and reach
ed the James river the next afternoon BY the time he
had completed his examination the army had reached the
james river at Malvern.
While at receiving his Instructions he
shown, he teses printed order not then issued dl
recng the destruction of the baggage of officers aud
aud the tents camps equipage and things OF that kind
appealing to the army to submit to this pryaon as 1T
would be only temporary" only for few days" He
monstrated with Gen Mcclellan against issuing such an
order that it would have bad effect would demorazs
the army, as It would be telling them plainly than
ed and running for their lives The order was not issued
aud Gen Mcclellan testes that he has recollection Of
any such order.
BATTLES AT SAVAGE STATION, GLENDALE, MALVERN.
The retreat to the james river having been decided
npon the army took up its march being attacked by the
in the day and however successful in repeng
those attacks evacuatng their positions during the night
The actions of Savage Station, Glendale and Malvern
fought during the Of the army to the James.
the enemy being repulsed IN each days fighting and
army fall ng back. under orders, during the night.
IL would appear from all the Information your commit
tee Obtain, that the battles fought the ronps
handl d, new dispositions made and old changed.
tirey by the corps commanders without directions from
the Commanding General He would place the troops in
the morning. then leave the field and seek the position for
the next day. giving directions until the close of the
days fighting when the troops would be ordered to fall
back during night to the position selected by him.
La that manner the army reached the james river.
The battle of Malvern R, Of the lst of July, the
most fe cey contested Of any upon the Peninsula The
troops were placed in the morning. under directions Of
Gen Mcclellan who then left the field returning to it
again the afternoon The first action of the day
meDced about ten O'Clock in the forenoon but did
time long The principal action when the enemy attack
ed most vigorously and persstently commenced late in
the afternoon and continued till after dark the enemy be
ing repuls-d and beaten at point Many OF the Off
examined by your committee of the opinion that
the enemy severely punished that day that they
could have been followed into Richmond had army fO
lowed them up vigorously
1t is that army had been severely tried during
the preceding week. fighting, they did nearly every
day. aud retreatng every night The corps commanders
and the troops under them fought most braveyno troops
better However dsheatened they may have become by
what all must have regarded precipate retreat dur
ing the night they still fought tn The INST obstnate
bravery when attacked in the daytime by exutan aud
successful enemy.
THE FALLING BACK TO HARRIsoN's BAR
The Commanding General, however, determined to fall
back from Malvern to Harrsons Bar notwithstanding
the victory won there by our army lie seems 70 have re-
garded his army entirely untitled to meet the enemy
for the day of the battle Malvern evidently bsore that
battle took place. he writes to the Adutant General of the
army from hhxalPs plantation:
"My completely exhausted and dread the
if attacked today by fresh toops. possible shall
retire Harrsons Bar where the gunboats
der aid in covering position Permit urgehat
hour should be lost sending fresh troops More
gunboats much needed
On the I'd of July the President eegraphs 10 Gen Nc
Cl-llan
Your despatch of yesterday morning induces to hope
your army having rest In this hope allow
SON with You for When you for 900 men to
be promptly you surely labor uuder gross
posa Of made as't s s %
ton and advising return TO that plan lind Included IN and
Sa ms @ that s S 5
Of Gen Fremons in the Valley all of Gen Banks all of
do new uith Gan
and Gen Dix added to those mentioned have outside
of army $4,000 cast Of the mountains hus the
idea of sending you 10000 any other considerable force
promptly, simply absurd IT. in your frequent mention of
responsibility yop had the impression thai blame for
doing than you please be relieved OF such inn
preston only beg that in like will not ask i'm
just now DO not ask you to ry just Save the
material aud personnel and wi strengthen the
again fast as / can.
On the Sd Of July after the army hal resched Harr.
sons Bar, Gen. Mcclellan writes to the Secretary of
War
al in hopes that h4 enemy ia as completely worn out
he certainly very severely punished in the
last battle Ii is OF course impossible estimate yet
our losses ba. doubt whether there are tod moe than
task Of cspuri Richmond and ting end this reb Il
lion Ienfo should rather nnch over
than less than one hundred thousand men,
The retreat of the army from Malvern to Harrison's
Bar very precpiiae. The troops upon their arrival
there hudded together in great confus on the en-
tire army being collected within spsce OF aboI three
for occupying the heights which commanded The position
the troops placed to b able resist
attack in force by the enemy and nothing but heavy
RAIN thereby preventing the enemy from bridging their
artillery, saved the army there from destruction The
enemy did succeed in bringing up of their artle y
and shells into camp before any preparations
for defence had been made On the Sd Of July the heights
taken possession of by troops and works of de-
fence commenced aud then and until then, our
army secure in that position.
ANOTHER ESTIMATE OF THE ARMY.
BY reference to the testimony of Mr. Tucker Assistant
Secretary Of War it will be that prior to the 9th II
April, 1862 III 500 had been landed he peninsula
Shortly afterwards Gen. Frankn's division OF Gen Nc
Dowells Corps numbering about 10 900 men. sent
down. Ia the early pat Of June Gen McCalrs dvisi m
of the Same cops, Of about 10000 sent down
together with aoout ii 900 from Baltimore and For
tess Monroe and about the last of June 900
of Gen. Sheldss division also sent down Total
$50 500 men
Ga the Goth of July 1862 according to the cent
to the Adutant Generals Office by Gen McC Han, the
Army Of the Potomac, under his command follows:
Present for duty, I0l 69 special duty sick, ADD ia
the corps of Gen. Dix amounting 1897 present for duy
or in all ii ,775 men
THE ARMY ORDERED FROM THE PENINSULA.
The army remained at Harson's Bar du ing the month
of July aud part OF August IL engaged active
by the enemy The subj ct Of the future operations Of the
army matter OF much Geb ration the part of the
Government Gen. McC elan claimed that he J ,mes
the true line Ct approach To Richmond and that
he should be reinforced in order the campaign
that place The Presiden visited the army about
the 9Th ofJuy, but nothing then decided upon
On the 25tn of July Gen. H.eck visited the army at
l.. o. De- l.