The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16

VAN, mercy IS asked from the enraged SOL
der; there is no mercy, no sparing no
compassion. The son dies at the feet Of
his father; the father has forgotten that he
has son; the brother neglects the groans
of the dying brother; the friend those of
the dying friend; all bonds of nature loos-
ened; only with one feeling burns the
breast-revenge Here it was where the
son of Major Peyton, only fifteen years old,
| asked his father for help when a ball had
shattered his legs.
l will help you after the destruction of
the enemy" the father answered; 81 have
to lead many more children to glory-for-
ward -
A few steps farther on the father was
likewise struck down by ball. Miracles
OF bravery were here performed on both
sides. History will seek in vain for drawer
soldiers than fought here But the raging
hatred was equally great On both sides
the wounded pierced the breast of the
wounded enemy lying near him.
The success of General Hill enabled
other Generals to lead back into fire parts
of their scattered troops, and fighting was
indeed renewed on almost the whole line
till late at night, for everything depended
on prolonging the battle with the enemy,
who must be exhausted like ourselves, I'M
til fresh troops conld arrive for our rein
forcement. At last, at half-past ten at
night, the divisions ofMagruder, Wise and
Holmes appeared, and went at once to the
front. Ii the commanders Of divisions had
executed their task quickly and with cir
cumspection, rivers Of blood would have
no
been thrown back upon his reserves. AS
it was, these three divisions came seven
teen hours too, late. The Generals
had not understood well the dispositions
for the march; their columns crowded
each other, got into confusion, and lost
time irreparably. However this was, the
rest OF our army owed their syfety to the
arrival Of these divisions on the field of
battle. AS soon as they had taken their
position in the front, our regiments were
withdrawn and re-Organized the same light
as much as possible; officers were put in
the vacant places, and provisions, too,
which happily, had arrived, were handed
to the troops; the burial of the dead and
the removal of the wounded was provided
for as far as possible.
THE SEVENTH DAYS BATTLE.
On Tuesday, the 1st Of July, at two
O'Clock in the morning, when the stars
were still glittering in the armament,
Gen. Magruder opened again the battle.
| Soon canOnading was going on to such a
| degree that the earth trembled. AT noon
| Mcclellan had already yielded all his posi-
| tons, leaving behind his wounded and
| baggage, and even many guns. Magruder
fol eli INIT ha ho1
| to clear before him the surrounding woods
by artillery and rifiemen.
At half past four o'clock p. NJ. our
troops arrived near the well-known farm
of Dr. Carter, called Malvern Hill. Here
General Mcclellan had placed his army
anew in battle array. No sooner did Ma
gruder see the enemy's lines than he went
to attack them Splendidly the column
crossed the space which separated them
from the enemy, and stormed against the
hostile batteries. The brave fellows were
received by deadly hail Of bullets, which
moved them down. The rest of the fine
divisions had to seek for shelter behind the
woods. Anew the Generals, Smith, An
derson and Holmes, led on their men, but
instantly projectiles of the greatest dimen-
siOns are thrown into our ranks, and prove
destructive in the highest degree also,
the fire from the fleet, which, two and
half miles distant, commences to take part
in the fight. With desperate courage our
men rush against the works Malvern Hill
is attacked from all sides Mcclellan
bravely keeps his ground, and only at II
at night he yields the position. strong by
nature and by art, to the heroic efforts OF
| our troops.
The battle Of the seventh day will live
as the battle of Malvern Hill, in the men,
DRY of the people for all time to come. In
no other battle before Richmond was the
fighting confined in so small space as
here, and to this must be added the effect
of the ships mortar bat cries. 1t was Q
fearful sight to see those 2S-pounder shells
breaking through the woods. An explo-
sion of one of them seemed to make the
earth burst. In no war yet since the COM
mencement OF time, were proiectlles Of
such size ever used The battle of NAL
vern Hill will be a memorial for that peo-
pie which manifested here its will and
determination as a nation to conquer or to
die for its liberty and independence.
Through swamps, woods. and impede
ments of all kinds Gen. Mcclellan led
back his beaten army. He could exclaim
with King Francis before Pavia, owe
have lost every thing except our honor!"
Unwearied, he pursued his way to the
James river to find shelter under the
broad sides of his vessels.
We are compelled to express our high
est esteem of Gen. McClellan's military
qualities There are not many Generals
in the Union army who can compete with
him. Deserted in the most desperate sit
uation by his companion in arms, General
Mcdowell, left him to his fate.
His line of retreat cut off, he resolved to
choose base of operations of which no
body had thought. Every foot of ground
he defended with courage and skill. His
last position at Malvern Hill proved his
military talent, as did his defence and his
combinations. But his troops were too
much demoralized by the seven days fight
ing, and had lost their composure, whilst
some of his Generals could not understand
the ideas of their commander, and sup