The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-04-24

passing across the Swamp night and day
withou: intermssien until all lad cross>
| ed
| On the 2Sth Perter's corps was also
moved across the White Oak Swamp, and
on the morning of the 29th took up pos
ition covering the roads leading from
Richmond toward White Oak Swamp and
Long Bridges. During the night of the
2Sth and 29th the divisions of Slocum and
Mccall were ordered to across the White
Oak Swamp, and were placed 10 position
to cover the passage of the remaining d.
vision and trains. In the course of the
nigh. the corps of Sumner and Heintzelnan
and the division of Smith were ordered to
fall back from their original positions to
an interior line resting upon Keyes's old
intrenchment on the left, and so arranged
as to cover Savage Station. TheY were
ordered to hold this position until dark,
then to fall back across the swamps and
rejoin the rest Of the army. This order
was not fully carried out nor was the ex-
act position I designated occupied by the
different divisions concerned. Neverthe-
less, the result was that two attacks of the
enemy-one very determined onset
we're signallv rspulsed by Summers corps.
These are the two actions known as the
affair of Aliens Field and the battls Of
Savage Station The Third corps crossed
the swamp before dark, having left it's
position before tho hours assigned, and was
not in action during that day (ths 29;h).
The Second corps of Smiths division safely
crossed the swamp during the night, with
all their guns and material, and brought
up the rear of the wagon train.
In the night of the Goth aad 3Oth the
Fourth and Fifth corps were ordered to
move to James river to rest on that river
at or near Turkey Bend, and occupy a.
position perpendicular to the river, thus
covering the Charles City road to Rich
mond, opening communication with the
gunboats, and covering the wagon train
which was pushed as rapidly as possible
upon Haxall's and Harrison's plantations.
The remaining corps were moved in the
same direction, and posted so as to cover
the main roads leading from Richmond AS
well as the crossings by which the army
had passed the White Oak Swamp, and
to guard the passage of our largo trains to
the James river.
By this time the last of the trains had
reached Haxall's Landing, and during tns
night the troops fell back to the vicinity
of tha. place, all arriving in safety and
unmolested at an early hour OF the morn
ing. They were promptly placed ia pos
ition TO otfe; battle to the enemy should
he again attack, - the lets OF the
line resting on the admirable posi-
ton of Malvern Hill, with . brigade
in the low ground to the left, watching
the road to Richmond, the line then fol-
lowing a line of heights nearly parallel
to the river, and bending back through
the woods nesrly to the James river on
our right. On the left We relied upon the
natural advantage Of the position; on the
right, where the natural strength was less,
some little cutting OF timber was done,
and the roads blocked. Although our
force WIS small for so extensive position,
it was necessary to hold it at any cost.
When the troops were in position in
the afternoon, before the enemy attacked,
they were posted about as fellows: Por>
ter, with two divisions (Mcrslps .nd
S;kes), and the mass of the reserve .rtlil-
cry on Malvern Hill (tha left @: the posi-
tion); next Couch, with one brigade OF
Peck's division in reserve, next Sedgwick;
then Mccall, Hooker, Kearny, Socum,
Nagles's brigade, Richardson and Smith.
During tie action which ensued at Turkey
Bridge on the Newmarket road (GIen-
dale), and at White Oak Swamp, changes
were made in this disposition.
The resuI, of the various actions Of the
seth, during which our whole line was at
tackled, was that the enemy was every
where repuised, except in his attack upon
IcCall's division, which, hard pressed by
cr...ly superior numbers, and having lost
three o, It's general officers. broke and lost
u,ost of ia artillery. Tho gallant conduct
81 ,bsir com, sde. near by, especially
HooEsr,s division retrieved that mjshap
and rendered It inpos>..hIe for the eneny
to reap any advantages from H.
When the battle commenced H. the al
ternoon I saw that IN the faces and bearing
of ths men arhich satisfied me that sSc asers
sure of uictory. The attack was made up
on our left and left center, and the brunt
of it was borne by Porter's orps (nclu-
ding Hunts reserve artillery, and Tylsrs
heavy guns) and COUGHS division, rein
forced by the brigades of Sickles and
Meacher. 1t wa. desperate, brave, and de-
terminsd but SO destructive was the fire
of our numerous artillery, so heroic the
conduct Of our infantry, and so admirable
the dispositions Of Porter, that no troops
could have carried the position. Late in
the evening the enemy fell back, thorough
" beaten, with dreadful slaughter. So
completely was he crushed and so great
were his Losses tha. he has not since VEN
tured to attack US.
Previous to the battle of Malvern | had
fully consulted with Commodore Rogers,
and with him made has:y reconnaissance
of the positions Of the river. The Difficult,
ty of passing orr TRANSPORTS above CITY
Point wa. 40 great tha: l determined to
fall back upon the position now occupied
by the armv-a position, too, much less
extensive than that Of Malvern, and there.
fore permitting me to give the men the