Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-10

. the 28th. Early on that morning the bridge
were burned, and the whole army was thus con
centFated on the right bank Of the Chickahom
y iny.
/ During the battle of Gaines'a Mill the position
Of General Smith was warmly attacked, bu
the enemy was at once repulsed with loss.
In the course Of the night of the 9Th Gen
eral Keyes was ordered to cross the White Oah
Swamp with the 4th corps, and take up posi-
ton TO cover the passage Of tho trains. Meas
ures were also taken to increase the number o.
bridges across the swamp The trains we're se
in motion at an early hour, and continued pas
cling across the swamp, night and day, without
intermission, until all had crossed.
On the 28th Porter's corps was also moved
across the White Oak Swamp, and on the morn
ing of the 29sh took up position covering the
roads leading from Richmond toward Whitf
Oak Swamp and Long Bridges. Daring the
night of the 28th and 29th the divisions of Slo
cum and Mccall we're ordered across the White
Oak Swamp, and were placed in position ID
cogsr the passage OF the remaining divislonf
and trains. In the course Of the same night
the corp, Of Sumner and Heintzelman and the
division Of Smith were ordered to fall back
from their original positions to an interior line
resting upon Keyes's old inIrenchments on the
left, and 80 arranged as to cover Savage Station
They were ordered to hold this position until
dark, then 10 fall back across the sWamps nnd
reioin the rest of the army. This order was
not fully carried out, nor was the exact position
| designated occupied by different divisions
concerned.
Nevertheless, the result was that the attacks
of the enemy-one very determined onset
were signally repusod by Summers corps, as
sisted in the last by Smiths division OF the
sixth corps. These are the Two actions known
as the affair of Aliens Field and the battle OF
Savage Station. The third corps crossed the
swamp before dark, having left ita position be-
fore tho hour assigned, and was not in action
during that day (the 29Gh). The second corps
and Smiths division safely crossed the swamp
during the night with all their guns and mate
rial, and brought up the rear of the wagon
train. In the night OF tho 29th aud 3Oth The
fourth and fifth corps were ordered 10 move 10
| James river, TO rest on that river at or near
Turkey Bend, and occupy position perpendlc-
ular TO the river, thus covering the Charles
CITY road to Richmond, opening communca'
| tion with the gunboats, and covering the wag-
on train, which was pushed as rapidly as possl-
BILE upon Haxalls aud Hariison's plantations
The remaining corps were moved IN the same
direction and posted 30 as 10 cover the main
roads leading from Richmond as well aa the
crossings by which the army had passed the
White Oak Swamp, and TO guard the passage
of our large trains to James river. When the
troops we're in position 10 the afternoon be'ore
the enemy attacked, they were posted about as
| follows: Porter with Two divisions (Morell,s
and SyKea'e), and the mass OF the reserve artll-
lery, on Malvern Hill (the left OF the pooition);
next Couch, with one brigade OF Peek olViS-
lon In reserve; next Sedg gwick; then Mccall,
Stnrum Nanlaa'a brigade.
Richardson and Smith. During the action
which ensued at Turkey Bridge on the New
Market road (Glendale), and at White Oak
Swamp, changes we're made in this disposition.
The result of tue various actions oil the 3oth,
during which our whole line Vas attacked, was
that the enemy Was everywhere repulsed, ex
cept In his attack upon McCall's division,
which, hard pressed by greatly superior mum
bers, and having Lost three ot its general OH
cers, broke and lost most OF its artillery Int
gallant conduct Of their comrades near by, ed
!. pecially Hooker's division, retrieved that mis-
hap, and rendered it impossible for the enemy
to reap any advantages from It, By this TINT
the last of the trains had reached HaxalPs Land
lug, and during the night the troops fell bach
to the vicinity OF that place, all arriving IL
| safety and unmolested at an early hour In the
, morning.
They wero promptly placed in position to Of
fer battle to the enemy should he again attack
: the lefI OF the line resting on the admirable
position of Malvern Hill, with brigade in the
low ground to the left, watching the road Il
Richmond, the line then following line .
heights nearly parallel to the river, and bending
back through the woods nearly to the Jame
river on our right. On the left We relied upoi
the natural advantages of the position; on th'
right; where the natural strength was leSs, SOM
little cutting of timber was done, and the road
blocked. Although our force was small for 8,
extensive position, il was necessary to hold
at any cost.
When the battle commenced in the afternoon
D saw that in the faces and bearing Of the me-
J which satisfied me that We were sure OF victory
The attack was made upon our left and lef
center, and the brunt Of 10 was borne by Porter
corps (including Hunts reserve artillery ant
Tyler's heavy guns) and COUGHS division, re
! inforced by the brigades of Sickles aud Mea
, CHER. Ii was desperate. brave, and dettr mined
! but 60 destructive was the fire OF our numer
; Gus artillery, 80 heroic the conduct of our in
fantry, and 80 admirable the dispositions o.
Porter, that no troops could have carried lht
, position Late in the evening the enemy fel
back, thoroughly beaten, with dreadful slaugh
} ter. So completely WAS he crushed, and &c
great were his lsJoes, that he has not since Ven
! tured to attack us.
Previous 90 the battle of Malvern, | had fully
: consulted with Commodore Rodgers, and viii
} him made haety Reconnaissance OF the posi-
tion on che river. The difficulty OF passing oul
, transports abovo City Point was 80 great that
3 determined 20 fall back upon the position u0N
occupied by the army-a position, too, muci
less extensive than that oil Malvern, and there
! fore permitting me to give tue men tue res
D they so much needed Accordingly tue arm,
fell back during the night of the lst aad 81 o
July reaching this place Rt an early hour Oh tn,
Cd. On the 80, the troops we're placed essential
ly in their present posit on
To the calm Judgment OF history and the fu'
ture leave the task OF pronouncing upon thi
! movement, confident that its verdict will b,
that no such difficult movement was ever more
successfully executed; thstn army ever tough
more repeatedly, horoically aud succesaiull!
against such great odds; that no men, of an,
0 race, ever displayed greater discipline, e1dur
ance, patience and cheeriulness, under sue
! hardships.
My mind cannot coin expressions OF thanks an
Q admiration warm enough or intense enough
q do justice TO my feelings toward the army
Q am so proud TO command. 10 my countryme
confidently commit then, convinced they Wi
= ever aonor every brave man VINO served durin
those seven historic days with the Army OF th
Potomac Upon-WhatsVer field it may herea
Ter be called upon 60 act, | ask that iG may Il q
q or lose ts name, but may ever be known as b
u Army OF the Pot0mRc--a name which lt NV
u has nor ever will disgrace.
" IL