Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-09

up position covering the roads leading from Richmond
towards White Oak Swami and Long Bridges During
he night Of the 26th aud 29 the divisions OF SI0cum and
Mccall were ordered the White Oak Swamp, and
were placed in position to the passage Of the
naming divisions aud Trains Ia the course of the
ught the corps Of Sumner and Hentzeman and the dvi
sion OF Smith ordered to fall back frm their original
positions to an Interior line ting upon Keyess old
treDchusnts on The left, and arranged to
Savage Station They ordered to hold this position
until dark then to fall back the swamps and rjon
the rest Of the army This order not fully carried
ut nor was The exact position designated occupied by
the erebt divisions concerned Nevertheless the re-
suit that two attacks Of the enemyone very de-
termined onsetwere sgnay repused by Summers corps
assisted in the last by Smiths division If the sixth corps
These the two actions known the affair of Alrns
Field and the battle Of Savage Satou The third corps
crossed the swamp before dark having left its position
before the hour assigned and not In action during
that day. the 29tb The second corps and Smiths dyi.
sion safely crossed the swamp during the night with oil
guns and MATERIAL and brought up the Of the
wagon train
La the night Of the 29th and 3Oh the fourth and fifth
corps ordered TO to James rver to rest on
that river at Turkey bend and occupy position
pependicular to the ver thus covering the Charles City
road to Richmond opening cnmuncato with the gun
bosts and covering the wagon train which pushed
rapidly possible upon Haxas and Harrsons plantations
he remaining corps were moved 10 the same direction
and posted to the main roads leading from
Richmond well the crossings by which the army had
passed the White Oak Swamp and to guard the passage
Of our large trains 10 the James river.
When the troops were in position in the afternoon be-
rter with two divisions, ores and Sy kes) and the
OF the illery Malvern H (tbe left If
the Position) next Couch. with brigade Of Peck's
division in reserve; next Sedew wick; then Mccall Hooker
Kearny Slocum, Nagee's brigade Richardson and smith
During the actors which ensued at Turkey Bridge the
New Market road, Glendale, and at White Oak Swamp
changes made In this disposition.
The result Of the various actions Of the 3O.h during
which our whole line attacked, was that the ENEMY
was every where repulsed except in his attack upon
McCas division which hard pressed by greatly superior
nf krnI
aud lost most OF its artillery The gal ant coEduct Of their
comrades by especially Hookers DIVISION retrieved
that m1hap aud renaered tinpossbe for the enemy to
reap any advantages from it,
BY this time the last of the trains had reached Haxas
Landing and during the night the troops fell back the
vicinity OF that place. all arriving in safety and unmoesed
at an early hour Of the morning They promptly
placed in position to offer battle to the enemy should be
again attack the left Of the line resting the admirable
position Of Malvern Hl with brigade in the low groun
To the left Watching the road to Richmond the line thin
following ne Of heights nearly parallel to the river and
bending back through the woods nearly to the James
right On the left relied upn the natural ad-
Vantgea o the position on the right where the natural
sttength was less, little cutting OF timber done,
and the roads blocked Although force email for
80 extentive position it to hold it any
cost.
When the battle commenced in the afternoon saw that
the faces aud bearing the which Satisfied me that
we were sure of victory The attack made upon ur
left and left CENTRE and the brunt of it borne by Po
ters cps nc.uding Hunts reserve artillery and Tylers
heavy guns) and COUGHS division reinforced by the bri
gades Of sickl-s and Meagher 1t de-perate brave,
ad determined, but so destructive the fire ,f
numerous artillery heroic the conduct of infantry,
AID so admirable The dispositions of Porter that troops
could have carried the position Lac in the
my Tell back, thoroughly beaten with dreadful slaughter
SO completely he crushed and great his Losses
that be has not since veotnred TO attack us.
Previous to The battle of Malvern had fully consulted
with Commodore Rodgers and with him made hasty re-
connosauce Of the positions Of the river The iculty
Of passing transports above CITY Point was so great
that determined to fall back upon the position
pied by the army-a position, too much ess extensive
than tnat Of Malvern and ther fore permitting give
the men the rest they much needed Accordingly the
army fell back during the night Of the lt and I'd July
reaching he place ut early The ID On the 81
the trooPs were placed essentially in their present posi-
ti0ns.
To the calm judgment Of history and the future leave
the ia of pronouncng upon this movement, confident
that Its verdict will be that such difficult movement
was ever more successfully executed that army
fought more repeatedly, herocay and uy against
sucn great odds that of any displayed
greater plIe, endurance patience, and chseruress
under such h4rdshps.
My mind cannot expres ssons Of thanks and admi-
ration enough Intense enough to do justic. to
my feengs towards the army am proud t, command
To my counrymen confidently commit them, convinced
they will ever honor every brave who served during
those historic days with the army of he Potomac
Upon whatever field il may hereafter be called npon TO
act ask that il may lose name, but may ever
be known as the Army Of the Potomsc-a which
never has nor ever will disgrace.
1t il not my purpose now 10 make mention of stn
Rusbed servcrs ne names OF t1ufe who deserve well
of their country would swell this report too g,ea di
mensons. will aimply call aueLtion to the invaluable
services rendered by the artillery, and say that its per-
fomauces have fully justified my anticpatoas, and prove
to be policy to cherish and increase that Of the
service.
cannot conclude this report without expressing my
thanks to tbs gllaut and accomplished Commodore j. hn
Rodgers for the valuable assistance rendered the Amy in
ways but especially by the fire Of portion OF
fotla Upo the flank If he enemy attacking Malvern Hill
on the 3Olh Of June and let Of Juy heir FIRE was
ceent and produced very beneficial results.
am General very respectfully, your obedient servant
GEO. MCCLELLAN,
Major General Commanding
Brig, Gen. L. THOMAS, Adju'ant General.