The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-21
The Confederate Dead---MaIyern Hill.

To the Editors Of the Richmond Dispatch :
Nv attention has been called to an article
in the Daily Dispatch, of the 10th instant,
headed 1.-THE Confederate Dead I'm
carthcd-Twcnty Acres of Human Bones"
from which scriou. injustice may result TO
the subscriber from the fact that he IS, and
was for some years before the war, the
owner of Malvern Hill.
The article referred to says: CHOW comes
Il mos: narrowing story from Malvern Hill,
where 50 many Of our best and brarcst,
with their last drops of blood. sealed their
devotion to the southern cause. A cores
pondcnt OF Il northern paper says that on
the northwest side of the fort 4 most terri
BILE scene presents itself. Thousands OF
Confederate soldiers having been buried
where they fell, twenty acres or more have
lust been plowcd up by the owner OF the
field, and the plowshare turned to the sur
face all the skeletons. Over the whole tract
the bones are strewn in profusion, and grim
ming skulls stare the visitors i'll the face on
every hand &c.
Now, MessrS. Editors, allow me to say,
with all becoming respect, that so far as this
"ha,TouinJ story in all OF ats detd1tS, re-
fers to the subscriber. it is without shadow
of foundation in truth. The name Of Mol
Germ HI has been given to the battle which
was fought almost wholly, rs understood
and have been informed, on adjoining lands,
and not Oh Malcern Hal really !; and hence
Il very natural mistake with reference to my
ltrm and the lands which belong to 1t, and 4
confusion as to locality with reference to
this battle. A farm belonging to Mr.. Crew,
of Richmond, was the real locality, rs |
have always heard, OF the serious lighting OF
that battle: and this, or some other place
with which | am unacquainted, may have
been the field referred to where twenty
acres of Confederate dead had been I'M
earthed: but surely, with no sort OF truth
or Justice can the statements i'll the article
referred to apply to the subscriber, who had
never known or supposed, from what ne
had heard or otherwise, that any Coniede-
rate soldiers had been buried on the open
fields Of his t;lrn-the recent unearthlng o1
which, if so. lie could not have known, for
he has not been on the farm for seven or
eight months; OH which he has never lived,
and which has been leased out for several
wears past. Many Federal soldiers, is |
always understood, were killed and 6ufred
on Malvern Hill: which they occupied aS
their camping-yround. These bodies have
been removed, as l have learned, 10 INC
Federal cemetery near by.
If nv tenant has made any discovery OF
Confederate bodies in his blowing this
spring, am arholly undcqudanted with the
fact nor am | in any wise responsible fol
what he may have done i'll a matter mac
nerer anticipated, and was not Prese," l., &c
sanction or preUent, could any Sdciftc9c, ID.
FEASIBILITY. have been committed by him
need hardly add that my friends or those
who knoar me could never suppose me ca
Dable of dishonorTng the memory or the re-
mains of those who had attested their dero
ton to their cause and country by then
honest conviction, their valor, and thell
blood.
Yours, most respectfully, ETC.,
BESJAMIS i. Dew.
| Ne,rto,rn, King ant Quce" county, May
! Is, 1868.