The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-03
WAR RELICS GONE.

BURNING OF THE CREW HOUSE NEAR
MALVERN HILL AND FUssELL's MILL
SOME FACTS CONCERNING THE TWO
BUILDINGs-THE BATTLE OF MALVERN
LILLIAN CIDENT-INTERvIEW BE-
TWEEN GENERAL LEE AND GENERAL
mAGEUDEE.
Information was received in this city on
Saturday OF the destruction by fire of the
Crew house, of war notoriety, situated on
Malvern. Hill, about fourteen miles from
this city. The building was frame struc-
ture, was erected before the war by DR.. j.
H. Mettert, was owned by Mr.. P. j. Crew
OF this city, and occupied at the time Of the
fire by Mr.. Pollard, who was managing the
farm for Mr.. Crew. The dwelling was
valued at about $4,000. and was insured for
1000 in the Virginia Fire and Marine In
surance Company.
Every soldier who took part in the memo
rabIe scenes Of the seven-days' fights around
Richmond, and who fought in the sangui-
nary battle Of Malvern Hill, will remember
the Crew house and theimportant position
1t occupied. The building stood on the hill
upon which McCleilan's line was formed, the
line being Of crescent shape, and the dwell
ing occupying point near it's left centre
of the enemy's tine. WHAT an interesting
story we might present to-day IL the war
experiences OF that well-remembered struc-
ture could be laid before our readersl But
the facts would require too much space for
a newspaper article. A brief reference to
that memorable struggle, and the relation
which the Crew house bore to it, must serve
the purposes Of this notice.
From General Lees official reports OF the
operations around Richmond many inter-
esting facts may be gathered concerning
the position OF the two armies and the bat
tie OF Malvern Hill, during which the Crew
house suffered but little Early on the 1st
OF July Jackson reached the battlefield OF
the previous day, having succeeded in
crossing White-Oak swamp, where he cap
tured part of the enemy's artillery and
number OF prisoners. He was directed to
continue the pursuit down the Willis
Church road, and soon found the enemy
occupying high range extending
obliGueIy across the road in front OF Malvern
Hill. 1t was upon this eminence that the
Crew house stood. On this position OF great
natural strength he had concentrated his
powerful artillery, supported by masses OF
infantry partially protected by earthworks.
His left rested near Crews house and his
right near Binford's. Immediately in his
front the ground was open, varying in
width from aquarter to half mile, and slo-
ping gradually from the crest was completely
swept by the fire OF his infantry and artillery.
TO reach this open ground our troops had
to advance through broken and thicbly
wooded country, traversed nearly through
out its whole extent by swamp passable
at but few places, and difficult at those.
The whole was within range Of the bat
teries on the heights, and the gunboats in
the river, under whose incessant fire the
movements OF the Confederate troops had
to be executed. Jackson formed his line
with Writings division on his left
and d. H. Hilfs on his right, one
Of Ewell's brigades occupying the in
terval. The rest OF Ewel's, and Jack
sons own division, were held in reserve.
Magruder was directed to take position on
Jackson'S right. but before his arrival two Of
Huger's brigades came up and were placed
next to Hill. Magruder subsequently
formed on the right OF these brigades,
which, with third Of Huger's, were placed
under his command. Longstreet and A
p. Hill were held in reserve, and took no
part in the engagement. Owing to igno-.
rance OF the country, the dense forests i'm
peding necessary communications, and the
extreme difficulty OF the ground,> the
whole line was not formed until q
late hour in the afternoon. The OBJ
stacles presented by the woods and
swamp made 1t impracticable to bring up
Il sufficient amount OF artillery to oppose
successfully the extraordinary force OF that
arm employed by the enemy, while the field
itself afforded us few positions favorable for
Its use, land none for its proper concentration.
Orders were issued for general advance
Mt aigivcn signal, but the causes referred to
pre}ented Il proper concert OF action among
the troops. D. 81. Hill pressed forward
across the open field and engaged the
enemy galIantIy, breaking and driving back
his first line, but a simultaneous advance of
the other troops not taking place, he found
had gained against the overwhelming num-
bers and numerous batteries Of the enemy.
Jackson sent to his support his own division
and that part Of Ewell's which was in re-
serve, but owing to the increasing dark
ness and intricacy OF the forest and swamp
they did not arrive IN time to render the
desired assistance. Hill was, therefore,
compelled to abandon part of the ground
he had gained, after suffering severe loss
and inflicting heavy damage upon the enc
my. On the right the attack was gallantly
made by Huger's and Magruder's COM
mands. Two brigades of the former com.
menccd the action, the other two were sub
scquently sent to the support Of Magru-
der and Hill. Several determined efforts
were made to storm the hill at Crews house.
The brigades advanced brayely across the
open field, raked by the fire OF hundred
cannon and the musketry Of large bodies
of infantry. Some were broken and gave
way, others approached close to the guns,
driving back the infantry, compelling the
advanced batteries to retire to escape cap
ture, and mineling their dead with those OF
the enemy. For want Of concert among
the attacking columns their assaults were
too weak to break the Federal lines,
and. after struggling gallantly, sus.
tainining and inflcting great loss, they
were compelled succeSsively TO retire.
Night was approaching when the attack
began, and it soon became difficult to dis
tinguish friend from fue. The firing con.
tinued until after P. NJ, but no decided
result was gained. Part OF the troops were
withdrawn to their original positions,
others remained on the open field, and
some rested within a hundred yards Of the
batteries that had been so brayely but
vainly assailed. The general conduct OF
the troops was excellent; in some instances
heroic. The lateness Of the hour at which
the attack necessarily began gave the enemy
the full advantage.of his superior position,
and augmented the natural difficulties OF
our own.
An incident of the Malvern-HiIl fight re.
mains to be told. Before the enemy left