The National tribune., 1881-09-10

July 1. 1862, has its place in history, and the
survivors of the Army of the Potomac will long
remember (as will their old enemies who wore
the gray) the battle of Malvern Hill. For week
previous the Union soldery had been meeting
the impetuous attacks of their foe. The assault
made upon their right wing at Mechanicsville on
the 2Sth of June had pressed them steadily back
ward until further retreat without utter over
threw seemed impossible. Between Mechanics
Vile and Malvern lay the fresh-fought battle
fields of Gaines's Mills, Chickahominy, Savage's
Station, Golding's Farm, Peach Orchard, White
Oak Swamp, and Glendale-all severe engage
ments-and upon each field the Potomac Army
had left, many of its bravest and best men, yet
when brought to bay upon the bank of the James
it met the shock of the victorious COnfederates
with steady courage and the invincible determine
ton of men who felt the destinies of nation
depending upon their achievements. Like a
wounded animal they turned upon the pursuer
and the six days of bloodshed that had gone
before eliminated at Malvern.
While the battle of Glendale was being fought
on the 3Oth of June 1862, the Fifth Corps, under
General Porter was lying at Turkey Bend near
army-wagons heavy guns, cattle, and stores of
every description-had been accumulated. The
immense trains were packed near the southern
edge of high plateau overlooking, and but a
short distance from, the James River. Late in
the afternoon, about five o'clock, the enemy ad-
vanced in large force against Porter's left flank
and quite sharp engagement ensued, continuing
about an hour, at the end of which time the
rebels were driven back by Warren's brigade of
Sykess division, two or three regiments belong
ing to the division Of Morrell, and the concen-
trated fire of about thirty pieces of cannon
planted upon the commanding ground between
the wagon park and the timber to the northwest
from whence the attacking column made its ap-
pearance. Two of the enemy's guns fell into the
hands of the Union troops during the conflict
Between dark on the night of the Both Of June
and nine o'clock on the morning of July Gen
eral Porter occupied Malvern Hill, where the
battle of the aforementioned date was fought No
position could have been better selected; and
when at early hour General Mcclellan ac-
companed by Generals Barnard Humphreys, and
Others, came upon the field he approved the ar
rangements already made by the commander of
the Fifth Corps making only some slight changes
in the location of troops; after which he departed
to perfect the line at other points
THE Battlefield
of Malvern has been so often described that a
short statement will suffice to give fair under
standing of its general features. Let the reader
imagine an elevated plateau of some mile and
half by three-fourths of a mile in extent, over
looking the James River, from which it is separ-
ated by narrow strip Of low, swampy ground
on the SOUTH and bordered on the west and north
west at distance Of six or eight hundred yards
by heavy wood. The high ground is well
cleared of timber and intersected by several
roads. Toward the north and east it slopes
gradually until it reaches a belt of timber per-
haps mile or more away, through which, run
ming north, passes the Quaker road, leading to
White Oak Swamp, and which is intersected by
the road from Richmond to Charles City. From
the northwest cutting through the timber, comes
in the New Market road from Richmond. one
branch Of which runs along the southern edge of
the plateau, while another branch further north
unites with the Quaker road a little south of
Glendale, where the battle of the Both of June
was fought The enemy expected to ap-
proach along the New Market, Charles City and
Quaker roads, and the disposition of troops was
made accordingly.