National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-09
FRIGHTFUI
A CONFEDERATE PRIyATE's GRAPHIC
RECOLLECTIOSs OF MALVERN HILL.

A CONFEDERATE PRIvATE's GRAPHIC
RECOLLECTIOSs OF MALVERN HILL.
Gen. Lee's First Pronounced Bsckset--slaush-
ter OF Thousands OF Boys in Gray by Federal
Artillery -Discomilture Of Lee, Jackson, and
Longstreot.
Special Letter.
The last morning OF the seven days
fight before Richmond In 1862 dawned
clear and beautiful, and except for tho
low rumbling and olashiDg which de-
noted whero artillery and infantry were
passing along the country roads, bordered
by thick scrub oaks and pines, and the
thick clouds Of dust which hung over
what could be seen Of tho landscape, there
was little to denote that furious battle
was close at hand, and that tho federal
army. with the James river ct Its back,
was ct bay and had taken up position for
o final stand. The week Of hard marching
and fighting, of sleoplessness and hard
ships, had told upon tho enthusiasm and
morale Of both armies and though. so
far. tho prestige Of success was with the
confedoratos IL is doubtful whether they
were any moro 'spilin" for another death
graphic than were their opponents. twas
folt however, even by the rank and file
of the confederate army, that they had the
advantage and an opportunity to deal q
death-blow to tho union cause IL they
could but administer crushing dofeat to
the federal army in tho position in which
IA A -.
tain that when Gen. Lee arose on tho
morning of that eventual day he felt con-
fdent that before night-fall, the army Of
the Potomac would BIO dispersed, captured,
or budding In confusion beneath tho
river bank, under the cover OF tho gun
boats. His plan Of battle, as any one
may SEQ who will take the trouble to
study the histories, shows that no had
made his dispositions not merely for the
forcing Of his opponents position, but for
cutting of the only avenue Of retreat
except to the river bank. But, not mean
ing TO be irreverent, man proposes, and
God and the strongest artillery disposes.
In o former letter, published in The
REPUBLICAN, tho writer stated that the
brigade to which he belonged (Kempers,
of Longstreet's grand division) had been
defeated and more than decimated in
killed. wounded. and captured tho day
before at Frazier's farm. Accordingly,
in order to give tho brigade chance to
get together all Its available men, stray
Elers, cooks, and even baggage guards
who had been left behind--all were to
take their places in the ranks for the
coming battle-it was placed good dis
tance in tho rear of tho right wing,
which early in the morning began to
take position as rapidly as the dense
pine and scrub oak forests would permit.
So that the men of the brigade had good
chance to guess, by noting the bulk Of
the troops passing and the direction
taken, where tho storm of battle would
DO most likely TO burst forth--thst is to
say, on our right. Now, during tho en-
tire seven days fighting except Savage
station, fought by Magruder's men, the
tactics Of Gen. Lee were somewhat SINH
lar to those of Wellington in the celebrated
Vittoria campaign, which drove the
French out of Spain and virtually caused
the first downfall of Napoleon. Jackson
moved on roads which brought him on
the right flank and rear of McClellau's
army, always keeping within striking dis
lance, while Longstreet kept up well to
tho front, and where tho roads would
permit of blow ho struck, and Jackson
Immediately closed In to tho sound OF
Longstreets cannon. Another peculiar
ity Of these fights was that thoy were all
begun late In the afternoon, owing Ia
Longstreet's propensity to reconnoitei
the enemy's position thoroughly before
risking an attack. He was always OBJ
stinately bent on knowing every foot o.
ground in his front before advancing and
he was ever devilish slow in obtaining
that knowledge. What Jackson would
see at glance ii took Longstreet hour
to discover.
But to recur to the fight, and mean
only such description of IL as would bl
likely to come under tho view of pri-
vate soldier in the rear of tho fighting
line. Well, the day wore on and except
ing an occasional scattering skirmish fire
there was no evidence that an attack or
the federal lines was imminent. By mid
day we knew we'll that the confederatei
must have taken up their fighting ground
for, from the reconnaissance Of the cav
airy the day before. 1t was pretty wei
nscertained whore the lines Of battle o.
the federals were posted, and as tho af
ternoon wore on and no battle was joined
anxious suspense on every countenano,
was visible. We afterward learned tina
the right thanking column had been In.
trusted to that antiquated rooster, OLE
Gen. Huger, and he played the
same game In this fgh
as he did OF the battle Of the Seven Pine
when il took him twelve hours to marcel
six miles. Huger had strong division
and he was ordered to march down tn,
river road and DO within striking distance
of McClellan's left flank by noon at tn,
latest. As fact he never got up at all
or, II he did, not In time to be Of tn,
slightest service. He was afraid of tn,
gunboats. One good result of this battle
however, was that JEFF. Davis was obliged
to kick his old pet out of Lees army.
Finally, late in the afternoon, the orde
for the assault was passed along the RICH
wing, and the deadly work began, will
the preliminary cannon shots and throw
Ing forward Of skirmishers, and Instant,
crash and yell arose
"As If all the iends from heaven that fell
Had pealed the banner cry Of help
as the first line Of the confederates swep
forward In the charge.
In order to properly appreciate tn,
desperation of this battle 1t 10 necessar,
briefly to describe the position held By
Gen. hcClellan's army. Tho River road
which at that time was very we'll bull
and wide road for that part Of tho coun
try, for O couple miles runs along Malvern
hill, which is high bluff of hundred
feet or 80, and which abruptly drops int,
the plain below. Along this crest tn,
federal general had planted cannon q
thickly as could be done to work then
effectively. Both of his wings wer
refused, In military parlance, toward the
river, and were protected by gunboatl
30 anchored Us to obtain partia
enhlading fire on an assaulting force. Ii
fact, the position taken up by the fedora
army was a natural fortress, so to speak
The road to Frazier's farm, which wa
about three miles from the river Road an,
nearly parallel. was used by the confed
crates for the passage of their artiller.
and ammunition trains. In front of Nal
vern hill. for nearly Its whole extentw wa