Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-23

on that held they held strong hopes OF u
decisive victory over McClellan's moving
army so soon as it could be brcE Zht to bay
and when they learned, on the . sht of the
30th of June and morning fully l, that it
had come to a stand with its back to the
river, and saw their own forces united, the
prize seemed already within their grasp.
When, however, the southern generals
reached the scene after their hurried night
march and learned what Little Mac" had
been about on Malvern Hill during the
preceding twenty-four hours, while por
ton of his troops had fully occupied their
attention elsewhere, they shook their heads
obviously. They saw sights to appall them,
and though their brave soldiers were equal
to most desperate efforts, even to charging
up long, exposed slopes where the Union
artillery could comb the ground with can
lister, the first presentiment was the correct
one Mcclellan couldn't be ousted from
his position by direct attack, even if their
tens of thousands should be sacrificed to
the last man The first description of Nal
vern Hill was carried to the Confederate
commander, Robert E. Lee, by Gen. D. H.
Hill, and in giving in his information the
latter observed, 'If Gen. Mcclellan is there
in force we had better let him alone"
Gen. Longstreet was present, and said
laughingly to Hill, Don't get scared now
that we have got him whipped"
Lee apparently sy1npathized with Long
streets view, for he ordered an attack, and
Hills division bore the brunt Of it.
By singular good fortune I saw the
whole Union armament on Malvern Hill
as it appeared from the enemy's lines
about an hour before the ball opened, and
| remember distinctly two thoughts up
permost in my mind. One was that |
would be happy to get inside Of our Zines
on that hill as soon as possible, and the
other that the Confederates would find the
place slaughter pen should they attempt
the same feat.
Our division had been in the rear guard
the previous day, June 80, defending the
crossing at White Oak Swamp, and had
held on until midnight. Between a. IN.
and daylight on the lst we had marched
toward the James river on parallel routes
with Lees troops, and we climbed up the
sioping grades on to Malvern Hill just
ahead of the enemy, so that the prepar-
atoms made to receive them were complete
for our inspection. For a mile before we
reached the front line on the slopes every
exposed spot in the road, and, SO far as We
could see. in the adjoining fields, was Gov
cred by our cannon. The line was g semi
circle, resting on James river on one side
and on Il swamp and creek on the other,
and every commanding knoll was crowned
with cannon, and could only be approached
by the Confederates across open fields or
bare slopes, where the range of our rifles
and artillery would be unobstructed.
The most exposed positions were occu-
pied by Morell's and Martindale's divis-
ions of Fitz John Portsr's Fifth corps and
by Couch, division of Keyes' Fourth
corps Porter's corps had made desper-
ate fight at Mechanicsville and Gaines
Mill, June &c and Of, the opening of the
'Seven Days" battles, but had been
spared during the subsequent engagements
to be fresh on this the closing day of the
series. Couch's division was fresh. but all
the other troops of our army had seen
hard work marching and fighting night
and day for week. COUGHS division &C.
cupied the right of the line, and in front of
it the ground was cut up by numerous
deep ravines quarter of a mile distant.
The right rested upon a stream called
Western Run and could not be easily
turned.
Porter's two divisions occupied Crews
Hill on the extreme left of McClellan's
line. The positions held by both Porter
and Couch had been selected on the Seth
by Porter, whom the commanding general
had appointed to lead on this last day of
battle as he had done on the fields of June
26 and 81, before Richmond. Mcclellan
examined the positions shortly before the
Confederates opened the attack, and APP
proved Of them, and as fast as the remain
ing troops-the corps OF Sumner, Franklin
and Northumberland the field they
were placed in reserve. By 10 o'clock the
hill had the appearance of vast amphi-