The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-23

on that field they held strong hopes of a
decisive victory over McClellan's moving
army 80 soon as it could be brought to bay,
and when they learned, on the night Of the
30th of June and morning of July 1. that it
had come to 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. II.
Hill, and in giving in his information the
latter observed, eff 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 sympathfzed with Long
streets view, for he ordered an attack, and
Hills division bore the brunt of it.
By singular good fortune l saw the
whole Union armament on Malvern Hill
as it appeared from the enemy's lines
about an hour before the ball opened, and
l remember distinctly two thoughts up
permost in my mind. One was that l
would be happy to get inside of our lines
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 Q a. m
and daylight on the 1st we had marched
toward the James river on parallel routes
with Lees troops and we climbed up the
sloping grades on to Malvern Hill just
ahead of the enemy, SO that the prepar-
ations 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 COW
cred by our cannon. The line was semi
circle, resting on James river on one side
and on a 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 TOOSt ayroSed yocitinDS yUara ooorI-
pied by Morell's and Martindale's divis-
ions of Fitz John Porter's Fifth corps and
by COUGHS division of Keyes' Fourth
corps. Porter's corps had made desper-
ate fight at Meehanicsviile and Gaines
Mill, June 26 and %. 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. COUGHS 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 oc-
cupied the right of the line, and in front of
it the ground was cut up by numerous
deep ravines a quarter of a mile distant.
The right rested upon 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 Goth
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 q, before Richmond. Mcclellan
examined the positions shortly before the
Confederates opened the attack, and ap-
proved Of them, and as fast as the remain
ing troops-the corps of Sumner, Franklin
and Heinzleman-reached the field they |
were placed in reserve. BY 10 o'clock the |
hill had the appearance of q vast amphi- |