Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-20

fourteenth South Carolina. 2Os: thirty-eichtk
Georgia. la; thir'y-drst Georgia l7o There
were seventeen confederate regiments in
which the loss exceeded 10 Cincluding the SIN
foregoing). and their aggregate of killed aud
wounded was 2.92l-one-third the total con-
federate loss-with only twcniy-sir additional
missing. This shows the nature Of the fighting
The figures edectually prove the courage
and destructive capacity Of the federal soldicry
as well as the irresistible determination Of
their sssailants. The official records (sce p.
913 ct SEQ. part 2. VOL IL. Rebellion Recoris)
show losses in Ill different confederate infantry
regiments and thirteen batteries OF artillery.
After reading the foregoing account OF the
battle OF Games Mil 10 viii not be diilicuN
for the most preiudiccd veteran Of the war 10
fosgive Fitz John Porter many Of his alleged
defehc;ions at the second Bull Rua. Had he
been properly supported by his chief there
would have been no occasion for a Second Bull
Rum
THE RETREAT TO Tur sAnns.
Porter's defeat was not defeat of the army.
The destruction Of stores along the railroad
and at White House. which was hurried by THAI
event. because Lees success at once threatened
McCiellan's base. had pRnicky look. but the
swing OF the army toward the James other
wise OF the most deliberate character.
1wenty-fsur hours elapsed after Porter's
battle before the confedera;es became fully
aware that Mcclellan was retreating at all. and
that IL was toward the south and the James
instead OF back east by way OF the peninsula. ~
was hoped.
In studying ;he movements following Gaines
MIL II must not be forgotten that the bulk Of
Lees army Remained nor:h OF the Chcka-
hominy until tho forenoon q the 29th. push
ing Tor McCleilAn's railroad. believing that .
| large proportion OF his army would be used TO
/ protect his communications. and hoping 70
strike At in flank should he attempt TO fall back
| by way OF the peninsula. which WAS a natural
presumption, but mistaken one. THIS error
OF Jackson and Ice was OF great advantage 10
Mcclellan. giving him twenty-four hours time
Tor his preliminary dispositions
| But cannot think that any mastery general
| ship was displayed IN this transfer of the army
to the James, IN view OF ts,s misconception Of
| the confederate commander. and his conse-
! quent loss or time. McCleIlan's total march
| from Savage's station TO Malvern was only
! about fifteen miles by the roads; his left flank
| along Its line was safely covered by the Chick
| ahominy with the bridges all down and on his
| right toward Richmond the White Oak
swamp aud creek most OF the way. aud not .
sufficient force OF the enemy in any event to
very much endanger that flank. though Nc
! Cieilan undoubtedly believed at the time that
he was mcnaced all along the Richmond front
| by fully 100000 men
There we're but two real alternatives for the
| eneny-to head or the fedcrals with troops
| from Richmond and Petersburg at Malvern
mn, where al the roads from the north con-
| verge, which they could have done easily on
| the 18th and 18th, or to press McClellan's rear
SO strongly as TO compel him 10 turn and fight
and then defeat him Both schemes were at
tempted, but too late. aud both tailed. though
| the one on his rear wGs pushed very vigorously,
resulting in some hard fighting. in which the
confederates failed TO achieve ANYTHING de-
cisive. The attempt down the roads from
Richmond found the commanding position az
Malvern already occupied by the federals and
II was easily repulsed.
But to return TO the beginning. Nothing Of
| importance IN the way OF fighting occurred the
2sth, the day following Gaines Mil, though
the confederates occupied the high ground
abandoned by Porter and shelled franklin's
| corps out OF some of his positions on the south
side. lie drew back into the woods about
GolGing's farm. two Georgia regiments. which
attempted TO charge his rear. being repulsed
with loss. All tho troops OF Sumner. HeIntzsl-
man and Franklin were drawn i'm some what
during the day. the confcderates b.comine
very active from the Richmond direction,
where Magruaer and HuSer had perhaps Is.
| 600 troops.
The first step in the movement TO the nev
base was McClellans order TO Reyes 20 push
three of his brigades with artillery across
White Oak swamp by daylight Of the 18th and
seize eligible positions on the south side 20
protect the crossing of the immense wagon
train and reserve artillery This was 20 fore
stall confederate operation from Richmond
| or any other direction. such as / have herein
| before indicated keycs was DELAYED some
hours rebuilding bridges, but at noon on the
| 18TH two brigades were over and four miles
| out 10 the south. deployed in strong positions
| covering the roads in all directions keyes
| lett Gen. Naglee's brigade on the Chicka-
| hominy 10 DESTROY the railroad bridge and
Bottoms bridge. which work be performed Of
fectually. The rest of his corps uas ali con-
| centrated on the south side Of White Oah
swamp at nightfall Oh the 2sth.
"a PosErISS OF SAFETY"
On the Doth at shutdown Fitz John Porter
with Morells and Sykes divisions, with the
reserve artillery. moved after Reyes across the
swamp. After Reyes crossing the movement
OF the wagon trains and a herd OF :. 500 beef
cattle followed and went on without intcrmis-
sion. Porter was directed to 60 to the James
and select and hold a position OF safety. he
selected Malvern Hill this position Of
safety" keyes' and Porter's troops marched all
night the 29th. arriving at Malvern on the
James. early in the morning of the 30th. where
they were deployed on the high ground in
support of the powerful artillery which Porter
had placed to command all the adjacent coun-
try and converging roads. The march of these
two corps was not seriously Interfered with by
! the enemy. McCall's division OF portsr's corps
remained back y6h Sumner. McClellans
| headquarters wereA noyed from Savages sta
| ton across the sT-sffp on the 29th and during
the 30th lac was consulting with she naval Of
hcers IN the James and engaged with Porter
1
| vern, where 1t was determined at last TO tight
the enemy with tie entire Army Of the Potomac.
| A confederate force under Gen. Holmes ap-
peared from the direction OF Richmond on the
| 30th and made n demonstration on the left
flank OF the Malvern position about 4 pm
| Col Warren (afterward the well-known Gen
Warren of the hfth co-ps) with has brigade aud
| Porters batteries repalsod this attack with
ease. capturing two guns. Gen. Holmes says
| his dispositions that morning were approved
| by President Davis and that the general CON-
| handing the army" was observing the position
Of the federais a; Malvern in the afternoon
and approved his advance. So it appears that
both Davis and Lee were on that front as early
| as the morning Of the 30sh.
| This was not much of an affair as might
be inferred from Gen. Porter's report The
| confederate force amounted 20 perhaps T.. 90
met; Porter easily imagined IL 20 lie 1900.
Holmes stated his loss at 2 killed and 40
wounded. and does not mention the loss Of the
two guns claimed by Porter. but aninadverts
upon the bad behavior OF part Of Branch's bat
terry. The Union lines On the night OF the 18th
extended practically from the James river by
! way Of White Oak swamp 10 Savage's station
looking toward the north and west for il
enemy.
| sAvAaE's STATION.
Let rs return to the wing above White oak
swamp. Gen L. '. sumner commanding. COM