The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-02-17
REMINi iSGENGES
OF THE WAR.
A TOWNSMAN TALKS ON THE
SEVEN DAYS FIGHT.
IN CAMP AND ON BATTLE FIELD
The Terrible Slaughter at Malvern
Hills Reviewed-Guns Rem
dered Useless by the Bodies
of Dead Rebels.

The landlord walked In with tray full
Of hot toddies as the veteran pulled hi
chair nearer the well heated stove in the
back room of Main street saloon and
continued his talk on the battle of Fair
Oaks. The first, or second, evening Of
the retreat, he sa d, I'VE came upon lot
Of army stores, piled sky high and cover
ing an acre or more, consisting mostly OF
clothing, all of which the torch was set to,
so that the rebels could not benefit by
them,
1.-THE night before Malvern Hills battle
confscated a good-sized turkey. After /
carried 1t several miles 1 was told by a
member of another company that turkeys
were not good at that time of the year and
he offered me gold dollar for it, 1 sc-
copied the money under the belief that
what he told me was the truth. That
fellows mess had substantial supper that
evening and bad to subsist on hard tack
of the 1776 brand, and black coffee. On
arriving at the Landing invested the gold
orc pound.
"Ths reminds me of story Joel Lsd.
don, of VIM. Penn, related. He was a
prisoner at Dsnvile, Va, with 16 600
others and had marched 96 miles to this
place, nearly all the way bsrefooted. One
day the sanitary commission distributed
supplies among the unfortunates but had
not enough to go around. Ledden and
one of his messnates received blanket
between them. On returning to their
quarters they determined to trade it off for
pair of shoes for Ledden. Learning of
the desire rebel soldier soon made his
appearance with pair of No. 9s. They
were not any too large for Ledden's
swollen feet, but he told the rebel that the
blanket was worth more and demanded a
piece OF bacon TO boot The shoes were
left and the rebel went after the meat,
returning with FIVE pounds of very nice
bacon, all, he said, he could get. Ledden
was dissatisfied and asked, in addition, $25
in @ infederate money. The rebel said he
had none, but after making collection
among his comrades the trade was com E
pleted. To show the value of this psrticu-
lar blanket quote prices at that time, in
Confederate money:
Pair of shoes. S700 90
lbs bacon a s. per h.. ..,.......,,.. 25.00
Value OF blanket .. 1850 90
Flour was selling in Dsnville at that
time for 81 600 a barrel. On leaving he
place Ledden bought small loaf of bread
for $5 and an apple turnover for So more.
At Richmond he spent the remaining SIS
for three SIN III loaves of bread.
s.a
The battle of Malvern Hills WAS an
artillery duel. which is a proper name for
it. All the artillery, light and heavy, and
siege guns we're placed in position, in tiers.
The infantry and cavalry (there we're not
many in this commsnd) and among these
were the Sth Pennsylvania cavalry Gron
clad,) and Rush's Lancers who were in the
rear to protect the guns 1t was terrible
| fight The rebels, c-azed with gun powder
whiskey, charged time and again against
this formidable array, only TO be moved
down like grain. So great was the loss on
the rebel side, they we're piled up in front
of the first tier of guns, which could not
be worked and were abandoned, the next
tier being called into play.
Here was a chance, or a supposed
chance, to capture Richmond. The rebels
we're badly beaten and demoralized Gen.
eral Kearney offered to lead the troops
into the rebel capital, but was overruled
During the hottest part of this fight
General Mcclellan was taken to the gun
boat GaleDs, which was anchored in the
river, some distance off Haxalps Landing.
l witnessed his departure and return.
This circumstance was repeatedly dis
credited during the campaign in which the
General was acandiiate for the Presidency,
but l can vouch for il.
"An unfortunate circumstance occurred
during the progress of this fight. The
Galena and other gunboats opened ERE on
the supposed rebels, but on account of in
accurate aim, or through ignorance, the
shot and shells fell on the Union troops
with fatal results.
"Au amusing feature Of this battle was
the gathering together of stragglers and
their organization into companies and regi-
ments by General Kearney. They were
oficered by men picked up'here and there.
With this motley command Gen. Kearney
was willing TO make the march and capture
Richmond. 1t is the opinion of many
military men that this gallant, though
impeluous, General would have succeeded,