The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-30

by artillery, had st0rmed this 'i'"
their strength, were promptly catrieu mn,
line to line. and the triumphant ISSUE Vi
this assault. with the well-direc'eu n'e
OF the batteries. and successfui cha'
of Hill and Wlnder upon the enen'ys
right, determined the fortunes OF ,he
day The Federals. routed at every point
and aided by the darkness Of the night'
escaped across the Chickahominy.
PELHAM DASHED FORWARD.
During the early part OF the action the
artillery could not be effectively used.
Al an advanced stage Of it, Major John
Pelham, OF Stuarts Horse Artillery,
bravely dashed forward. and opened on
the Federal batteries posted on the left
Of our infantry. Reinforced by the guns
Of Brockenbrough, Darlington, and Court
ney. OF my command, our artillery now
! numbered about thirty pieces. Their fire
was well-directed and effective. and con-
tributed to the successful issue Of the
engagement.
On the following day. the 18th, General
Ewell, preceded by a cavalry force. ad-
vanced down the north side of the Chick
ahominy to Dispatch Station, and destroy
ed a portion OF the railroad track.
On the 10Th he moved his division TO
the vicinity OF Bottoms Bridge, 10 pre-
vent the enemy crossing at that point,
but on the following day was ordered to
return to cooperate with the move
men.s Of the corps.
The 2Sth and 18th were occupied in
disposing of the dead and wounded. and
repairing Grapevine Bridge over the
Chickahominy which McClelan's forces
| had used In their retreat, and destroyed
| in their rear.
During the night of the 18th we COM
nenced crossing the Chickahominy. and
on the following morning arrived at
Savage station, on the Richmond and
| Yorl<-River railroad, where summer
| hospital remarkable for the extent and
convenience of its accommodations. fell
into our possession. In it were about
| 1850 sick and wounded, besides some
500 persons having charge Of the pa
| TENTS
| GATHERED UP THE spoILs.
| Many other evidences of the hurried and
| disordered fight of the enemy were now
visible-blankets clothing, and other
supplies had been recklessly abandoned.
! ID. II. Hill. who had the advance, gath
cred up probably 1000 stragglers, and so
! many small arms that IL became necessa-
| ry to detach two regiments to take care
Of them, and to see TO the security OF the
| prisoners.
| About noon we reached White Oak
| Swamp and here the enemy made de-
| termined effort to retard our advance,
and thereby prevent an immediate june
| ton between General LOngstreet and my
| self.
We found the bridge destroyed and the
ordinary place OF crossing commanded by
| their batteries on the opposite side, and
! all approach to 1t barred by dettach-
| ments of sharpshooters, concealed in a
| dense wood close by.
| battery of twenty-eight guns from
| Hills and Writings artillery was placed
| by Colonel S. Crutch1eld I'm a favorable
| position for driving off or silencing the
opposing artillery. About p NJ IT
opened suddenly upon the enemy. He
! fred few shots In reply, then withdrew
from that position, abandoning part Of
his artillery. Captain Woodng was i'm
mediately ordered near the bridge 10
shell the sharpshooters from the woods.
which was accomplished and Nlunford s
cavalry crossed the creek. but was soon
compelled TO retire It was now seen that
the enemy occupied such a position be-
yond a thick intervening wood on the
right Of the road as enabled him to com
mand the crossing.
LoNGsTREET BUSY.
Captain Weddings battery was conse-
auently recalled and cur batteries turned
in the new direction. The fire so opened
on both sides was kept up until dark.
We bivouacked that night neaf The
swamp.
A heavy cannonading in front announced
| the engagement of General Longstreet at
Frazier's Farm and made me eager to
press forward; but the marshy character
Of the soil the destruction OF the bridge
over the marsh and creek. and the strong
position Of the enemy for defending the
passage prevented my advancing until
the following morning. During the night
the Federals retired. The bridge was rap
idly repaired by Writings division, which
soon after crossed over and continued
the pursuit. in which ii was followed by
the remainder OF my corps
At White Oak we captured portion of
the enemy's artillery, and also found
another hospital with about $50 sick ana
wounded, which fell into our hands.
THE EVENING AT MALvEN HILL
Upon reaching Frazier's farm l found
General Longstreet's advance near the
road. The commanding general soon af-
| ter arrived, ana IN pursuance VI hiH III
| structions ] continued to press forward.
The head of my advancing column was
| soon fired upon by the enemy, who never
| theless continued TO fall back until he
reached Malvern HILL which strong po-
| sition he held in force. General Whiting
was directed to move 70 the left and take
| nosition on the PoindeXtcr farm; General
d. II. Hill to take position farther to
tho right: Taylors brigade, of General
Ewelrs division, to move forward be-
| tween the divisions of Hill and Whiting
the remainder Of Ewell's division to re-
main in rear of the first line. Jackson's
| division was halted near Willis Church
in the wood, and held in reserve.
General ID. II. Hill pursued the route
| Indicated, crossing an open field and
creek. His troops were then brought in
| full range Of the enemy's artillery and
suffered severely Brigadier-General An
! derson was wounded and carried from,
| the field. The division was halted under
| cover of a wood which afforded an OPP
portunity for more particular examina-
ton Of the ground in front. The enemy
| I'm large force were found strongly posted
on commanding hill. all the approaches
10 which In the direction Of my position
could be swept by his artillery and were
guarded by infantry. The nearest bate
| ries could only be approached by travers
ing an open space of 800 or 400 yards ex
posed to the murderous fire Of artillery
and infantry.
GENERAL HILL MIsTooK THE SIGNAL.