The National tribune., 1907-10-17

come thru $50 field pieces and so siege
guns, all of which had been pressed
forward over a single road thru the
woods while the din of terrible fighting
was going on but snort distance in
front of nearly the whole line of march.
In 4S hours this immense car ivan had
Travelled distance of between Is and
20 miles, over as forbdding a road as
lean well be imagined Gen. Mcclellan
had abundant reason for congratulatine
himself and praising his principal Off
GERS for this magnificent success.
~ The Army at Malvern Hill.
- About 10 o'clock that night, when
satisfied that he had reduced Stonewall
Jackson to absolute quiescence, Gen.
Franklin began his retirement to NAL
veru Hill. and as he fell back Heintzel-
man and Sumner brought their troops
off in order, and before noon the
entire army was concentrated around
Malvern Hill. Jefferson Davis and Lees
campaign, which they had entered upon
with such sanguine expectations, had
utterly failed, and the enemy, after in
fiicting heavy losses upon them, was
now in exceedingly strong position,
when any attack upon him would be at
la great disadvantage to the Confederate
troops.
Malvern Hill.
mn IL an t1ToWH
forward from the highlands around
Richmond as sort of sentinel over
looking the swampy tidewater country.
Ii rises some $50 feet. with crest about
800 feet long by $500 feet wide. This
crest has 4 level, open plateau. The
ground rises gradually on the north,
northeast and south, with the slopes
barren and clear Around it's base from
the northeast to the west and south
winds the sluggish Western Run, with
swampy forests and thick underground
on both sides. These forests were ex-
ceedinsly difficult to cross with artillery.
Mcclellan posted his army in a vast
;emicircle, with his extreme left pro-
tected by the impossible mouth of
Western Run and the broadside guns of
the boats in the James. The line ran
around the hill until its refused right
rested on the banks of the river. At the
extreme left was Sykes, next on his
right was MOrell, and then came Couch.
lHeintZelman's Corps occupied the CEN
ter, with kearny on the left and Hooker
on the right. Summers Corps extended
The line to the right, with Franklins Di-
visions of Smith and SlOcum extending
the line along Western Run Next came
keyes with Peck's Division, which faced
directly east, with it's back along the
left of the line under Sykes. McCalrs
Division was placed in the rear of Por-
ter. and tho it had been reduced by its
terrible struggle and the loss of it's di-
vision commander, it was full of spirit
and ready for any fight.
The enemy could only approach this
position by two roads, that from Rich
nond to HaXalrs Landing and the
Quaker road, both of which led to that
part of the Union line which it was
easiest TO defend. 1t was here that Nc
Ciellan took the most pains to fortify.
begun he saw an opportunity of using
the magnificent artillery reserve of moro
than 100 cannon, which he had organ
lied with such laboriouS solicitude. He
had these massed on the left and con-
centratcd under the direction of Col.
Henry j. Hunt, an artillerist of high
reputation, who subsequently became
the Chief of Artillery for the Army of
the Potomac. Sixty pieces We're placed
so as to cover every point on Porter's
line. Finally the heavy siege guns We're
| put in position, with 10 of them on the
crest of the hill, where they could fire
over the lighter pieces into the masses
of the enemy. AS Franklin had re-
treated from White Oak Swamp Jack
son followed, and on the night of June
80 Lee at last saw all his great army
together. but it had been terribly mutt
! lated within the last few days. Forced
marches and countelmarches under the
blazing Summer sun and the vile drink
| ing water of the swa!npS in which Nc
Clellan had been encamped for two
months, and the frequent and terrific bat
! lies had thinned the ranks of their regi-
nents and filled the woods with their
wounded, sick and stragglers. Al,ho it
was urgently necessary that Mcclellan
ishouid be attacked before he had time
to cover himself with intrenchments,
such was the exhaustion of the Confed-
crates that day had to be given to
rest and reorganization before an at
tack could be ventured upon.
(To be cOntinued.)