The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-17
By PHILIP II. DROWN,
of Company Q, Petersburg Grnys,
Twelfth virginia Regiment.

Twelfth Virginia Regiment.
AS the forty-eighth anniversary OF
the seven days fighting around the cap
ital of the Southern Confederacy draw,
near my mind drops into reminiscent
mood and venture to jot down some
items which may provo interesting
reading anent the closing battle al
Malvern Fill.
1t would occupy too much space to
relate In detail full account of the
part taken by the Twelfth Virginia In
fantry, commanded by Colonel d. a.
Weisiger, from June 25 10 July /.
Therefore will commence with our
arrival on the verge of the battlefield
at about +. M. July i. when We de-
bouched at left wheel from the
Charles City Road,sthen O. right obiique.
passing park OF artillery, temporarily
resting from hot contest, as could be
observed from the smoke begrimed
men and Btill smoking guns; also
fragments OF a caison that had been
blown up by shell from the enemy.
We were pushed forward to skirt of
woods and halted. In the meantime a
rapid artillery fire from the enemy
was sweeping the plateau. separated
from our front by deep ravine. where
q small stream flowed.
Very soon General Magruder, ac-
companied by a retirue of aids, horses
hecked with foam, galIoped up to Gem
eral Malone, who commanded the bri-
gade. and above tho roar of the can.
non could be heard the order "to
charge and capture the enemy's bat.
terry at all hazards Little did he
dream that on our front Mcclellan
had fifty-two parks of artillery and
the plateau accurately measured (as
tripods We're found at various places
next morning..
General Malone lost no timo In or,
dering each regiment by companies:
Right and left. 10 close upon centred
Unsling Knapsacksl Prepare to
charged While this uanoeuvre was
being executed General STahone's STRAIT.
egetlc eye was recommending the ground
over which he was TO lead US. AS well
as can remember, he was accompa-
MED by Captain Cater coloneD w. E.
Cameron. adjutant OF the Twelfth vir-
ginia-
on their return we were marched
right oblique down this deep ravine,
where the little stream, heretofore
mentioned, was dyed red from tho
bleeding wounds OF those who were
able TO leave the plateau above, and
from them we learned that five bril-
Eades had been literally cut to pieces
ana driVen BACK under the storm of
shell and schrapnel that pIowed the
plain above and to our left. Tt was
right here that General Malone proved
his strategy. In place OF leading us I'D
from the ravine and across this bloody
plateau. we Were marched q short dis
lance down the rayiue and debouohed
at the foothills OF the plateau above
n stretch of low ground on our right.
bordered by woods about 400 Yards
distant.
In this woodland. behind shocks Of
wheat, the enemy had posted their
sharpshooters, and they commenced 10
pepper us quite freely, but 1 cannot
recall that any of us were wounded
except Lieutenant Anthony Keely. OIL
the Petersburg Rifles. while passine
along these foothills to the crest ~
Malvern Hill.
ct 1t was not pleasant to hear tina
hullets buzzins around. and another
antagonist was the huge briar bushes
that impeded our course to such an ey.
tent that companies became very much |
mixed. and when we assembled the hill |
~ was go as You please; but our
commanders We're in front, urging and
inspiring us by their valor TO carry
ou. the orders of General Magruder.
we pushed forward about TWENTY
Yards over the crest of tho hill, when
the enemy opened such a furious fra
from artillery and musketry that moth
Ing could stand before it, and we
dropped back just under the brow OIL
the hill, while Scrap" Parker. ouri
color bearer, kept out flag In view ori
the enemy to let them see we weresnot