Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
BATTLES md LEADERS, q the QYl. WlARlNII
100 Malvern F1dECosng Battle of Penirsuar Campaign

easions. and the message signaled to the
boats, For Gods sake, stop firing"
promptly relieved US from further dam
age and the decentralization of sire In
the rear
While Col. Hunt and I were returning
from the front. about O'Clock. We were
Joined by Col. A. V. Colburn of McClel-
Ian staff. We all rejoiced over the days
success. BY these officers / sent mes
sages to the commanding general. ex-
pressing the hope that our withdra wal
had ended and that we should hold the
ground We now occupied. even If we did
standpoint l thought we could maintain
our position, and. perhaps, In few DAYS
could improve it by advancing. But
knew only the circumstances before me,
and these We're limited by controlling in
nuences. 1t was now after q O'clock at
night. Within an hour Of the time that
Coils. Hunt and Colburn left me- and be-
fore they could have reached the COM
nanding general. l received orders from
him to withdraw, and to direct Gems.
Sumner and Heintzelman to move at spec
11ed hours to Harrisons Landing. our
new base on the James. and Gen. Couch
10 reJoin his corps. which was then under
way to the same point
These orders were Immediately sent to
the proper officers and by daybreak, July
>. our troops, preceded BY their trains.
were Wen on their way to their destina-
tlon, which they reached that day. great
muddy roads. in the midst of heavy
rain. That night. freed from care and
Obvious of danger, all slept long sleep:
and they awoke the next morning with the
clear sun. happier. brighter and
stronger body of men than that which all
the day before. depressed and fatigued,
had shivered in the rain
The conduct of the rear guard was in
trusted to Col. Averell commander of
the Sd Pennsylvania Cavalry, sustained
by Col. Buchanan. with his brigade of
regulars, and the 9th New York Regi-
ment. No trying trust was ever better
bestowed or more satisfactorily fulfilled.
1t daybreak Col. Averell found himself
accidentally without artillery to protect
his command in its difficult task of pre-
venting an attack before our rear was
well out of range. He at once arranged
his cavalry in bodies to represent horse
batteries. and, maneuvering them to
create the impression that they We're ar
tiilery ready for action, he secured him.
self from attack until the rest of the
army and trains had passed sufficiently
to the rear to permit him to retire rap
idly without molestation. His stratagem
was successful, and without loss he re-
Joined the main body of the army that
night
Thus ended the memorable Seven
Days battles" which for severity and
for stubborn resistance and endurance of
hardships by the contestants were not
surpassed during the war. Each antag-
onist accomplished the result for which
he aimed: one insuring the temporary
relief of Richmond, the other gaining Sc
curity on the north bank of the James.
where the Union army, IL our civil and
military authorities were disposed. could
be promptly reinforced. and whence only.
as subsequent events proved, 1t could
renew the contest successfully. Prep
arations were commenced and DISPOSE
tons were at once made under every
prospect, IL not direct PROMISE Of large
reinforcements for a renewal of the
struggle on the south side of the James.
brought a successful termination OF the
war.
X x
In the 9TH Corps. however. mourning
was mingled with rejoicing. 1t had. with
the brave and gallant help of Couch and
the generous and chivalric assistance OF
Heintzelman and Sumner. successfully re-
pulsed the foe in every quarter. and was
ready to renew the contest at an oppor-
tune moment. But our killed and wound
ed were numbered by thousands; the loss
of the Confederates may be imagined.
While taking Meagher's brigade to the
front l crossed a portion Of the ground
over which large column had advanced
to attack us. and had a fair opportunity
of Judging of the effect of our fire upon
the ranks of the enemy. 1t was some