The Second and Sixth Corps of the Federal Army repelled a desperate attack
of General Magruder at Savage Station on June 29th. The next day they
disappeared, plunging into the depths of White Oak Swamp, leaving only the
brave medical officers behind, doing what they could to relieve the
sufferings of the men that had to be abandoned. Here we see them at work
upon the wounded, who have been gathered from the field. Nothing but the
strict arrest of the stern sergeant Death can save these men from capture,
and when the Confederates occupied Savage's Station on the morning of June
30th, twenty-five hundred sick and wounded men and their medical
attendants became prisoners of war. The Confederate hospital facilities
were already taxed to their full capacity in caring for Lee's wounded, and
most of these men were confronted on that day with the prospect of
lingering for months in the military prisons of the South. The brave
soldiers lying helpless here were wounded at Gaines' Mill on June 27th and
removed to the great field-hospital established at Savage's Station. The
photograph was taken just before Sumner and Franklin withdrew the
rear-guard of their columns on the morning of June 30th.
[Illustration: THE TANGLED RETREAT
_Copyright by Patriot Pub. Co._]
Through this well-nigh impassable morass of White Oak Swamp, across a
single long bridge, McClellan's wagon trains were being hurried the last
days of June, 1862. On the morning of the 30th, the rear-guard of the army
was hastily tramping after them, and by ten o'clock had safely crossed and
destroyed the bridge. They had escaped in the nick of time, for at noon
"Stonewall" Jackson opened fire upon Richardson's division and a terrific
artillery battle ensued for the possession of this, the single crossing by
which it was possible to attack McClellan's rear. The Federal batteries
were compelled to retire but Jackson's crossing was prevented on that day
by the infantry.
[Illustration: HEROES OF MALVERN HILL]
Brigadier-General J. H. Martindale (seated) and his staff, July 1, 1862.
Fitz John Porter's Fifth Corps and Couch's division, Fourth Corps, bore
the brunt of battle at Malvern Hill where the troops of McClellan
withstood the terrific attacks of Lee's combined and superior forces.
Fiery "Prince John" Magruder hurled column after column against the left
of the Federal line, but every charge was met and repulsed through the
long hot summer afternoon. Martindale's brigade of the Fifth Corps was
early called into action, and its commander, by the gallant fighting of
his troops, won the brevet of Major-General.
[Illustration: THE NAVY LENDS A HAND