The Enemy Out-generaled.—Arrival at Malvern Hills.—The
Thirty-third assigned to Picket Duty.—Battle of
Malvern.—Arrival at Harrison’s Landing.—General McClellan’s
Address.—Building a Fort.—Slashing Timber.
So successfully had the pickets, who were left to cover the withdrawal,
performed their part, that it was not discovered by the enemy in time to
pursue. Before morning, however, a fresh danger encountered the Division,
which now constituted the rear of the army. Another portion of the enemy,
under Huger, had gained possession of the road ahead of us, thereby
cutting off the retreat. Some, nearly exhausted by the arduous labors of
the four days previous, were well nigh discouraged on receipt of this
intelligence. But General Smith was equal to the emergency, and instead
of pressing forward, as some of his officers advised, and attempting to
cut his way through to the river, seven miles distant, he turned off, and
making a circuit of twenty-two miles, completely eluded the foe.
In a conversation which occurred a few days afterwards, at Liberty Hall,
between General Jackson and Surgeon Dickinson, of the Thirty-third, who
had remained with his sick and wounded, Stonewall remarked, that “Huger
ought to be court-martialled for permitting Smith to escape, and Magruder
shot for his drunkenness and mismanagement at Malvern.” They were both
subsequently shelved. Jackson added, further, that Gen. McClellan had
out-generaled them, escaping with his army when it was just within their
grasp.
After debouching from the main thoroughfare a halt was ordered, and the
men, sinking down by the road-side, were soon fast asleep. But they were
immediately roused from their slumbers, and springing to their feet,
prepared to resist the enemy’s cavalry, who were reported to be advancing
on a charge. The alarm, however, proved to be groundless, having been
occasioned by some horses, which had got away from their sleepy riders,
dashing through the ranks. When the panic created by this circumstance
had subsided, the Division again moved forward rapidly, many of the
soldiers being so exhausted as to fall asleep, and mechanically move
along, until a halt in the line would throw them headlong against their
comrades in front. The memories of that fearful night march can never
be effaced from the brain of those who participated in it. An hour
after daylight the head of the column reached Malvern, when the boys,
mistaking some dead pines ahead for ship masts, gave vent to the wildest
demonstrations of joy, supposing that the river had been reached. It was,
however, but a short way off. Moving on a little distance further, the
troops were massed by Regiments in a large clearing, and permitted an
hour’s sleep. At the expiration of that time the Thirty-third was ordered
on picket in the woods at the right of Malvern Hills, where a portion
of the army was drawn up to receive an attack. Major Platner, still in
command of the Regiment, deployed all the Companies as skirmishers, every
other man being permitted to sleep.
Directly in the rear, the Vermont Brigade were employed in slashing
timber, and constructing a formidable abatis, behind which a line of
battle was formed, No openings were left, or other provisions made for
the escape of the Thirty-third, should the enemy appear, but they were
told to fire off their guns, and make their way back through the slashing
as best they could. The night was intensely dark, and the men, unable to
see or converse with each other, had a decidedly dreary time of it. About
three o’clock in the morning (Wednesday) an Aid appeared and ordered them
in. Owing to the darkness and obstacles some did not get back for several
hours.
The fierce battle of Malvern Hills was, in the meantime, being fought.
The line of battle was formed about eight o’clock in the morning
(Tuesday), General Franklin having the right, Generals Keyes and
Heintzelman the centre, and General Porter the left. General Sumner’s
Corps was held as a reserve. Our batteries were planted on the hills in
commanding positions. About nine o’clock the pursuing enemy made their
appearance and immediately opened a heavy artillery fire, which was
replied to by our guns, the gunboats Galena and Jacob Bell assisting. The
artillery duel was kept up until three o’clock in the afternoon, when the
enemy charged in solid column upon our batteries, but were repulsed with
terrible slaughter. Again and again they renewed the charge, but were
as often beaten back. Despairing of dislodging us with shot and shell,
or of storming our guns, they now advanced their infantry, who opened a
musketry fire, and the engagement became general along the whole line.
For three long hours the battle raged fiercely, neither side gaining any
material advantage. But at the end of this time reinforcements arrived
to the number of four Brigades, and decided the fortunes of the day.
The enemy were everywhere beaten back and put to flight, many of them
not stopping until they reached their defences. Some were at the time,
and have since been, of the opinion that our victorious forces could
have followed them into their capital. But when we consider the distance
intervening, the condition of our own troops, and that this was only
one wing of the rebel army that had met with defeat, it is scarcely
reasonable to conclude that the success could have been followed up
by the capture of Richmond. This terminated the series of engagements
connected with the retreat. Like Massena fleeing before Wellington,
General McClellan had again and again turned upon Lee, and as often
checked him in the pursuit.
After being ordered in from the picket line, the Thirty-third was
permitted a few hours’ rest, and then sent to the front to support
Ayers’ battery. The men had hardly taken their position behind the guns,
before they were ordered to move on, which they did in a furious storm.
Reaching a large wheat field, a portion of the army was found drawn up,
in a hollow square, with the trains in the centre, expecting an attack.
The troops were marched and counter-marched, and arranged to meet the
enemy, but they did not make their appearance. The Regiment here joined
the others of the Brigade under Colonel Taylor, and proceeded on towards
Harrison’s Landing. The water was in many places from six to eight inches
deep, the streams very much swollen, and various other circumstances
conspired to make the marching slow and tedious. The Thirty-third,
however, reached the landing about two o’clock in the afternoon, which
was on the old Harrison estate, and reminded the men very much of White
House Landing.
[Illustration: HARRISONS LANDING]
The river was full of gunboats and transports of every description. Many
of the boys were so famished that they did not wait for the commissary,
but swam out to the boats, and, clambering up the sides, procured
something to eat. Others were so exhausted that, without delaying for
food or shelter, they sank down in the mud, and were soon fast asleep.
Notwithstanding the excessive heat and innumerable number of bugs and
flies of every description, they found no difficulty in wooing Morpheus
after the severe and terrible exposures and hardships of the seven days
previous. On the next day, which was the 4th, General McClellan issued
the following address to the troops:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR
HARRISON’S LANDING, July 4th, 1862.
_Soldiers of the Army of the Potomac_:
Your achievements of the last ten days have illustrated the
valor and endurance of the American soldier. Attacked by
superior forces, and without hope of reinforcements, you have
succeeded in changing your base of operations by a flank
movement, always regarded as the most hazardous of military
expedients. You have saved all your material, all your trains,
and all your guns, except a few lost in battle, taking in
return, guns and colors from the enemy. Upon your march you
were assailed, day after day, with desperate fury, by men of
the same race and nation, skilfully massed and led. Under every
disadvantage of number, and necessarily of position also, you
have, in every conflict, beaten back your foes with enormous
slaughter. Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies
of history. No one will now question that each of you may
always with pride say, “I belong to the Army of the Potomac.”
You have reached the new base, complete in organization and
unimpaired in spirit. The enemy may, at any time, attack you.
We are prepared to meet them. I have personally established
your lines. Let them come, and we will convert their repulse
into a final defeat.
Your government is strengthening you with the resources of a
great people. On this, our Nation’s birthday, we declare to our
foes, who are rebels against the best interests of mankind,
that this army shall enter the capital of the so-called
Confederacy; that our National constitution shall prevail;
and that the Union, which can alone insure internal peace and
external security to each State, “must and shall be preserved,”
cost what it may in time, treasure, and blood.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN.
This stirring address was received with immense enthusiasm by the army.
During the day a national salute was fired at the headquarters of each
Army Corps, and immediately after the bands played various national airs.
General McClellan likewise visited all the troops in the afternoon, and
they paraded before him.
The position here was one of great beauty, the country being open,
rolling, and skirted with large and variegated forests. Beautiful
country residences, belonging to aristocratic owners, were seen in every
direction.
Saturday morning, 5th, Smith’s Division was sent back on the Charles
City Cross-roads, two and a half miles, to the support of General
Shields’ forces, which had been attacked by Texan cavalry. The rebels
were repulsed, and fled, leaving one gun in our possession. The Brigade
remained here, and pitched their tents in a very commanding though
unhealthy position. The water was frequently so stagnant that fish
could not live in it, floating lifeless to the top. The men immediately
commenced earthworks on the highlands in the vicinity of the Landing. The
Thirty-third assisted in the construction of an extensive fort, mounting
several 32-pounders. When completed, it presented a very formidable
appearance. An immense amount of slashing was also performed. It was a
fine sight to see a whole forest rapidly disappear before the sturdy
blows of a thousand choppers. While one Regiment used the axes, another
was posted in front to prevent the enemy’s sharpshooters from firing upon
them.
The men learned, with much satisfaction, soon after reaching the Landing,
of the capture of their old acquaintance, the Teaser, which surrendered
to the Union gunboat Mantanzas.
Much sickness prevailed among the camps, owing to the unhealthy
surroundings and impure water. Many died, and many more were taken
North, not, however, before the seeds of death had been implanted in
their constitutions. Each Company of the Thirty-third provided itself
with a well, and afterwards enjoyed the luxury of pure water. Everything
pertaining to a soldier’s living was furnished in abundance, after
affairs became settled, sweet bread, in addition to many other things,
being added to the bill of fare. While here, General Smith was confirmed
as a Brigadier General of Volunteers. He was likewise nominated for a
Major Generalship. General Davidson, recovering from the effects of the
sunstroke, resumed command of the Brigade, and Colonel Taylor returned
to his Regiment. One reconnoissance was made by him in the direction of
Richmond.