Surgeon N. F. Marsh, Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, writes:

"WASHINGTON, November 25th, 1862.-General:After the battle of the 30th of June, I remained at 'Willis' Church, with a large number of our wounded. The next morning I was directed by General Jackson (Stonewall) to report to General Lee. I found General Lee in company with General Longstreet, Magruder and Hill, on the New Market road. I addressed General Lee and informed him that I was a Federal surgeon, and had remained to care for our wounded, and wished protection and supplies for our men. He promised supplies, and directed General Longstreet to write the necessary permit. At the time I approached they were discussing the battle of the previous day, being then on the ground. General Longstreet asked me if I was present. I replied I was. He asked what troops were engaged. I replied I only knew the division I was connected withMcCall's-which fought just where we then were. General Longstreet said, 'Well, McCall is safe in Richmond; but if his division had not offered the stubborn resistance it did on this road, we would have captured your whole army. Never mind, we'll do it yet.'

On Thursday, 3d July, General Roger A. Pryor came into the Church (hospital,) and we had a long conversation. He repeated in substance what General Longstreet said, and spoke in the highest terms of the 'pluck displayed by McCall's Pennsylvania troops.'

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The interest I felt in the Reserve Corps made me careful to remember these acknowledgments of the rebel generals."

Surgeon James R. Riley, of the One hundred and twenty-seventh Penna. Vols. writes:

"Washington, January 16, 1864.--General:-On the 18th of December, 1862, I was engaged dressing the stump, having previously amputated the leg of Captain (name not recollected,) of the Twelfth Mississippi regiment, who had been wounded at the battle of Fred

WHITE OAK SWAMP.

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ericksburg, when he asked me what corps I belonged to, I replied the Pennsylvania Reserves. He said he had been in seventeen battles, and in all those on the Peninsula; that if the Pennsylvania Reserves had not fought so well at Mechanicsville, where they had their best troops, and again at New Market cross-roads, the Confederates would have captured McClellan's army."

It is not necessary to dwell longer upon this subject, as the above adduced testimony sets at rest the matter beyond all controversy.

While the battle of Charles City cross-roads was progressing, the enemy were attempting to force a passage of White Oak swamp which was held by General Franklin. Between twelve and one o'clock they opened a fierce cannonade upon the divisions of Smith and Richardson, and Naglee's brigades at this bridge. This artillery fire was continued by the enemy through the day, and he crossed some infantry below our position. Richardson's division suffered severely. Captain Ayres directed the artillery with great effect. Captain Hazzard's battery, after losing many cannoniers, and the Captain being mortally wounded, was compelled to retire. It was replaced by Pettit's battery, which partially silenced the enemy's guns.

General Franklin held his position until after dark, repeatedly driving back the enemy in their attempts to cross the White Oak swamp.

The rear of the supply trains and the reserve artillery of the army reached Malvern Hill about four o'clock that afternoon. About this time the enemy began to appear in General Porter's front, which was posted on the left, holding the river road to Richmond, and at five o'clock advanced in large force against his left flank, posting artillery under cover of a skirt of timber, with a view to engage our force on Malvern Hill, while with his infantry and some artillery he attacked Colonel Warren's brigade. A concentrated fire of about thirty guns was brought to bear on the enemy, which, with the

infantry fire of Colonel Warren's command, compelled him to retreat, leaving two guns in the hands of Colonel Warren. The gunboats rendered most efficient aid during the attack.

CHAPTER XV.

BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL. MARCH TO HARRISON'S LANDING. CRUELTY TO OUR WOUNDED. HUNTING GREYBACKS. WHITE GLOVES AND RAGGED CLOTHES. VISIT OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL, JULY 1ST.--At Malvern Hill was collected the whole Army of the Potomac with all its artillery, to give battle once more to the vigilant foe, who, though defeated in every battle of the seven days' fight except one, (Gaines' Mills,) were victorious in the campaign. Flushed with the knowledge of our retreating, the sight of our dead, the capture of many of our wounded, and the spoils of the field, they in spite of their terrible losses, almost looked upon it as a triumphant march, and believing they had driven us to the water's edge, they considered our capture or annihilation as certain, and so confident were they of this, that Jefferson Davis, accompanied by the officials of his Government, visited the army to receive the sword of McClellan.

Malvern Hill is an elevated plateau, about a mile and a half by three-fourths of a mile in area, mostly clear of timber, and with several converging roads crossing it. In front were numerous ravines, and the ground sloped gradually towards the north and east to a heavy woods, giving clear range for artillery in those directions. Towards the northwest the plateau falls off more abruptly into a ravine, which extends to James river. Upon this hill the left and centre of our line rested, while the right

BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

curved backwards through a wooded country towards a point below Haxall's on the James river.

The left of the line was held by the Fifth Corps, General Porter, consisting of the divisions of Sykes and Morell, of Warren's, Buchanan's and Chapman's brigades, and Griffin's, Martindale's and Butterfield's brigades. The artillery of the two divisions was advantageously posted, and the artillery of the reserve so disposed on the high ground that a concentrated fire of some sixty guns could be brought to bear on any point in its front or left. Colonel Tyler had also succeeded in getting ten of his siege guns in position on the highest point of the hill. Couch's division was placed on the right of Porter; next came Kearney and Hooker; next Sedgwick and Richardson; next Smith and Slocum; then the remainder of Keyes' corps, extended by a backward curve nearly to the river. The Pennsylvania Reserves were held in reserve, and stationed behind Porter's and Couch's position. One brigade of Porter's was thrown to the left on the low ground to protect that flank from any movement direct from the Richmond road. The line was very strong along the whole front of the open plateau, but from thence to the extreme right, the troops were more deployed. This formation was imperative, as from the position of the enemy his most obvious line of attack would come from the direction of Richmond and White Oak swamp, and would almost necessarily strike upon the left wing. Commodore Rogers, commanding the flotilla on James river, placed his gunboats so as to protect this flank, and to command the approaches from Richmond. The right wing was rendered as secure as possible by slashing the timber and by barricading the roads. There was posted upon different parts of the field, and in some places tier above tier, about two hundred and fifty pieces of artillery.

About ten o'clock A. M., the enemy emerged from the woods on the opposite side of the plain and commenced feeling along the whole left wing, with his artillery and

skirmishers, which was promptly responded to by our artillery, and in about one hour the firing on both sides nearly ceased. An ominous stillness, indicating the manoeuvring and placing in position of troops, now followed, preparatory to the terrific struggle that was soon to take place. About two o'clock a column of the enemy was observed moving towards our right, within the skirt of woods in front beyond the range of our artillery. Although the column was long, occupying more than two hours in passing, it disappeared, and was not again heard of. It probably returned by the rear, and participated in the attack afterwards made on the left.

During this long silence, our troops lay quietly upon the field, eating their scanty rations, and enjoying the rest they had not known for so long. Thus the day wore on with but little animation until about three o'clock, when a heavy fire of artillery was opened on Kearney's left and Couch's division, near the centre of the line, followed by a brisk attack of infantry on Couch's front. This was immediately responded to by our artillery, but Couch's infantry remained lying on the ground until the enemy had advanced within musketry range, when they sprang to their feet and poured in a deadly volley that broke and drove them back with considerable slaughter. They were followed for nearly half a mile, where our line halted and occupied a much stronger position, resting upon a thick clump of trees.

This affair occupied about one hour, when the fire ceased over the whole field, and the enemy evinced neither a disposition to attack or withdraw. About six o'clock, the enemy suddenly opened upon Couch and Porter with the whole strength of his artillery, and at once began pushing forward his columns of attack to carry the hill. Now opened one of the most desperate and sanguinary battles ever fought upon this continent. Brigade after brigade, formed under cover of the woods, started at a run to cross the open space and charge our batteries, but the heavy fire of our guns, with the cool and steady vol