THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

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This new position, with its elements of great strength, was better adaptedfor a defensive battle than any with which we had been favored. It waselevated, and was more or less protected on each flank by small streams or byswamps, while the woods in front through which the enemy had to pass toattack us were in places marshy, and the timber so thick that artillery couldnot be brought up, and even troops were moved in it with difficulty. Slightlyin rear of our line of battle ou Crew’s Hill the reserve artillery and infantrywere held for immediate service. Thehill concealed them from the view ofthe enemy and sheltered them to someextent from his fire. These hills, bothto the east and west, were connectedwith the adjacent valleys by gradu-ally sloping plains except at the Crewhouse, where for a little distance theslope was quite abrupt, and was easilyprotected by a small force. With theexception of the River road, all theroads from Richmond, along which theenemy would be obliged to approach,meet in front of Crew’s Hill. Thishill was flanked with ravines, enfiladedby our fire. The ground in front wassloping, and over it our artillery andinfantry, themselves protected by thecrest and ridges, had clear sweep fortheir fire. In all directions, for sev-eral hundred yards, the land over which an attacking force must advancewas almost entirely cleared of forest and was generally cultivated.

I reached Malvern Hill some two hours before my command on Monday,June 30th; each division, as it came upon the field, was assigned to a posi-tion covering the approaches from Richmond along the River road and thedebouches from the New Market, Charles City, and Williamsburg roads.Warren, with his brigade of about six hundred men, took position on the low-lands to the left, to guard against the approach of the enemy along the Riverroad, or over the low, extensive, and cultivated plateau beyond and extendingnorth along Crew’s Hill. Warren’s men were greatly in need of rest. Thebrigade had suffered greatly at Gaines’s Mill, and was not expected toperform much more than picket duty, and it was large enough for the purposedesigned, as it was not probable that any large force would be so reckless asto advance on that road. Warren waft 1 supported by the 11th U. S. Infantry,under Major Floyd-Jones, and late in the afternoon was strengthened byMartin’s battery of 12-pounders and a detachment of the 3d Pennsylvania cavalry under Lieutenant Frank W. Hess.

On the west side of Malvern Hill, overlooking Warren, were some thirty-six guns, some of long range, having full sweep up the valley and over the

VOL. II. 27

MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE W. MORELL.PROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

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