THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

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McCall’s division ofPennsylvania Reserves,now under General Tru-man Seymour , arrivedduring the night andwas posted just in frontof the Malvern house,and was held in reserve,to be called upon forservice only in case ofabsolute necessity. |Early on Tuesday ourlines were re-formed andslightly advanced totake full advantage ofthe formation of theground, the artillery ofthe front line being re-posted in commandingpositions, and placedunder General Griffin’scommand, but underCaptain Weeden’s care,just behind the crest ofthe hill. The infantrywas arranged betweenthe artillery to protectand be protected by itsneighbors, and preparednot to interfere with the

BERDAN’S SHAKF-SHOOTERS (OF MORELL’S DIVISION) SKIRMISHINGIN THE MEADOW WHEAT-FIELD.

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to be thrown forward, if at any time advisable, so asartillery fire.

| This division had reached me at New Marketcross-roads, at midnight of the 29th, greatly inneed of rest. This fact, and the necessity that areliable force should hold that point until the wholearmy had crossed the White Oak Swamp and thetrains had passed to the rear, compelled the assign-ment of McCall to the performance of that duty.During the afternoon of the 30tli he was attackedby large forces of the enemy, which he several timesrepulsed; but he failed to enjoy the advantagesof his success through the recklessness and irre-pressible impetuosity of his men or the forgetful-ness of orders by infantry subordinates. They werestrictly cautioned, unless unusual fortune favoredthem, not to pass through a battery for the pur-pose of pursuing a repulsed enemy, and under nocircumstances to return in face of one, so as tocheck its fire. In the excitement of presumed suc-cess at repulsing a heavy attack, a brigade pushedafter a rapidly fleeing foe, and was impulsivelyjoined by its neighbors, who wished not to be ex-celled in dash or were perhaps encouraged by inju-dicious orders. Passing through their own batteries

as they advanced, they lost the benefit of theirfire, as they did also when returning after beingrepulsed and pursued by the enemy’s reserves. Dis-regard of these principles at this time caused heavylosses of men, and led to the demoralization at acritical moment of one good volunteer battery andthe capture, through no fault of its commander, ofone of the best batteries of the regular army [see p.402]. This battery was commanded by LieutenantA. M. Randol, a brave and accomplished artilleryofficer of the regular army. This division had other-wise suffered heavily. At Gaines’s Mill it had lost,by capture, one of the ablest generals, John P. Rey-nolds, with other gallant and efficient officers andmen, captured, killed, or wounded. Its misfortunesculminated in the capture at New Market cross-roads of McCall, the wounding of General GeorgeG. Meade, his able assistant , and the loss of manyexcellent subordinates. Fortunately the braveand experienced soldier, General Seymour, withhis worthy officers, escaped to lead the survivorsof the division to our camp, where they were wel-comed by their sympathizing comrades.—F. J. P.