THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

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it suffered severely in the battle of Fair Oaks, had seen less service and metwith fewer losses in these “ Seven Days’ battles ” than any one of my three,and was prepared with full ranks to receive an attack, seeming impatient andeager for the fight. Its conduct soon confirmed this impression. Batteriesof Hunt’s Artillery Reserve were sent to him when needed — and also Cald-well’s brigade, voluntarily sent to me early in the day by Sumner, and Sickles’sbrigade, borrowed of Heintzelman for the purpose.

About 10 a. m. the enemy’s skirmishers and artillery began feeling for usalong our line; they kept up a desultory fire until about 12 o’clock, withno severe injury to our infantry, who were well masked, and who revealedbut little of our strength or position by retaliatory firing or exposure.

Up to this time and until nearly 1 o’clock our infantry were resting upontheir arms and waiting the moment, certain to come, when the column of theenemy rashly advancing would render it necessary to expose themselves.Our desire was to hold the enemy where our artillery would be mostdestructive, and to reserve our infantry ammunition for close quarters torepel the more determined assaults of our obstinate and untiring foe.Attacks by brigade were made upon Morell, both on his left front and onhis right, and also upon Couch ; but our artillery, admirably handled, withoutexception, was generally sufficient to repel all such efforts and to drive backthe assailants in confusion, and with great loss.

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VIEW FROM THE MEADOW WEST OF THE CREW HOUSE. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN EARLY IN 1885.

The Crew liouse is in the extreme right of the picture.The hill to the left is the high ground shown on p. 419.The ravine between the two is the ravine shown in theright of the picture on p. 418. At the time of the battlethe low ground was in wheat, partly shocked, affording

protection for the Union sharp-shooters under Berdan.Farther to the left, up this valley, and in the rear of thehill, was the right of the Confederate line, which late inthe evening made several assaults upon the Crew Hill,by way of the ravine and meadow.— Editors.