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THE BATTLE OF MALVERH HILL.
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SCENE OP THE CONFEDERATE ATTACK ON THE WEST SIDE OF CREW’S HILL, LOOKING FROM TIIE CREWHOUSE SOUTH-WEST TOWARD THE JAMES RIVER. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN EARLY IN 1885.
The Confederates came down the valley or meadow from the right, and advanced up this slope toward the twoguns of Weeden, which were supported by the Fourteenth New York Volunteers. The roadacross the meadow leads to Holmes’s position on the River road. — Editors.
While the enemy’s artillery was firing upon us General Sumner withdrewpart of his corps to the slope of Malvern Hill, to the right of the Malvernhouse, which descended into the valley of Western Run. Then, deeming itadvisable to withdraw all our troops to that line, he ordered me to fall backto the Malvern house; but I protested that such a movement would bedisastrous, and declined to obey the order until I could confer with GeneralMcClellan , who had approved of the disposition of our troops. FortunatelySumner did not insist upon my complying with the order, and, as we weresoon vigorously attacked, he advanced his troops to a point where he wasbut little disturbed by the enemy, but from which he could quickly renderaid in response to calls for help or where need for help was apparent.\
The spasmodic, though sometimes for mi dable attacks of our antagonists,at different points along our whole front, up to about 4 o’clock, were presum-ably demonstrations or feelers, to ascertain our strength, preparatory to theirengaging in more serious work. An ominous silence, similar to that whichhad preceded the attack in force along our whole line at Gaines’s Mill, nowintervened, until, at about 5:30 o’clock, the enemy opened upon both Morell
\ On one occasion, when I sent an urgent requestfor two brigades, Sumner read my note aloud, and,fearing he could not stand another draft on hisforces, was hesitating to respond, when Heintzel-man, ever prompt and generous, sprang to his feetand exclaimed : “By Jove! if Porter asks for help,I know he needs it and I will send it.” The imme-diate result was the sending of Meagher by Sum-
ner and Sickles by Heintzelman. This was thesecond time that Sumner had selected and sent meMeagher’s gallant Irish brigade, and each time itrendered invaluable service. I had served underGeneral Heintzelman up to the capture of York-town, and I ever appreciated his act as the prompt-ing of a thoughtful, generous, and chivalrousnature.— F. J. P.