Official Records of the Rebellion

[p. 64]

On the morning of the 30th I again gave to the corps commanders within reach instructions for posting their troops. I found that, notwithstanding all the efforts of my personal staff and other officers, the roads were blocked by wagons, and there was great difficulty in keeping the trains in motion.

The engineer officers whom I had sent forward on the 28th to reconnoiter the roads had neither returned nor sent me any reports or guides. Generals Keyes and Porter had been delayed—one by losing the road and the other by repairing an old road—and had not been able to send me any information. We then knew of but one road for the movement of the troops and our immense trains. It was therefore necessary to post the troops in advance of this road, as well as our limited knowledge of the ground permitted, so as to cover the movement of the trains in the rear. I then examined the whole line from the swamp to the left, giving final instructions for the posting of the troops and the obstructions of the roads toward Richmond, and all corps commanders were directed to hold their positions until the trains had passed, after which a more concentrated position was to be taken up near James River. Our force was too small to occupy and hold the entire line from the White Oak Swamp to the river, exposed as it was to be taken in reverse by a movement across the lower part of the swamp, or across the[p65] Chickahominy, below the swamp. Moreover, the troops were then greatly exhausted, and required rest in a more secure position.

I extended my examination of the country as far as Haxall’s, looking at all the approaches to Malvern, which position I perceived to be the key to our operations in this quarter, and was thus enabled to expedite very considerably the passage of the trains and to rectify the positions of the troops. Everything being then quiet, I sent aides to the different corps commanders to inform them what 1 had done on the left, and to bring me information of the condition of affairs on the right. I returned from Malvern to Haxall’s, and having made arrangements for instant communication from Malvern by signals, went on board of Captain Rodgers’ gunboat, lying near, to confer with him in reference to the condition of our supply vessels and the state of things on the river. It was his opinion that it would be necessary for the army to fall back to a position below City Point, as the channel there was so near the southern shore that it would not be possible to bring up the transports should the enemy occupy it. Harrison’s Lauding was, in his opinion, the nearest suitable point. Upon the termination of this interview I returned to Malvern Hill, and remained there until shortly before daylight.

BATTLE OF NELSON’S FARM, OR GLENDALE.

On the morning of the 30th General Sumner was ordered to march with Sedgwick’s division to Glendale (Nelson’s Farm). General McCall’s division (Pennsylvania Reserves) was halted during the morning on the New Market road, just in advance of the point where the road turns off to Quaker Church. This line was formed perpendicularly to the New Market road, with Meade’s brigade on the right, Seymour’s on the left, and Reynolds’ brigade, commanded by Col. S. G. Simmons, of the Fifth Pennsylvania, in reserve; Randol’s regular battery on the right, Kerns’ and Cooper’s batteries opposite the center, and Diederichs’ and Knieriem’s batteries of the artillery reserve on the left, all in front of the infantry line. The country in General McCall’s front was an open field, intersected toward the right by the New Market road and a small strip of timber parallel to it. The open front was about 800 yards, its depth about 1,000 yards.

On the morning of the 30th General Heintzelman ordered the bridge at Brackett’s Ford to be destroyed and trees to be felled across that road and the Charles City road. General Slocum’s division was to extend to the Charles City road. General Kearny’s left to connect with General Slocum’s left. General McCall’s position was to the left of the Long Bridge road, in connection with General Kearny’s left. General Hooker was on the left of General McCall. Between 12 and 1 o’clock the enemy opened a fierce cannonade upon the divisions of Smith and Richardson and Naglee’s brigade at White Oak Swamp 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 our artillery with great effect. Captain Hazzard’s battery, after losing many cannoneers and Captain Hazzard 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.

At 2 o’clock in the day the enemy were reported advancing in [p.66] force by the Charles City road, and at half past 2 o’clock the attack was made down the road on General Slocum’s left, but was checked by his artillery. After this the enemy in large force, comprising the divisions of Longstreet and A. P. Hill, attacked General McCall, whose division, after severe fighting, was compelled to retire.

General McCall, in his report of the battle, says:

* * * * *

About half past two my pickets were driven in by a strong advance, after some skirmishing without loss on our part.

At 3 o’clock the enemy sent forward a regiment on the left center and another on the right center, to feel for a weak point. They were under cover of a shower of shells and boldly advanced, but were both driven back—on the left by the Twelfth Regiment and on the right by the Seventh Regiment.

For nearly two hours the battle raged hotly here. * * * At last the enemy was compelled to retire before the well-directed musketry fire of the reserves. The German batteries were driven to the rear, but I rode up and sent them back. It was, however, of little avail, and they were soon after abandoned by the cannoneers. * * * The batteries in front of the center were boldly charged upon, but the enemy were speedily forced back. * * * Soon after this a most determined charge was made on Randol’s battery by a full brigade, advancing in wedge-shape without order, but in perfect recklessness. Somewhat similar charges had, I have stated, been previously made on Cooper’s and Kerns’ batteries by single regiments without success, they having recoiled before the storm of canister hurled against them. A like result was anticipated by Randol’s battery, and the Fourth Regiment was requested not to fire until the battery had done with them. Its gallant commander did not doubt his ability to repel the attack, and his guns did, indeed, mow down the advancing host; but still the gaps were closed, and the enemy came in upon a run to the very muzzle of his guns. It was a perfect torrent of men, and they were in his battery before the guns could be removed. Two guns that were, indeed, successfully limbered had their horses killed and wounded and were overturned on the spot, and the enemy dashing past drove the greater part of the Fourth Regiment before them. The left company (B) nevertheless stood its ground, with its captain, Fred. A. Conrad, as did likewise certain men of other companies. I had ridden into the regiment and endeavored to check them, but with only partial success.

* * * *

There was no running; but my division, reduced by the previous battles to less than 6,000, had to contend with the divisions of Longstreet and A. P. Hill, considered two of the strongest and best among many of the Confederate Army, numbering that day 18,000 or 20,000 men, and it was reluctantly compelled to give way before heavier force accumulated upon them.

* * * * * * *

General Heintzelman states that about 5 o’clock p. m. General McCall’s division was attacked in large force, evidently the principal attack; that in less than an hour the division gave way, and adds:

General Hooker being on his left, by moving to the right repulsed the rebels in the handsomest manner, with great slaughter. General Sumner, who was with General Sedgwick in McCall’s rear, also greatly aided with his artillery and infantry in driving back the enemy. They now renewed their attack with vigor on General Kearny’s left, and were again repulsed with heavy loss.

* * * *

This attack commenced about 4 p. m., and was pushed by heavy masses with the utmost determination and vigor. Captain Thompson’s battery, directed with great precision, firing double charges, swept them back. The whole open space, 200 paces wide, was filled with the enemy. Each repulse brought fresh troops. The third attack was only repulsed by the rapid volleys and determined charge of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Hays, and half of the Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers.

General McCall’s troops soon began to emerge from the woods into the open field. Several batteries were in position, and began to fire into the woods over the heads of our men in front. Captain De Russy’s battery was placed on the right of General Sumner’s artillery, with orders to shell the woods. General Burns’ brigade was then advanced to meet the enemy, and soon drove him back. Other troops began to return from the White Oak Swamp. Later in the day, at the call of [p.67] General Kearny, General Taylor’s First New Jersey Brigade, Slocum’s division, was sent to occupy a portion of the position from which General McCall’s division had been forced back by the attack of superior numbers, a battery accompanying the brigade. They soon drove back the enemy, who shortly after gave up the attack, contenting themselves with keeping up a desultory firing till late at night. Between 12 and 1 o’clock at night General Heintzelman commenced to withdraw his corps, and soon after daylight both of his divisions, with General Slocum’s division and a portion of General Sumner’s command, reached Malvern Hill.

On the morning of the 30th, General Sumner, in obedience to orders, had moved promptly to Glendale, and upon a call from General Franklin for re-enforcements, sent him two brigades, which returned in time to participate and render good service in the battle near Glendale. General Sumner says of this battle: -

The battle of Glendale was the most severe action since the battle of Fair Oaks. About 3 o’clock p. m. the action commenced, and after a furious contest, lasting until after dark, the enemy was routed at all points and driven from the field.

The rear of the supply trains and the reserve artillery of the army reached Malvern Hill about 4 p. m. At about this time the enemy began to appear in General Porter’s front, and at 5 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 at this time, and helped to drive back the enemy.

It was very late at night before my aides returned to give me the results of the day’s fighting along the whole line and the true position of affairs. While waiting to hear from General Franklin, before sending orders to Generals Sumner and Heintzelman, I received a message from the latter that General Franklin was falling back, whereupon I sent Colonel Colburn, of my staff, with orders to verify this, and, if it were true, to order in Generals Sumner and Heintzelman at once. He had not gone far when he met two officers, sent from General Franklin’s headquarters, with the information that he was falling back. Orders were then sent to Generals Sumner and Heintzelman to fall back also, and definite instructions were given as to the movement which was to commence on the right. The orders met these troops already en route to Malvern. Instructions were also sent to General Franklin as to the route he was to follow.

Generals Barnard and A. A. Humphreys then received full instructions for posting the troops as they arrived.

I then returned to Haxall’s, and again left for Malvern soon after daybreak. Accompanied by several general officers, I once more made the entire circuit of the position, and then returned to Haxall’s, whence I went with Captain Rodgers to select the final location for the army and its depots. I returned to Malvern before the serious fighting commenced, and after riding along the lines, and seeing most cause to feel anxiousabout the right, remained in that vicinity.