WOODBURY’S BRIDGE ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY.
GENERAL GEORGE A. McCALL, U. S. V.
At the battle oi Fra.vser’s Farm, General McCall was captured by the Confederates after a most exciting expeiience in repelling several charges upon batteries. In his report he says : “I rode forward to ascertain whether some men of the Fourth which I had left a little in advance were still on the ground—they had. as I afterward learned, joined Kearny,—and I had not proceeded more than 100 yards, before I rode right into the Forty»Seventli Virginia Regiment, which, being drawn up under some trees, was not seen by me in the obscurity of the evening, until I had ridden in among them, and thus became a prisoner.”
ground would have disclosed that; and had Jack-son’s command gone in on the left of the road running by the McGehee house, Porter’s whole position would have been turned and the line of retreat cut off. . . . The battle, with all its melancholy results, proved, however, that the Confederate infantry and Federal artillery, side by side on the same field, need fear no foe on earth.
Both commanders had shown great ability. McClellan, if not always great in the advance, was masterly in retreat, and was unquestionably the greatest of Americans as an organizer of an army. Lee’s plans were perfect; and had not his dispositions for a decisive battle at Frayser’s farm miscarried, through no fault of his own, he would have won a most complete victory. It was not the least part of his greatness that he did not complain of his disappointment, and that he at no time sought a scapegoat upon which to lay a failure. As reunited Americans, we have reason to be proud of both commanders.
ing to the Increasing darkness, and the intricacy of the forest and swamp, they did not arrive in time to render the desired assistance. Hill was therefore compelled to abandon part of the ground that he had gained, after suffering severe loss and inflicting heavy damage upon the enemy.”
I never saw anything more grandly heroic than the advance after sunset of the nine brigades under Magruder’s orders. Unfortunately, they did not move together, and were beaten in detail. As each brigade emerged from the woods, from fifty to one hundred guns opened upon it, tearing great gaps in its ranks; but the heroes reeled on and were shot down by the reserves at the guns, which a few squads reached. Most of them had an open field half a mile wide to cross, under the fire of field-artillery in front, and the fire of the heavy ordnance of the gunboats in their rear. It ■was not war — it was murder. . . .
The battle of Malvern Hill was a disaster to the Confederates, and the fourteen brigades that had been so badly repulsed were much demoralized. But there were six divisions intact, and they could have made a formidable fight on the 2d. . . .
Throughout this campaign we attacked just when and where the enemy wished us to attack. This was owing to our ignorance of the country and lack of reconnoissanee of the successive battlefields. Porter’s weak point at Gaines’s Mill was his right flank. A thorough examination of the
A similar order was sent to each division commander. However, only one battery of our artillery came up at a time, and each successive one, as it took position, had fifty pieces turned upon it, and was crushed in a minute. Not knowing what to do under the circumstances, I wrote to General Jack-son that the condition upon which the order was predicted was not fulfilled, and that I wanted instructions. He replied to advance when I heard the shouting. We did advance at the signal, and after an unassisted struggle for an hour and a half, and after meeting with some success, we were compelledAo fall back under cover of the woods. Magruder advanced at the same signal, having portions of the divisions of Huger and McLaws, comprising the brigades of Mahone, Wright, Barksdale, Ransom, Cobb, Semmes, Kershaw, Armi-stead, and G. T. Anderson; but he met with some delay, and did not get in motion till he received a second order from General Lee, and we were then beaten. . . .
Truly, the courage of the soldiers was sublime ! Battery after battery was in their hands for a few moments, only to be wrested away by fresh troops of the enemy. If one division could effect this much, what might have been done had the other nine cooperated with it! General Lee says :
“ D. H. Hill pressed forward across the open field and engaged the enemy gallantly, breaking and driving back his first line; but a simultaneous advance of the other troops not taking place, he found himself unable to maintain the ground he had gained against the overwhelming numbers and the numerous batteries of the enemy. Jackson sent to his support his own division, and that part of Ewell’s which was in reserve; but ow-
MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. FRANKLIN, U. S. Y.
From a photograph taken in August, 1862, when General Franklin was temporarily at home on sick leave.
division was ordered to the left of the Quaker road, and mine to the right; Ewell’s was in reserve.
Jackson’s own division had been halted at Willis’s Church. The divisions of Magruder, Huger, and McLaws were still farther over to my right. Those of Longstreet and A. P. Hill were in reserve on the right and were not engaged. At length we were ordered to advance. The brigade of General George B. Anderson first encountered the enemy, and its commander was wounded and borne from the field. His troops, however, crossed the creek and took position in the woods, commanded by Colonel C. C. Tew, a skilful and gallant man.
Bodes being sick, his brigade was commanded by that peerless soldier, Colonel J. B. Gordon.
Ripley, Garland, and Colquitt also got over without serious loss. My five brigade commanders and myself now made an examination of the enemy’s position. He was found to he strongly posted on a commanding hill, all the approaches to which could be swept by his artillery and were guarded by swarms of infantry, securely sheltered by fences, ditches, and ravines. Armistead was immediately on my right. We remained a long while awaiting orders, when I received the following;
“ July 1st, 1862.
“General D. H. Hill: Batteries have been established to act upon the enemy’s line. If it is broken, as is probable, Annistead, who can witness the effect of the fire, has been ordered to charge with a yell. Do the same.
“ R. II. Chilton, A. A. G.”
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