Following the Flag

ease, the Rebels, also, were hard at work erecting defensive batteries, on firm ground, and mounting guns of large caliber. Their ranks, instead of growing thin, were filling up. Troops were hurri

20,511 absent. Leaves of absence and furloughs had been granted freely. Officers and men, on a slight pretext, found it not

ound necessary to keep General McDowell in position to cover Washington. On the 18th of June, General McClellan

o pretended to be a Frenchman. He stated that he met from ten to fif

Sigel, who was in the Valley, that a large

ed the government at Washington should understand their plan to be. But they had no intention of marching down the Shenandoah Valley, or of att

ner, Heintzelman, and Keyes were on the south side, and Porter and

whole army. By the movement to Gordonsville they allayed suspicion, and transferred a division to a p

were placed on board and taken to Lynchburg, and thence to Gordonsville where they joined Jackson; but not stopping there, were brought with Ja

derickshall, and that it was intended to attack his rear on the 28th.35 The information was confirmed o

Turnpike. No change was made in the position of the troops, no breastworks were thrown up to protect the rear and flank. The only change was the rem

urnpike; while General Longstreet and General D. H. Hill took the Coal-Harbor road still farther east, and came to the Chickahominy at New Bridge. General Magruder, with one division, was

F MECHAN

the north. Two miles below the Mechanicsville Bridge is the Upper Trestle Bridge, built by General McClellan. Two miles farther down is New Bridge, on the road leading from Richmond to Coal Harbor. There is a high hill on the south side of the stream, on the plantation of Dr. Lewis, where the Rebels had a battery which commanded the bridge and

f Mechan

n Tr

our's

ynol

iffi

tinda

hanic

l Tr

's div

ch's B

son's

dge. The long column descended the bank, forded the

ets, but were surprised to see a body of cavalry dashing into the road behind them. The

he crest of the hill. General Reynolds's brigade had the right, and General Seymour's the left. General Meade's brigade was brought up as a reserve. General Porte

first was A. P. Hill's divisio

dge crossed the creek at that point. Another road leading from Mechanicsville to Coal Harbor crossed it farther up

on Ellison's Mills, while General Branch adv

n their places and poured an uninterrupted fire upon the enemy, who were vainly endeavoring to cross the ravine and scale the heights

nd joined in the attack upon Seymour at the Mil

were not engaged. Griffin only fired a few shots. The Union loss was eighty killed and about two hundred wounded. The Rebel loss is supposed to have been nearly three thousand. The assaults upon

th bank, to cover the bridges which had been constructed between the two wings of the army. During the night General McCall's division was withdrawn, contrary t

he baggage to be sent across the Chickahominy. He

Load every wagon you have with subsistence, and send them to Savage Station,"

E OF GAIN

battle of Coal Harbor; in the North, as the battle of Gaines's Mills. General

. General Porter has cut down the trees which stood on the hillside, and has thrown up rifle-pits and intrenchments. He is to hold the enemy in check, while General McClellan makes preparations for a retreat to James River. He has thirty thousand

rren's, Chapman's and Buchanan's brigades, confronted by Ewell's, D. H. Hill's, and Jackson's divisions. General Porter's second line at the beginning of

f Gaines

n Tr

field's

tinda

iffi

s's Di

Call

ocum

l Tr

reet's D

P. Hi

itin

wel

H. Hi

ckso

rbor, Lee's H

Sumner's corps, crosses Sumner's Bridg

itting in an old chair at the foot of the steps beneath the trees, eating a lunch, with his feet against a tree, his uniform faded and torn, buttons missing, and his boots old and dusty. Gregg, Wilcox, Pryor, Featherstone, and other

g the line north and south of the Chickahominy. Magruder, on the south side, has instructions to make a grand demons

rior and effective fire of Captain Griffin's United States battery, Weeden's Rhode Island, and Allen's and Martin's Massachusetts batteries, the Rebel batteries are "overpowered and driven from the field

went up to aid the Regulars,-how couriers dashed through the woods, over the bridges to General McClellan, who was on the southern bank, asking for reinforcements,-how Slocum's division went over, reached the field, held in check the dark masses forming upon the flank of the Regulars and Reserves, and held the ground. The hours hung heavily. Three o'clock,-four o'clock,-five o'clock,-and no break in the line. Thirty-five thousand against seventy! But the pressure is terrible. French's and Meagher's brigades are ordered over. But moments are precious. Six o'clock; the onset is greater than e

pped. There are sixty thousand men upon the southern bank of the river, but Ge

Lee, is ordered up. All of his desperate charges and o

rders up his last man. They can have no more support. At this moment, after they have held at bay

to push on. They leap across the ravine, halt a moment, sheltered by the bank above them from the fire of the Union batteries, and then leap the b

heir sabers, dash upon the exultant foe, but it is an ineffectual charge. The retreating troops fall in behind French and Meagher, form a new line nearer the Chickahominy, as the darkne

his reach across the river, with all h

een by the following extract from the narration

an two mortal hours the momentous issue stood trembling in the balance. The sun was getting far in the west, darkness would soon be upon us, and the point must be carried. At this juncture-it was now five o'clock-the division of the gallant Whiting hove in sight. On reaching the field their troops rapidly deployed in line.

rom the other side of the crest of the almost perpendicular bank, a breastwork of logs was erected, from behind which the dastard invaders were pouring murderous volleys upon our troops.

ENT TO JA

ion was standing on the track. The engine was ready for use. Far down the track, there was a pillar of cloud rising from the burnt bridge across the Chickahominy. The cars were set on fire. The engineer stepped upon the engine for the last time, and pulled the throttle. The wheels began to turn. He opened the valve to its full width, and jumped upon the ground. The engine sprang down the descending grade, propelled by the pent-up power. It is two miles from the station to the

his sick and wounded. Many soldiers shed tears

n fall into the hands o

s I have made, the battles I have fought, and the agony I hav

re the words of one noble chaplain, Rev. Mr. Marks, who would not leave them, but

God, I kn

is all

put my sou

it e'er

and resolved to mee

been destroyed, before they could cross the Chickahominy. General Sumner commanded the rear

er, who was at Peach Orchard and Allen's Farm; but Hazard's and P

F SAVAGE

General Sumner, who fell back with Franklin to Savage Station. General Franklin was on the right, Sumner in the center, and Heintzelman nearer Richmond o

eemingly motionless almost as statues, while the long wagon trains moved into the woods to

amp, urged on by hope of escaping the hands of the Rebels. It was heart-rending to hear t

aiting the attack,-three lines of resolute, determined men. Brooks's, Hancock's, and Burns's brig

hour passed of constant artillery firing. Then the Rebels adva

ent in confusion across the field. Again they advanced, and were again repulsed. Longstreet and Jackson, once more under cover of the gathering darkness, urged on their reluctant troops. Sumner brought up his reserve brigades. It was a short, sharp struggle,-a wild night-tempest,-the roaring of fifty

of the Fifth Vermont, dimly se

silence, and then the

ifth V

d by the Rebel officer. The Vermonters heard it. There was

appeared in the gloom of night. It was hard for the brave men to go away from their fallen comrades and leave them upon the field which they had defended with their life

OF GL

, the Long-Bridge road; from the south, the road leading to Malvern Hill; from the southwest, the Newmarket road; from the northwest, the Charles City road, leading to Richmond. There are farm-houses, grov

of Casey's division, were guarding the passage at the swamp. Slocum was on the Charles City road, northwest of the church. Kearney w

at Malvern with the tr

eet, Huger, Magruder, and Holmes made all haste down the Charles City road from Richmond, to strike McClellan on the f

, and Pettit's batteries were in position. Jackson brought up all his guns. There was a fierce artillery fight, lasting through the day. Jackson succeeded in

south. They went across the fields, and through the woods to the Newmarket road. While the main body was thus taking position, a small body of infant

Colonel Simmons,-in reserve. He had five batteries,-Randall's on the right, Kerns's and Cooper's in the center, and Dietrich's and Kanerhun's on the left,-all in fr

feel of McCall's lines; but they were repulsed by the Seventh and Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves. Hill had twelve brigades, s

ecoiled before the direct fire of the

ombatants, mingled with screams from the wounded and dying, were terrific to

of Gl

and Ri

loc

ear

umn

ook

cCa

Ewell, and

ill and L

marke

aker

h quick succession that it seemed impossible for any h

ours and a half, sustained wholly by McC

all their force upon Seymour's left, south of the road. McCall

he infantry and arti

ong his left flank

heck the advancing troops. But his line has become disordered by the charge. Hill impr

nic-stricken. They dash off to the rear, breaking through the infantry, and trampling down the men. The Rebels rush upon the d

but they are deaf to all his orders. They s

ever their country is to be saved. All hearts feel it; all hands are ready. They stand

s in the center, and Sickles's on the left,-jus

Owen's, and Bartlett's batteries, flashed double-shotted guns. It was as if a voice had said, "Thus far and no farther!" Hooker's infantry came into close battle-line, delivered a fire, which forced the Rebels over against Sumner's batteries; which, in turn, threw them against Kea

of his regiment. These were the last words of one of the soldiers of that regiment: "I thank God that I

the Rebel troops became a mob, an

Of what avail all of our unceasing and exhaustless endurance? Everything seemed lost, and a general depression came over all our hearts. Batteries dashed past in headlong flight. Ammunition, hospital, and supply wagons rushed along,

val alone saved Hill fr

ing gathered up. Great was the loss. Up to daylight there was no apparent diminution of the heart-rending

TLE OF

, bordered on the east and west and south by wooded ravines. The estate is owned by Dr. Carter. Although it bears a name so pleasant, there have been sad scenes upon those fertile fields,-not alone the shock, roar, and

asked of an old negro at

as so bad dat we call him Hell Carter, sir. 'Cause we tink dat de Lord wi

rounded by elms, and commanding a wide panorama of the James, o

ime of the Revolution, and was

Malvern. The hill is so sharp and steep and high that General Barnard was able to plant two tiers of guns upon the slope, and crown it with heavy siege guns. The trees in the ra

s a strong position, and these preparations made it impregnable. Lee must assail

s the north. Sumner's and Franklin's corps held the left; the Pennsylvania Reserves and the remainder of Keyes's corps, the center.

et of five gunboats, carrying heavy guns,-near e

and Holmes came down the Richmond road. Jackson, D. H. Hill, and Ewell appeared in front of Couch; Huger and Magruder, in front of Mo

en o'clock before the head of Magruder's columns appeared in sight. A. P. Hill

y. There was a pattering skirmish fire through th

of the Rebels to make an attack. They dreaded the terrible fi

of Ma

Brig., Sy

anan's

pman'

n's " Mo

indale

rfield'

h's Di

and Heintze

ll's D

Aba

D. H. Hill,

ngst

der and

P.

olm

geously posted, and at two o'clock opened a rapid fire, which was replied to by

but it was hurled back in confusion by the fire of the batt

gain the rear of McClellan, but the enormous shells from the

had intrusted the command in his center to Magruder. His

id General Cobb, "but, if you command me, I

harge, no matter what i

urmuring that Magruder was drunk, that i

ine and drove it back. "Advance rapidly, press forward your whole line, and follow up Ar

men move from the shelter of the woods and appear upon the open plain, moving in solid phalanx,-close, compact, shoulder to

base to summit. Shells, shrapnel, and canister are poured upon them. There is the bellowin

umbling headlong. In vain the effort, the me

e failure. Again the atte

he right, and strengthen Porter's center. There is a shifting of batteries,-a movement to new position

ight with a lurid glare. Add to this the light and noise of our own artillery, which had been brought forward, and, like an opposing volcano with a hundred craters, it gleamed, and flashed streams an

ed, blown into fragments. They struggle against the merciless storm, break, and disappear in the darkness, panting, ex

had been repulsed mainly by the artillery, orders were issued by General McClellan to retreat to Harriso

a complete victory, it was necessary to fall back still farther, in order t

They felt that having reached the river and defeated the enem

er army, consternation and amazement overwhelmed our patriotic and ardent hosts. Some refused to obey the command. General Martindale shed tears of shame. The brave and chivalrous Kearny said in the presence of many officers, 'I, Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my