Perhaps one of the noblest spectacles in martial history was improvised in Fitz-John Porter's camp, when his veteran volunteers were ordered to the battle-field. They had eaten nothing for thirty-six hours. Thursday some of them had, fought. Friday they fought all day long and into night. That night they marched across the river. Next day they marched again. That night they kept watch in White Oak swamp. And Monday they marched again. The fiery sun had parched their feet, hunger and thirst and labor had enfeebled their bodies, but Monday afternoon, when orders came to move again to the field, the color-bearers stepped to the front with their proud standards; the drums beat a rallying rataplan, and those devoted followers of the banner of beauty and glory" swung aloft their hats and shouted with soul-stirring enthusiasm. The eyes of their Generals flashed fire as their faces lighted up with sudden glory; and officers stepped together in clusters and swore solemnly that life should be sacrificed before that flag should fall. "My life," said one, "is nothing, if I have no country." And again the noble fellows shouted their war-notes. Weak as they were, I saw them move to the field at doublequick. When they fly, the army of the Potomac will be no more.

of flame before they take it." It was a magnifi- very madness at the terrible bitterness with which cent spectacle. You see, friends, how desperate they resisted, plunged fresh columns against was the hour. The roar of combat grew tremen- them-one, two, three, four, five lines of battle, dous as the afternoon wore away. There was no fresh men each time, and stronger than each pretime then nor afterwards to ascertain dispositions decessor, our glorious soldiers still fought and of particular organizations. They were thrown still repelled the revengeful foe. "History," said together wherever emergency demanded. White a General, "never saw more splendid self-immoOak bridge, the Quaker road, Charles City road, lation. It was agonizing to see the men stand the banks of Turkey Creek, were enveloped in in the ranks and fight till exhausted nature could smoke and flame; iron and lead crashed through do no more." At last deep darkness ended the forests and men like a destroying pestilence. A fight. The enemy withdrew and sat himself masked battery which had opened from the swamp down to watch his prey. We had beaten him under Malvern Hill, begun to prove inconvenient back. But the morrow! Would the enemy to Porter. It ploughed and crashed through some strike our ragged columns again? of our wagons, and disturbed groups of officers in the splendid groves of Malvern mansion. The gunboat Galena, anchored on the opposite side of Turkey Island, and the Aroostook, cruising at the head of the island, opened their ports and plunged their awful metal into the rebel cover with Titanic force. Towards sunset the earth quivered with the terrific concussion of artillery, and huge explosions. The vast aërial auditorium seemed convulsed with the commotion of frightful sounds. Shells raced like dark meteors athwart the horizon, crossing each other at eccentric angles, exploding into deadly iron hail and fantastic puffs of smoke, until ether was displaced by a vast cloud of white fumes, through which even the fierce blaze of a setting summer's sun could | but grimly penetrate. Softly puffing above the dark curtain of forest which masked the battlefield, there was another fleece which struggled through the dense foliage like heavy mist-clouds, and streaming upward in curious eddies with the ever-varying current of the winds, mingled with and absorbed the canopy of smoke which floated from the surface of the plains and river. The battle-stained sun, sinking majestically into the horizon behind Richmond, burnished the fringe of gossamer with lurid and golden glory; and as fantastic columns capriciously whiffed up from the woods, they were suddenly transformed into pillars of lambent flame, radiant with exquisite beauty, which would soon separate into a thousand picturesque forms and fade into dim opacity. But the convulsion beneath was not a spectacle for curious eyes. The forms of smoke-masked warriors, the gleam of muskets on the plains where soldiers were disengaged, the artistic order of battle on Malvern Hill, the wild career of wilder horsemen plunging to and from and across the field, formed a scene of exciting grandeur. In the forest where eyes did not penetrate there was nothing but the exhilarating and exhausting spasm of battle. Baleful fires blazed among the trees, and death struck many shining marks. Our haggard men stood there with grand courage, fighting more like creatures of loftier mould than men. Wearied and jaded, and hungry and thirsty, beset by almost countless foes, they cheered and fought and charged into the very jaws of death until veteran soldiers fairly wept at their devotion. It was wonderful how our noble fellows fought; wonderful how their hearts swelled with greatness; and, as the enemy, in

Night seemed to bring a little more relief. The enemy could not press us then. But would he to-morrow? It was believed he was massing all his power to crush us in combined attack. Oh! that our soldiers could rest a day, even. Alas! they could not rest at night. Their salvation, it seemed, depended more upon their labor now than upon their guns. Into the trenches, ye braves, and work till morn summons you to battle. And so they labored, some dropping listlessly in the trenches, exhausted nature refusing to endure more.

But there was another picture I had almost forgot. In such a march straggling was unavoidable. The sick made a long, sad procession, dragging along the road feebly and painfully at every step, until at last the goal of safety was attained. But besides these were hundreds who were as feeble from fatigue as the sick were from infirmity. But it was essential that they should fight that day. I saw a brigade of them organized and marched out. "Who of you will fight?" No answer, but perfect indifference. One steps out: "I may as well die fighting as die of exhaus

tion." Those men were heart-broken. They had fought bravely, would fight again, but they needed rest so sorely. Reader, it was agonizing to look upon such scenes; no man whose sensibilities had not been hardened into steel could check a sigh, or even a tear, in such presence. And now go with me under the river-bank and look at the suffering braves, mangled and torn by shot and shell. But no, the cup is full.

I cannot detail the battle of Monday. Brigades, and regiments, and companies, and fragments of each were fought as they could be used. It matters not who were here or there. It was a terrible battle. Gen. McCall was lost. Gen. Sumner was twice wounded, but not seriously. His wounds were bound on the field, and he remained in the saddle and in the fiery torrent. Col. Wyman, too, of the Eighteenth Massachusetts, was killed. General Meade was severely wounded. How many others I cannot tell. It was a bloody day. There will be weeping at many a hearthstone, and many a loved one was lost who will be sought for long and never found.

Sumner, and Heintzelman, and Franklin, and Hooker, and Smith, and Sedgwick, and Franklin, and McCall-Hancock, and Davidson, and Meade, and Seymore, and Burns, and Sickles, and Sully, and Owens, and dead Wyman, and all the galaxy of brave leaders, won title to glorious honors. They tell me that the rebel Gen. Longstreet was wounded and two other Generals lay dead on the field, with long lines of rebel officers and hecatombs of men. Melancholy satisfaction for such dead as ours.

66

Tuesday, the first of July, was not a cheerful day. The prospect was not happy. The Prince de Joinville, always gay and active as a lad, and always where there was battle, had gone. The Count de Paris, heir to the Bourbon throne, and the Duke de Chartres, his brother, the two chivalric and devoted aids to Gen. McClellan, on whose courage, fidelity, intelligence, and activity he safely relied; who served with him to learn the art of war, suddenly, without previous warning, took passage on a gunboat and fluttered softly down the river. Why did they go? Two officers of the English army, who had accompanied Gen. McClellan to study the art of war, and who had intended to remain with the army until Richmond was ours, announced their intention to depart on the first boat. The Paymasters were advised to deposit their treasure on a gunboat. People looked gloomily. Ah! I forgot-correspondents at Fortress Monroe, deducing facts from their infertile imaginations, told you that when the army reached Malvern Hill, the river at that point was full of transports. Monday noon there was not one there, excepting a schooner laden with hay. Tuesday evening several steamers had arrived and a few forage-boats. But reason for yourselves. It was gloomy at headquarters. The troops were intrenching the hill and standing to arms. The enemy were reported massing their forces. We were preparing to repel them. At noon silence was broken by hostile cannon in the extreme front. As afternoon wore away, the bombardment increased. At five o'clock there was a battle, and the Aroostook was hurling shell into the woods. At about seven o'clock the firing was heavy, but it was confined to a narrow circle. Ayres was driving the enemy from his batteries. Our boat pushed from the landing. At dark we moved from Harrison's Landing, seven miles below. The army had not moved there; the trains had. Soon after we steamed into the channel, the bombardment grew heavier. The gunboats were thundering into the forests.

The enemy was beaten again, thank God! beaten badly, driven back, slaughtered fearfully. The gunboats had at least a moral agency in the fight. It did not appear that their guns could do more than protect the left flank, which was much, and the enemy was shy of that point. But an officer of Gen. McCall's staff told me we lost twenty guns that day. "How?" By the enemy in overwhelming masses marching up and taking them." It was said Heintzelman's com- When I left the prospect was cheerless. That mand captured twelve from the enemy, and a night we met reënforcements. Before morning whole brigade of the enemy. I think the latter the army was strengthened. Pray God it was doubtful. Gen. Magruder was certainly not cap-made strong enough to go to Richmond. tured. Prisoners assure me Jackson was not People, you may still rely on Gen. McClellan, hurt. Here is question. Better err on the safe side. I inquired and was not satisfied. Nobody knew. It was so reported. I can't take reports. War bulletins are not reliable. I saw about eight hundred prisoners; could not learn the whereabouts of the "brigade" said to have been captured by Heintzelman. Think it a false report, invented to keep up courage-which was not necessary, for the men, jaded as they were, noble fellows, cheered when summoned to battle, and swore to die game. Said I to a rebel officer: "Do your men respect Yankee fighters ?" "Yes, sir; they surprise us." Said I: "Others have broken and retired; the genuine Yankees of NewEngland have never faltered on the Chickahominy.

It is true; and Massachusetts mourns more dead soldiers, comparatively, than any State's quota in the Army of the Potomac.

until further displays of capacity. His retreat
was masterly. He carried all that army and all
his trains successfully through one narrow road,
while encompassed by enemies two-fold as strong
as his army.
W. D. B.

A CONFEDERATE NARRATIVE.*

The bloody checks which the Northern army, in its memorable advance up the Peninsula towards Richmond, had received at Williamsburgh and the Seven Pines, had taught Gen. McClellan the desperate character of the conflict, without which he could never hope to reach in triumph the capital of the confederate States. Accordingly, after the battle of the Seven Pines, his movements became exceedingly circumspect, and, This account was published in a pamphlet at Charleston, South-Carolina.

THE CAPTURE OF MECHANICSVILLE.

although his army already largely outnumbered be thus hemmed in and compelled either to starve, that which defended the beleaguered city, he kept capitulate, or fight his way out with tremendous calling constantly and urgently on his Govern-odds and topographical advantages against him. ment for reëenforcements. On Wednesday, June How so excellent a plan eventually happened to twenty-fifth, his army numbered, judging from fail, at least partially, in the execution, will presthe most authentic statements that are available, ently appear. between one hundred and twenty-five thousand, and one hundred and thirty thousand effective men. With this immense force he was cautiously pushing forward his lines. Meantime it had been determined by the confederate generals to attack the invading host in their fortified position, and to cooperate in this grand movement the bulk of the confederate forces which had recently cleared the invaders out of the valley of Virginia, were rapidly and quietly drawn towards Richmond, in order to flank McClellan's left.

A brief reference to the situation of the opposing armies will here be necessary to enable the reader to understand the subsequent movements. If you will take a map of Virginia and run your eye along the line of the Virginia Central Railroad until it crosses the Chickahominy at the point designated as the Meadow bridge, you will be in the vicinity of the position occupied by the extreme right of the Federal army.

At three

Thursday came, clear but warm. of march from Ashland, and proceeding down o'clock A.M. Major-Gen. Jackson took up his line the country between the Chickahominy and PaGen. Branch by driving off the enemy collected munkey rivers, he uncovered the front of Brig.on the north bank of the Chickahominy River, at the point where it is crossed by the Brook turnthen crossed the river and wheeled to the right, pike; Gen. Branch, who was on the south bank, down its northern bank. Proceeding in that direction, Gen. Branch, in like manner, uncovered, at Meadow bridge, the front of Major-Gen. A. P. Hill, who immediately crossed. The three columns now proceeded en echelon - Gen. Jackson in advance, and on the extreme left, Brig.Gen. Branch (who was now merged with Gen. Tracing from this position a semi-circular line, the right, immediately on the river. A. P. Hill) in the centre, and Gen. A. P. Hill on which crosses the Chickahominy in the neighbor-bearing away from the Chickahominy in this part Jackson hood of the New bridge, and then the York River of the march, so as to gain ground toward the Railroad, further on, you arrive at a point southeast of Richmond, but a comparatively short dis- Pamunkey, marched to the left of Mechanicstance from the James River, where rests the Fed-ville, while Gen. Hill, keeping well to the Chickaeral left. To be a little more explicit, spread hominy, approached that village and engaged the enemy there. your fingers so that their tips will form as near as possible the arc of a circle. Imagine Richmond as situated upon your wrist; the outer edge of the thumb as the Central Railroad; the inner edge as the Mechanicsville turnpike; the first finger as the Nine-mile or New-bridge road; the second as the Williamsburgh turnpike, running nearly parallel with the York River Railroad; the third as the Charles City turnpike, (which runs to the southward of the White Oak Swamp and the fourth as the Darbytown road. Commanding these several avenues were the forces of McClellan. Our own troops, with the tion of Jackson's corps, occupied a similar but of course smaller circle immediately around Richmond, the heaviest body being on the centre, south of the York River Railroad.

;)

excep

Such was the situation previous to Thursday, the twenty-sixth of June. The plan of battle then developed was, first, to make a vigorous flank movement upon the enemy's extreme right, which was within a mile or two of the Central Railroad; secondly, as soon as they fell back to the next road below, our divisions there posted were to advance across the Chickahominy, charge front, and, in cooperation with Jackson, who was to make a detour, and attack the Federals in flank and rear, drive them still further on; and, finally, when they had reached a certain point, now known as "the triangle," embraced between the Charles City, New-Market, and Quaker roads, all of which intersect, these several approaches were to be possessed by our forces, the enemy to

The road was narrow, uneven, muddy, and impeded, and when the bridge had been crossed it became necessary to ascend a hill bare of trees or other obstructions, and all the while our galshell, grape, round-shot and canister from the lant fellows were exposed to a plunging fire of Federal batteries; yet the column moved on steadily, in files of fours, closing up their ranks solution, toward the fortifications, which, after as soon as they were thinned, with a sublime rean obstinate fight for two hours and a half, were carried in magnificent style, and their guns immediately turned on the retreating foe. This occurred about half-past seven or eight o'clock in most furious and incessant that had been kept the evening. The cannonade was, perhaps, the up for so long a time since the beginning of the

war. But the Mechanicsville intrenchments were

ours, and, though with heavy loss, at a smaller sacrifice of life than had been feared, and the enemy had fallen back to Ellyson's Mills, further down the Chickahominy.

THE RESULT UPON ELLYSON'S MILLS. The enemy's battery of sixteen guns was to the right, or south-east of the Mechanicsville road, about a mile and a half distant, and was situated on a rise of ground in the vicinity of Ellyson's Mills, defended by epaulements supported by rifle-pits. Beaver Creek, about twelve feet wide and waist-deep, ran along the front and left flank of the enemy's position, while from the creek to

the battery was covered with abattis. The posi-rection, on the left of Longstreet. At this point

tion was most formidable.

they came upon the enemy, strongly posted upon The assault was made by Pender's brigade, of high and advantageous ground. The line of A. P. Hill's division, on the right, and by Ripley's battle formed was as follows: Longstreet on the brigade on the right in front. Gen. Pender's right, resting on the Chickahominy swamp; A. brigade had been thrown out in advance, in ob- P. Hill on his left; then Whiting, then Ewell, servation on the enemy's left, when Ripley's bri- then Jackson, (the two latter under Jackson's gade coming up, Gen. D. H. Hill ordered two of command,) then D. H. Hill on the left of the Gen. Ripley's regiments-the Forty-fourth Geor-line, the line extending in the form of a crescent gia and the First North-Carolina-to operate on beyond New Cold Harbor, south toward Baker's the right with Gen. Pender, while the Forty-Mills. eighth Georgia and the Third North-Carolina remained in front. Gen. Lee then ordered the battery to be charged. The attempt was made. They all moved forward to the attack together. They cleared the rifle-pits and gained the creek, within one hundred yards of the battery; but there was still the creek and the abattis to cross. The fire of shot, shell, canister and musketry from the enemy's works was, meanwhile, murderous. The Forty-fourth Georgia and First North-Carolina were heavily cut up and thrown into confusion, owing to the heavy loss of officers. Gen. Pender's brigade was likewise repulsed from the batteries with severe loss.

At this juncture, while the troops were holding this position, Rhett's battery of D. H. Hill's division, succeeded in crossing the broken bridge over the Chickahominy, and took position on the high ground immediately in front of the enemy's batteries, and opened a steady and destructive fire over the heads of our troops, with telling effect upon the enemy's infantry, almost silencing their fire, and drawing the fire of their batteries from our own infantry upon themselves, with the loss of a number of men and horses. Reënforced then by Bondurant's battery and one of Gen. A. P. Hill's batteries, a steady fire was continued, while our infantry held their position about three hundred yards from the enemy's batteries, until half-past nine o'clock P.M., when the enemy's batteries ceased firing. At ten o'clock P.M. our batteries ceased also. During the night, at about twelve o'clock, the enemy abandoned some of his batteries, burning platforms, etc.

STORMING OF GAINES'S MILL. Early the next morning, being Friday, Generals Gregg and Prior, of Longstreet's corps, turned the enemy's left flank, and carried, with the bayonet, what guns still remained in their batteries, in the front and to the right of Mechanicsville. It was said by many that this was the proper movement to have been made on the evening previous, and blame is attached to the order given to storm the work in front with an entirely inadequate force.

At about twelve o'clock M., the batteries of D. H. Hill, consisting of Hardaway's, Carter's, Bondurant's, Rhett's, Peyton's and Clarke's, under command of Majors Pierson and Jones, were massed on our left. Capt. Bondurant advanced to the front, and took position near the powerful batteries of the enemy's artillery. But it was soon found impossible to hold the position. He was overpowered and silenced. Other batteries soon, however, came forward successively to the front of the infantry, about three hundred yards in rear of Bondurant's position. Hardaway took up the fight with rifled guns. The object was to draw the attention of the enemy from Longstreet's contemplated attack. At about halfpast three o'clock P.M., Longstreet commenced firing and driving the enemy down the Chickahominy. Hardaway then ceased firing, and the other divisions on the left of Longstreet successively took up the fight-the enemy retreating and being driven back toward D. H. Hill's artillery, on our left. The artillery being reënforced by a section of a Baltimore battery from Jackson's division, with English Blakely guns, opened a furious fire on the enemy at about five o'clock P.M.

At four o'clock P.M. of Friday the enemy had reached Gaines's Mill, one of their strongest defences; and here, an hour later, the bloodiest contest occurred that had been witnessed during the campaign. Men who had gone through Manassas, Williamsburgh and the Seven Pines, declared that they had never seen war before. Without a knowledge of the ground, but little conception can be formed of the difficulties of the attack upon Gaines's Mill. Emerging from the woods the road leads to the left and then to the right, round Gaines's house, when the whole country, for the area of some two miles, is an open, unbroken succession of undulating hills. Standing at the north door of Gaines's house the whole country to the right, for the distance of one mile, is a gradual slope toward a creek, through which the main road runs up an open hill and then winds to the right. In front, to the left, are orchards and gullies running gradually to a deep creek. Directly in front, for the distance of a mile, the ground is almost table-land, suddenly dipping to the deep creek mentioned above, being faced by a timber-covered hill front ing all the table-land.

In the mean time the grand advance en echelon again began. The troops of D. H. Hill, having all joined their proper divisions, marched by the Mechanicsville road to join Jackson. The junction was made at Bethesda Church, Jackson coming from Ashland. Both corps then pro- Beyond this timber-covered hill the country is ceeded to Cold Harbor, Hill in front. Longstreet again open, and a perfect plateau, a farm-house proceeded by the right of Ellyson's Mills toward and out-houses occupying the centre, the main Dr. Gaines's farm, and A. P. Hill in the same di-road mentioned winding to the right and through