The whole line was now carefully surveyed during the lull of a few minutes that followed, while the Union soldiers waited eagerly for the next attack. The rebels now gathered their utmost strength to strike their heaviest blow. At six o’clock they suddenly opened a destructive fire upon Couch’s and Richardson’s divisions; and at the same time followed column after column of infantry from the woods, charging desperately, and evidently intending to take the field.
General McClellan’s report, in describing this part of the battle is as follows: “Brigade after brigade, formed under cover of the woods, started at a run to cross the open space and charge our batteries, but the heavy fire of our guns, with the cool and steady volleys of our infantry, in every case sent them reeling back to shelter, and covered the ground with their dead and wounded. In several instances our infantry withheld their fire until the attacking column, which rushed through the storm of canister and shell from our artillery, had reached within a few yards of our lines. They then poured in a single volley, and dashed forward with the bayonet, capturing prisoners and colors, and driving the routed columns in confusion from the field.”
The position of Porter and Couch was every moment becoming more critical, as everything depended upon the successful resistance of what was felt to be the enemy’s final assault. Sickles and Meagher were ordered to withdraw their brigades, as soon as it was considered prudent, and to reinforce the part of the line which was being so hardly pressed. Certain regiments of Porter’s and Couch’s division had entirely expended their ammunition, and their places were at once filled from the Sickles and Meagher brigades; and batteries from the rear were pushed forward to supply the place of those who were exhausted. The enemy was slow to acknowledge himself beaten, and, until dark, persisted in unwearied efforts to take the position so tenaciously held by the patriots. Despite his vastly superior numbers, however, he was continually repulsed as often as he attacked, till darkness ended the battle of Malvern Hill, though artillery firing continued up to nine o’clock.
The loss sustained by General McClellan’s army, in the course of those bloody engagements that marked the retreat from the Chickahominy to Harrison’s Landing was very heavy. McClellan himself computed the loss at upwards of 15,000 men. The stubborn resistance and gallant courage of the Union soldiers, at Malvern Hill, preserved the army from sad discomfiture, if not destruction. The withdrawal to Harrison’s Landing was, however, regarded with great disfavor by many Union officers, and to the people of the North was the occasion of much criticism and regret. Gloom succeeded cheerful hope, in the bosoms of many patriots, at this juncture, and it was not until good news arrived from the west and southwest, that confidence in the success of the Union arms was again revived. The Army of the Potomac, meanwhile, took a short season of rest, preparatory to new movements.
EVACUATION OF PENSACOLA.
May 9, 1862.
On the night of the 9th of May, the rebels, believing that an attack was about to be made by the Union fleet, under Captain, now Commodore Porter, set fire to the Pensacola Navy Yard, Fort McRea, the Naval Hospital, Warrington, and Pensacola itself. General Arnold, divining their destructive object, immediately opened fire from Fort Pickens, and kept up a heavy bombardment, for five hours, thus preventing the rebels from fulfilling their plan, which contemplated the destruction of the entire town. A demand was then made for the surrender of Pensacola, and, Mayor Bode complying, the Union forces took possession of the place, capturing a quantity of valuable lumber, many thousand dollars’ worth of oil, and rebel arms and equipments. The enemy, however, had succeeded in destroying a good deal of property, and had then retired, about one thousand strong, led by General Bragg, to a camp, five miles outside of Mobile.
On the 12th of May, immediately following the occupation of this point, President Lincoln issued a proclamation, announcing the ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans, to be open to commerce under the laws of the United States.
CAPTURE OF FORTS PILLOW AND RANDOLPH: OCCUPATION OF MEMPHIS.
June 4–6, 1862.
During the time that Major-General McClellan was conducting his army in its retreat towards the James river, much, that was of great moment to the country, was taking place in other directions. The rebels had fled from Corinth, leaving it in the possession of the Federal troops, under General Halleck. Forts Pillow and Randolph now became an easy prey, having been flanked, and, to a great degree, surrounded, by National troops, and having already had a large portion of their garrisons withdrawn, to aid General Beauregard in his unsuccessful defence of Corinth. In this condition the rebels speedily decided that flight was the only safe course left to them, and, on the 4th of June, having previously destroyed every thing that could not be removed, they evacuated the two forts.