Glendale-Malvern Hill - 18-20 April 2008

[Charles Heath]

Date: 18-20 April 2008
Name: Battle of Glendale & Malvern Hill NPS LH
Location: Henrico County, VA
Sponsor/Host: POC'R Boys/CWPT & NPS
Capacity: Two to four companies of infantry with artillery
POC: Ley Watson (Registrar)
Email: ley74@rcn.com
Event Website: TBA
CWPT Info: http://www.civilwar.org/travelandevents/t_vs_glendalemalvernhill.htm
NPS Info: http://www.nps.gov/rich/index.htm
Forum: AC Forum Subforum (http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=108)
Listserver: Participant Level
Preservation Component: Donation to CWPT
Notes: Pending final approval, a 7.5-mile march has been incorporated into the event.

[Charles Heath]

This is a nice little excerpt from Chapter 6 of Jeffry Wert's 2005 book The Sword of Lincoln: The Army of the Potomac , which is still readily available from the usual booksellers.

By the morning of June 30, seven divisions and a brigade of the Union army lay at or around Glendale, where Charles City, Long Bridge, and Quaker roads intersected. If the Confederates seized the crossroads, the Federal army could be divided and vulnerable to piecemeal destruction. The defense of Glendale on this day was vital to the passage of the army to the James River.

McClellan conferred with Sumner, Heintzelman, and Franklin and oversaw the deployment of the units, before riding away with his staff. "Why he left was an enigma," stated one of Heintzelman's headquarters clerks. McClellan expected a Confederate assault -- "The roads will be full enough tomorrow," as he predicted the day before -- and still he fled from another battlefield. It was, as historian Hubbell declared, an "inexplicable and inexcusable" decision. McClellan went to Haxall's Landing on the James, where he boarded the gunboat Galena and had dinner, while at Glendale, his army struggled for its survival.

The burden of command fell upon the three corps commanders. Heintzelman noted in his journal that Sumner remained angry about the Third Corps's march away from Savage Station and "avoided speaking to me." The Federal position formed a reverse L, with William Smith's and Israel Richardson's divisions and a Fourth Corps brigade, under Franklin, covering their rear, or base of the L, at the White Oak Swamp crossing. The main Union line extended from north to south, from Charles City Road to Long Bridge Road, manned by the divisions of Henry Slocum, Philip Kearny, George McCall, and Joseph Hooker. Eighteen batteries supported the infantrymen. In all, about 55,000 Yankees waited.

Before noon the Charles City and Long Bridge roads were "full enough." Since the previous morning, it had been Lee's plan to interdict the Federal retreat, and he had expected more than Magruder's troops to be engaged at Savage Station. He now directed his units toward Glendale and the opportunity to sever, if not destroy, his opponent's army. He ordered Stonewall Jackson to cross White Oak Swamp and to assail the Union rear. From the west, Benjamin Huger's three brigades were to attack along Charles City Road, while the divisions of James Longstreet and A. P. Hill were to charge on Long Bridge Road. If his subordinates fulfilled their roles, nearly 70,000 Rebels would assault the Yankees.

"With great suddenness and severity," wrote a Confederate staff officer, the Battle of Glendale erupted. In its intensity and bloodletting, it rivaled Gaines's Mill. While Huger's feeble attack stalled quickly before Slocum's troops, Longstreet's Rebels charged with ferocity toward McCall's Pennsylvanians. These Fifth Corps men had been encamped near Glendale because of the previous night's countermarch. It was fortuitous for the Federals that they were available, but as the unit's historian claimed, "Most of the men were fitter subjects for the hospital than for the battle-field."

"The fire of hell was let loose upon us," exclaimed a Pennsylvania captain, as shells and canister from Confederate batteries swept in upon their ranks. Behind them, gray-coated infantrymen charged. In front of the Keystone State volunteers, six Union batteries blasted the Rebels. The deployment of cannon in front of infantry was faulty. In turn, the Southerners drove toward the inviting targets. A furnace of artillery and rifle fire blew across the ground into the ranks of both attackers and defenders. Sergeant Michael Miller of the 1st Pennsylvania Reserves swore to his wife that bullets "flew in every Square inch of air around me except the little Space I stood in." A comrade asserted, "To believe any man desires to go into battle, is to believe him a fool."

Longstreet hurled more troops into the fury. His men overran some of the batteries, clubbing and shooting the Union crews. Colonel Seneca G. Simmons, who had succeeded John Reynolds in brigade command after the general's capture, was killed. Another brigade commander, George Meade, suffered bullet wounds in the right forearm and in his side. An officer who witnessed Meade's wounding wrote of the general, "He did not fall from his horse -- only winced a little and rode slowly to the rear." He would not return to the army for seven weeks.

No Federal troops had fought more valiantly or suffered more than these Pennsylvanians during the campaign. They had little left, and their ranks began to crumble under the enemy onslaught. McCall tried to rally the men and found himself a prisoner. When taken to the rear, McCall met Longstreet, a former subordinate of the Union general. Longstreet offered his hand to his old friend. McCall refused it, remarking: "Excuse me, sir. I can stand defeat but not insult."

Before he was captured, McCall had met Kearny, who was leading regiments of his division to the support of the Pennsylvanians. Accounts of his men are universal in their praise of Kearny's conduct during the campaign. Kearny seemed tireless to the troops as he "rode along from front to rear, from rear to front, alive to the welfare of his men." They remarked about "his armless sleeve flapping up and down," riding with his horse's reins in his mouth, and his confident words to them. A New Yorker believed that he looked "like a Knight errant of old," as they trudged through the night from Savage Station. They had learned, as a lieutenant put it, "he would go into a fight, as an eater would go to a banquet." They had also heard that the Rebels called him "the one armed devil on the white horse."

When Kearny ordered his men into an attack, he liked to tell them to "go in gaily." Whether he used the phrase on this day is unknown, but few, if any, of his troops would have thought of gaiety at this time. "The Rebels were as thick as blackberries," wrote a lieutenant. Toward them came three Confederate brigades, Southerners from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Carolina. The opposing lines stiffened and hammered each other. A soldier in the 20th Indiana claimed, "We fired so rapidly that our guns were too hot to hold."

Colonel Alexander Hays and the 63rd Pennsylvania typified the Union resistance. A West Pointer, Hays had left the army after the Mexican War to hunt for gold in California and then to build railroads in his native Pennsylvania. Elected colonel of the regiment in August 1861, he proved to be "a most kind-hearted and patient man with a private soldier." He possessed an "impetuous, even fiery" personality, and like Kearny, a passion for battle. On this day Hays and his men saved a Union battery with a counterattack. Kearny called it "this most heroic action," and Hays's brigade commander, Hiram Berry, declared "that I have not in my carreer in military life seen better fighting or work better done."

Additional Federal units came up in support of Kearny, sealing the breach where McCall's Pennsylvanians had been broken. As the 15th Massachusetts charged, Sumner shouted to its members: "Go in, boys, for the honor of old Massachusetts! I have been hit twice this afternoon, but it is nothing when you get used to it." On the left, Hooker's troops unleashed volleys into the attackers. Two days earlier, Private William C. Wiley of the 70th New York had complained in a letter home, "It seems as if General McClellan has no other Division in his Army but Hookers." Another soldier admitted later that he had had "a dread of it at first," but "I wanted to go in and give the Rebs a try, but it was awful work."

The Union lines held. A Confederate artillerist contended, "[N]owhere else, to my knowledge, [occurred] so much actual personal fighting with bayonet and butt of gun." At places, the combat had been hand-to-hand, and volleys had been triggered into foes at less than a hundred yards. Although imprecise, casualty figures are estimated at 3,500-3,800 in killed, wounded, and missing for the Federals, and 3,500-3,700 for the Confederates. Adjutant Robert Taggart of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves recorded in his diary that night: "When will it end....It is terrible. Yet this is war. Heaven interpose."

Glendale had offered Lee his finest chance to inflict a crippling, if not fatal, defeat upon McClellan's army. Instead of coordinated assaults, Longstreet's and Hill's divisions bled and died virtually alone against five Union divisions. They had fought "for all they were worth," but Federal reserves proved decisive. Huger had performed miserably, but most critically, Jackson had done little to execute his orders. His mysterious conduct has been controversial ever since. For whatever reasons, he failed Lee and the army. E. Porter Alexander, a Confederate artillery officer and the army's finest chronicler, stated it bluntly: "never, before or after, did the fates put such a prize within our reach."

McClellan, who had witnessed none of the fighting, wired the War Department that night, saying in part: "My Army has behaved superbly and have done all that men could do. If none of us escape we shall at least have done honor to the country. I shall do my best to save the Army." Hours later, he sent a second telegram, requesting 50,000 additional troops. "With them," he avowed, "I will retrieve our fortunes. More would be well, but that number sent at once, will, I think, enable me to assume the offensive."

Lincoln responded to both dispatches in separate messages. He advised the general: "Maintain your ground if you can; but save the Army at all events, even if you fall back to Fortress-Monroe. We still have strength enough in the country, and will bring it out." As to his request for reinforcements, the president stated, "When you ask for fifty thousand men to be promptly sent you, you surely labor under some gross mistake of fact." The government had barely 60,000 troops in the other departments in Virginia and in Washington's defenses. The idea, said Lincoln, "is simply absurd."

At the time McClellan telegraphed the War Department, he issued orders to the troops at Glendale to withdraw to Malvern Hill. For a second night in a row the men trudged through the darkness. "We did little more than drag ourselves along," said a soldier. A comrade likened it to "a funeral procession." Hooker's division remained at the crossroads as a rear guard until nearly daylight. Hooker's men watched Rebels, with lanterns, search for missing friends. He stated in his report, "The unbroken, mournful wail of human suffering was all that we heard from Glendale during that long dismal night."

I like the way he writes.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Any news on the impression for this event? Federal/Confederate?

Paul

[Charles Heath]

Any news on the impression for this event? Federal/Confederate?

Short answers: Not yet. Both.

Long, rambling, far more fun answer:

Not to steal any of Dave's thunder, but six of us had a very nice site visit yesterday, and for once the cornucopia of regiments at these two engagements may require hiring King Solomon to make a few impression decisions. Don't look for anything definitive on either the confederate or federal impressions before late November, and most likely they will be in the form of guiding impressions, to borrow a phrase from the AoP.

None of this is set in concrete, but here are some random thoughts worthy of Timothy Leary:

We have an opportunity for a little tramping around in forest and field, as well as some good public interpretation. Perhaps a couple of miles to stretch the legs, and then some good demos and interaction. Pretty normal mobile LH stuff in many respects.

The amount of land the CWPT has recently added to this battlefield is beyond impressive. It is simply astounding. For those who have their Steven Stanley maps handy, check out the newly added pieces, as well as the older parcels in blue.

I had not been to Malvern Hill in a number of years, so seeing the deforested areas was a real treat. If you were familiar with the APCWS addition, then you'll know the area, and may well remember that event. Yep, some of this has been done before.

The caretaker's house in the Glendale National Cemetery is a small visitor center. As many times as I had visited that spot in bygone years, I'd never been inside the house. Nice.

Willis Church still looks great, and there may be specialty impression opportunity at that location. Another specialty impression could be possible as a sharply shot "sideshow of the big show," for those who like dug hard rubber buttons and little green men on the actual ground. Probably no interest in that sort of thing, though. ;)

Depending on the final Federal impression selection, dead animal parts could play a role. Yeah, this could be really scary, but the logistics of issuing corps badges (not at this event) and dead animal parts are similar. The old Federal Campaign Battalion (predecessor to the Potomac Legion) enjoyed a late war western federal zouave battalion impression a few years ago, so why not be gutsy once again? The obvious impression is slated for another event in 2008, so that's why it isn't on the table for this one.

We asked the horse question. We'll probably have an answer within 60 days. Seeing Dave Myrick in a general's uniform would be fun, if we can make that happen. Oh, General, there is some bad news historically for that possible vignette, so enjoy the first part of the ride.

The NPS would like a battery of artillery. One fine bunch came to mind, and we'll see them soon enough. They do have friends.

As to the Confederates, the 47th Virginia would certainly be the easy way out, but being a fan of Eppa Hunton, maybe we can do a little arm twisting. We need to do some more walking with maps and accounts in hand, and that will come soon enough. So much to choose from! Almost too much! I will say this, the last two Confederate positions will be worth the wait.

We are only dealing with a handful of property owners, but each one has specific givens and druthers. It's important to incorporate these as part of the event design. We can do some things in some places, but not all things in all places.

As to timing, our intent was not to conflict with a number of events clustered near the actual anniversary date. The primary landowner stated the program would not be in hot weather, so barring any unforeseen heat waves in late April, we'll be in a win-win situation.

We had the usual discusion about participant and visitor parking, water, wood, waste disposal, camping, and such. The event will incur some costs in these areas, and that will be reflected in the registration fee.

Frankly, I'm enjoying the reading. Glendale was a heck of an opportunity lost from one point of view, and a close call from the other point of view. It's sets up Malvern Hill, which would be "reenacted" on a much larger scale in Tennessee in 1864. Thanks, JBH!

Come to think of it, I'm probably be repping this one at the battalion meeting in two weeks.

[Dignann]

For those who have their Steven Stanley maps handy, check out the newly added pieces, as well as the older parcels in blue.
That map (http://www.civilwar.org/appeals/2006/Glendale/) can be downloaded from the CWPT website.

Eric

[dusty27]

Thanks Eric,

I just received a new plea from the CWPT (hopefully some of you have as well:)) and the CWPT is now attempting to purchase most of the land between the two CWPT sites that Eric has linked to. An additional 319 acres from Kemper's lines to the Willis Church Road and beyond and north to include land where Seymour's troops and most of the Federal artillery was stationed for the battle.

[DougCooper]

Thanks Eric,

I just received a new plea from the CWPT (hopefully some of you have as well:)) and the CWPT is now attempting to purchase most of the land between the two CWPT sites that Eric has linked to. An additional 319 acres from Kemper's lines to the Willis Church Road and beyond and north to include land where Seymour's troops and most of the Federal artillery was stationed for the battle.

Ya know gang, there is nothing more important than an event like this. It ranks #1 in my mind simply because there is way more riding on this than the usual deal, even an NPS event - this is both an urgent preservation awareness and an NPS event in one. It would be excellent if we could manage it around the anniversary, but as Charles has already covered well, no can do with Gettysburg 2008 and other events in May-June. We can't postpone to 2009 because CWPT needs our help now.

This is an excellent example of the partnership we have forged between CWPT and ourselves and we need to make these events work. Ideally, we would field a healthy battalion per side, but we are being conservative (2-4 companies per side) due to the crowded schedule. I hope we are being pessimistic, but it is the right way to plan. The ground can support it, and it has been a long time since we did a long walk along those roads. Thanks to the visit by Charles and the boys, we have a good idea of the state of play.

Two of the greatest coups in CW preservation history play out this year and next, and we have two events to match - Glendale/Malvern Hill and After the Battle (Fredericksburg Slaughter Pen Farm). At the end of the day, or the end of your reenacting career, it sure would be nice to know you had a hand in helping save so much hallowed ground.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Two of the greatest coups in CW preservation history play out this year and next, and we have two events to match - Glendale/Malvern Hill and After the Battle (Fredericksburg Slaughter Pen Farm).

Doug,

Both the Glendale-Malvern Hill event and "After the Battle: Fredericksburg" are in 2008. Neither one is in 2007.

[DougCooper]

Doug,

Both the Glendale-Malvern Hill event and "After the Battle: Fredericksburg" are in 2008. Neither one is in 2007.

Kevin - the intiatives (coups) by CWPT are 2007 and that is what I am talking about - the events follow on in 2008 to keep the momentum of the effort going.

[dusty27]

Here is a new map from CWPT with some targeted land:

http://www.civilwar.org/appeals/2007/Glendale/2007%20Glendale%20Appeal%20Map.pdf

Please try to make this event and help CWPT monetarily now if possible

[biddler165]

I won't be able to make it to the event, but I will donate to the CWPT through the CFC.

[JStiles]

Re: Glendale-Malvern Hill - 18-20 April 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any news on the impression for this event? Federal/Confederate?

Paul
__________________
Paul B. Boulden Jr.

RAH VA MIL '04
23rd Va. Vol. Regt.

Company of Military Historians
Member~Museum of the Confederacy


Hey Charles et all,
Two words for ya...Roll Tide!!!

Cadmus Wilcox is the mac daddy.............Jerry Stiles

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Selection of portrayals is up to the event coordinator--Dave Eggleston. That said, the CWPT property is the area where the Pennsylvania Reserves saw heavy action which may make them a good candidate for the Federal portrayal, at least at Glendale.

I've been part of discussions regarding potential US portrayals for the Malvern Hill portion of the event, but because there's a lot of candidate regiments I won't offer here, at this time, what ones were discussed, because it could easily change.

[Charles Heath]

Jerry,

I hear the song you and Paul are singing.

For the visitors, the juicy prospects of regiments like the 20th Indiana, 3rd Michigan, 20th Mass., and several of the NY and NJ group are hard to resist. Ya know, this would be the 2nd time in 6 years where we have had the opportunity to portray the 13th PA Res., but folks tend to recoil in horror at that thought. Obviously, as member units, the 5th NH and 1st MN come to mind, but the 7th, 4th, 3rd, 1st, 8th, 10th, and 12th PA Res. are really in the thick of things. Did I mention the Jerseymen are well represented here?

For the home team players, the MS, FL, AR, AL, SC, NC, TN, and G1stBG* regiments are particularly attractive, but it has been a long, long, long, long time since the Old Dominion had a shot at a regiment. All I have to say is the event committee will be meeting on Friday for about 9 hours, and then again Sunday for about 10 hours with laptop plugged into the power outlet of a certain green Ford truck. Good use of road trip time, methinks.

Glendale & Malvern Hill are like Disneyworld. We could spend a week there and not see and do it all.

Sunday? Oh, Lawdy.

Hey, is anyone out there in vendorland working on a Bully Buy for some nice federal issue painted ground cloths?

*Herb, tell 'em what they've won.

[GreencoatCross]

Chawls,

Don't count the chippies out. I think I can use my powers of persuasion to scare up a good sized platoon if the impression at Malvern Hill would be acceptable for the event staff.

Portraying the 1st U.S.S.S. circa July 1862 has always been my dream impression. Myself and others have done nearly a decade of research on the material culture side of the Berdan's Sharpshooters, and their appearance at the time of the battle was just so darn minimal that it was striking. And surprisingly, there were very few, if any, little green men running around at that time. Blue everything except for fatigue caps makes the impression a little easier to swallow!

[Charles Heath]

Portraying the 1st U.S.S.S. circa July 1862 has always been my dream impression.

After doing a little piddling with dug relics, and realizing not too many folks were wearing hard rubber US eagle buttons back then, I was hoping there would be some modicum of interest for this impression amongst the scattered Berdan tribe. I've poked Marc Riddell with a sharp stick over on another forum, and if memory serves me his group does the 2nd USSS, but may have some interest in the 1st on the actual ground. That is if you guys don't mind two days of interpretive duties. ;)

We have a lot to do on the trip to OP3 and back this weekend, and some of it involves paring down the candidate regiments, and at the same time trying to remember who can speak to where their ancestors were on during those two days. At the 2nd Bull Run NPS LH we had the potential for an interesting gathering of Brawner's Farm descendants, and maybe even moreso for this particular weekend. There is something special about having the great- and great-great-grandsons of people who were trying so hard to kill each other 140+ years ago struggling side by side to save that very ground from development.

To build on what Doug said, paying off the CWPT purchase price for this battlefield property is going to be more difficult than the Fredericksburg (Slaugther Pen) land, because, being within the NPS boundary, this acreage is doesn't qualify for certain generous funding opportunities which typically leverage our donations (aka local match). With the bill for Fredericksburg half paid off in one of the most pleasantly aggressive preservation moves yet enjoyed, we living history hobbyists have an opportunity to provide a little help for Glendale in April 2008 and redouble our own efforts in October 2008 for the Slaughter Pen.

[Coatsy]

Well Chawls, if they get the acronym correct I guess some parched corn from Kiev would be a nice prize.

Hopefully the event will work out for all interested parties. I might be willing to make the trip north....

[Charles Heath]

I hope there are no tobacco barns nearby.

While Varina is darn close, real coffee at Selma is not only distant, but nearly 3 years away. Let's bury the dead and speak no more of it, to coin a phrase.

General McCall had a few things to say about the battle:

"On Friday evening, June 27th, after the battle of Gaines' Mills, my division crossed the Chickahominy at Trent's hill, where it remained on picket duty till eight o'clock, P. ll., on the 28th. At that hour I received your [Porter's]orders to move in the direction of White Oak creek, and to take with me Hunt's reserve artillery, consisting of thirteen batteries. As this would extend my column many miles in length, and as my flank would constantly be exposed to attack, I placed the whole of the Third brigade, by regiments, between the batteries, to afford them support. This movement, owing to narrow and bad roads, was necessarily slow, and my division, after being all night on the march, did not reach the crossing of White Oak creek until near noon on the 29th. Having crossed the creek, I was ordered by the general-in-chief to put nay division in position to repel any attack by the enemy from the direction of Richmond. This I did, and I remained in position till five o'clock, P. M. At that hour the march was resumed and continued by my command till I reached the Quaker road crossing of the New Market road, at midnight. My orders were to take a position here to repel an attack from Richmond. Having selected my position and established the First and Second brigades, and sent to the front a regiment of infantry and a battery, and a strong picket in advance of them, I kept the Third brigade in reserve, and awaited the result till near daylight, when I was ordered to return. I marched back, left in front, and reached the point where the Turkey bridge road turns off from the was ordered to halt till the whole of the immense supply trains of the Army of the Potomac, then slowly advancing from white Oak creek, had passed toward the James river, and to repel any attack that the enemy might make on it. At nine o'clock, commenced the heavy can¬nonade, caused by the enemy attempting to force the passage of the creek, and it continued with little interruption till noon.

It was a determined artillery duel, but as I did not apprehend their ability to effect a passage, I at once came, to the conclusion that any attack on myself must come from the direction of Richmond, on my right flank. I had thrown out a cavalry picket in that direction, and on afterward detecting indications of an advance of the enemy, moved out a regiment of infantry to strengthen the picket.

Having examined the country around me, I made the disposition of my troops, facing to the right flank, as follows : Meade 's brigade on the right, Seymour's on the left, and held Reynolds' brigade, non' com¬manded by Colonel Seneca G. Simmons, of the Fifth, in reserve. The artillery I established in front of the line, Randall's (regular) battery on the right, Cooper's and Kern's opposite the centre, and two German batteries, (accidentally with my division,) of four twenty-pound Parrott guns each, commanded by Captains Dietrich and Kennerheim, on the left of the infantry line.

The Fourth regiment Pennsylvania cavalry, Colonel Childs, was drawn up on the left and rear, but not being called into action, was subsequently ordered to fall back.

The country on my new front was open, embracing a large farm, intersected toward the right by the New Market road and a small strip of timber parallel to it; the open front was eight hundred yards, its depth at least one thousand yards. It was a beautiful battle-field, but too large for my force, the lands on either flank being open. My disposition having been made, I calmly awaited the approach of the enemy.

About half-past two o'clock, P. M., my picket8, after skirmishing, were driven in by a strong advance, but without loss on our side. At three o'clock, the enemy sent forward a regiment on my left centre, and immediately afterward another on my right centre, to feel for a weak point. They were under cover of a shower of shell, and advanced boldly, but were both driven back, the former by the Third regiment, Colonel Sickel, and the latter by the Seventh regiment, Colonel Harvey. After this, I rode forward with the First Rifles, a0d placed them in a narrow skirt of timber on the left and in front. Soon after this, a very heavy column moved to the left of my line, and threatened to take me in flank. I at once changed front on that flank, sending Colonel Simmons with two regiments of the First brigade to reinforce that quarter. This movement was promptly executed, but not a moment too soon, for a furious attack with artillery and infantry was almost immediately made on that flank. I, at the same time, directed Captain Biddle, assistant adjutant-general, to ride to the left and change the direction of fire of the two German batteries from the front to the left. This order was gallantly executed, but it is with deep grief that I have to state that this brave and valuable officer fell here mortally wounded.

For nearly two hours the battle raged fiercely, the enemy throwing in a perfect storm of shot and shell, and making several attempts to force my position. Always checked by the steadiness of my brave Reserves, he at last retired for a time, driven back by the well-directed fire of musketry. During this attack, the gallant and lamented Colonel Simmons fell, also mortally wounded.

It must not be imagined that the enemy was inactive along the centre and right of my line during all this time. Cooper's and Kern's batteries, in front of the centre, were boldly charged upon, each time a regiment dashing up to within fifty or forty yards. They were then hurled back by a storm of canister and the deliberate fire of the First regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had placed immediately in rear of Bern's, and the Ninth regiment, Colonel Jackson, in rear of Cooper's. The contest was severe, and put the steadiness of these regiments to the test;
both suffered heavy loss, but particularly the First regiment, whose gallant lieutenant-colonel (McIntyre) was severely wounded.

Some time after this, the most determined charge of the day was made upon Randall's battery, by a full brigade, advancing in wedge shape, without order, but with a wild recklessness that I never saw equalled. Somewhat similar charges had, as I have stated, been previously made on Cooper's and on Kern's batteries, by single regiments, without success, the Confederates having been driven back with heavy loss. A like result appears to have been anticipated by Randall's company; and the Fourth regiment (as was subsequently reported to me) was requested not to advance between the guns, as I had ordered, as it interfered with the cannoniers, but to let the battery deal with them. Its gallant commander did not doubt, I am satisfied, his ability to repel the attack, and his guns fairly opened lanes in the advancing host. These gaps were, however, immediately closed, and the enemy came on, with arms trailed, at a run, to the very muzzles of his guns, where they pistoled or bayoneted the cannoniers. Two guns were limbered, and were in the act of wheeling to the rear when the horses were shot, the guns were both overturned, and presented one confused heap of men, horses and carriages. Over all these the men of the Eleventh Alabama regiment dashed in, a perfect torrent of men, and I am sorry to say the greater part of the Fourth regiment gave way. The left company, Captain Conrad, of that regiment, however, stood its ground, and with some fifty or eighty men of other companies met the Alabamians.

I had ridden into the regiment and endeavored to check them; but, as is Seen, with only partial success. It was here, however, my fortune to witness between those of my men who stood their ground and the rebels who advanced, one of the fiercest bayonet fights that perhaps ever occurred on this continent. Bayonets were crossed and locked in the. struggle; bayonet wounds were freely given and received. I saw skulls crushed by the heavy blow of the butt of the musket, and, in short, the desperate thrusts and parries of a life-and-death encounter, proving, indeed, that Greek had met Greek when the Alabama boys fell upon the sons of Pennsylvania.
My last reserve regiment I had previously sent to support Cooper, and I had not now a man to bring forward. My men were bodily home off the ground by superior numbers. A thick wood was immediately in rear, and the Confederates did not follow my men into the thicket. It was at this moment, on witnessing the scene I have described, that I bitterly felt that my division ought to have been reinforced.

My force had been reduced, by the battles of the 26th and 27th, to less than six thousand, and on this occasion I had to contend with the divisions of Longstreet anal A. P. Hill, estimated amongst the strongest and best of the Confederate army, and numbering that day from eighteen to twenty thousand. The centre was at this time still engaged and I could not withdraw any troops from it. The Alabama troops did not attempt to enfilade my line, and leaving the guns on the ground, (the horses having, during the fight, been either killed or dispersed,) they retired to the woods on my right.

It was now near sunset, and the heat of battle had greatly subsided. I now rode to the rear to rally and collect the stragglers. At a short distance I came upon two regiments of Kearny's division. I requested them to move forward, but was informed their orders were to await the arrival of General Kearny. I moved on and set some officers at work to form the stragglers of my own regiments into line. On my return I found General Kearny. He put his regiments in motion and moved to the front and on the right of my line. As he rode away, he said to me: " If you can bring forward another line in a few minutes, we can stop them." By this time the sun had set, and the desultory firing was confined to the extreme right.

In a short time Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, Third regiment, came up and reported to me that he had collected about five hundred men, with whom he was then advancing. I rode on with him at the head of the column, in a direction to bring this force up on Kearny's left.

On arriving near the ground where Randall's battery stood, I halted Thompson's command, wishing to ascertain whether any of my men were still in front of me. I had left Captain Conrad’s company about one hundred yards in advance, but it was now so dark I could scarcely distinguish a man at ten paces. The battle, in fact, was now over; the firing on the left and centre had ceased, and there was only a desultory firing between Kearny's men and the enemy, some distance to my right. I rode forward to look for Conrad, and on the ground where I left him I rode into the enemy's picket, the Forty-seventh Virginia, Colonel Mayo, resting under some trees, and before I knew in whose presence I was, I was taken prisoner. Unfortunately for myself, I had no staff officer with me, or I should have sent him forward to examine the ground, instead of going myself; but my adjutant-general, the valiant Captain Henry J. Biddle, had been mortally wounded; Lieutenant Sheetz had his horse killed, and was injured by the fall; my chief of ordnance, the gallant Beatty, had been severely wounded at my side, and only left me when I had insisted on his doing so; my excellent orderly, Sergeant Simeon Dunn, Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, was also fatally wounded.at my side, and out of my escort of a captain and twenty men of the Fourth cavalry, but one corporal (the brave King) and one private remained with me; these two men were made prisoners with myself. About the time I was taken prisoner, the desultory firing on my right died away.

The conduct of the Pennsylvania Reserves on this hard fought field is worthy of all praise, as is fully attested by their stubborn resistance and their heavy loss in killed and wounded. Besides the officers I have already named, I am greatly indebted to the gallant commander of the Second brigade, General George G. Meade, who rendered me efficient aid until his wounds compelled him to leave the field. My thanks are likewise due to Colonel Roberts, commanding First regiment; Colonel Sickel, commanding Third regiment; Colonel Hays, commanding Eighth regiment; Colonel Jackson and Captain Cuthbertson, of the Ninth regiment, and other brave officers not commanding regiments, of whom Lieutenant-Colonel McIntyre, Major George A. Woodward and Major Woolworth are among the many wounded. I must also name as entitled to. favorable notice, Acting Division Surgeon Stocker, who accompanied me in the early part of the day, and assisted in communicating my orders until slightly wounded in the wrist by the fragment of a shell. Indeed, to all are my best thanks and praises due for bravely contributing to the important results, namely, the defence of the immense supply train while passing that point, and the holding the enemy in check upon the New Market road, where he strove desperately to cut in two the retiring column of the Army of the Potomac.

The trophies of the day were three stands of colors captured, and about two hundred prisoners. The loss of the division in killed, wounded, and prisoners, in the three battles of the 26th, 27th and 30th of June, was three thousand one hundred and eighty, the killed and wounded amounting to one thousand six hundred and fifty, out of about seven thousand who went into battle at Mechanicsville on the 26th of June.

I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE A. McCALL."

An excerpt from Sypher, J.R., History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr and Co., 1865

[Coatsy]

Point taken.......:cool:

[GreencoatCross]

Charles,

My old USSS living history group is still around, so are guys from my old Ohio group. Mike Fahle and his boys in the greater Sandusky region seem to have been sticking to streamer events in Ohio but they've all got incredible impressions. In a way, it seems I'm the only guy in both groups who is still a vocal advocate for getting out to decent events. You and everyone else knows there is little opportunity for an authentic Berdan's impression....but this event sounds like there might be room at least for some interpretation.

If the organizers decide to allow a 1st USSS impression at this event (the only Berdan's unit there, historically), please contact me. I'd be more than happy to sound the call!

[ley74]

Site photos


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2284/2053559558_573deb90a5.jpg

Possible Union infantry camp Friday night.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2071/2052872687_53145bfc0b.jpg

Malvern Hill - Showing deforestation


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2401/2053559332_601c105f2b.jpg

North orientation - Nelson Field - CWPT

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2053559272_bdb77aee11.jpg

Nelson Field - CWPT

[marine05]

We've talked about this with NPS people and others. We are seriously considering being one of the artillery units.

Please contact myself, Randy Gilbert or Mike Martorelli

[ley74]

Merry Christmas!

A couple of updates. Our meeting with the NPS and CWPT went extremely well. While the preliminary package impressed both groups, we are working through a few environmental concerns with the NPS.

Having walked the proposed routes no less than three times, the area will impress all who attend. We hope to have final approval in late January, opening registration as soon as possible after this.

For those who received the CWPT appeal for Glendale, the map did not connect well with the NPS Malvern Hill unit. The attached map, supplied by the CWPT, indicates more clearly the property we are working with.

Since many at the NPS are working with "use-it-or-loose-it" vacation days (just as I am), we will be meeting with their representatives just after the first of the year.

If you have an artillery impression, please contact Charles Heath (private message on the board works well) and let him know. We are looking for four guns and, if we can work a deal for a wheel, we have a preliminary committment for two.

[GrumpyDave]

bumpity bump bump bump bump;)

[Son of Eire]

Frock coats?

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Regarding US jackets, I'm going to guess that the preference for a 4th Pennsylvania Reserves portrayal will be sack coats.

[Malingerer]

Regarding US jackets, I'm going to guess that the preference for a 4th Pennsylvania Reserves portrayal will be sack coats.

I believe there are a bunch of us waiting (with a mere 2.5 months to go) for an issuance of standards and an opportunity to register. No pressure though.

[Moose]

Kevin would be correct. Federal standards will be pretty basic to 1862 and no need for special items. Confederate stadards will be flexable, and should be fun. There is a lot of good info out there folks, stay tunned!

Cheers,
Joe Caridi
Glendale-Malvern Hill Resreach Head

[Jimmayo]

The power lines shown in the Nelson field view run West toward Long Bridge Road and tranverse some woods (since logged) where the South Carolinia toops attacked some Michigan soldiers. I had permission to hunt much of that land in the late 70s. In the Springtime just before we gave up hunting for the summer, some one dumped several dump trucks of sewage plant sludge under that section of power lines in the woods. Upon returning in the early fall we found that each sludge pile was covered with tomato vines and they were full of tomatoes of all types. Of course we picked many of them and gave them out to special friends not telling them of the source until they had tried them. They were some of the best tasting tomatoes I have ever had.

[MD_Independent]

Looks to be a great event... Last spring, my rifle was stolen, and, after a blow like that, the urge to go to events seems to be temporarily lost. Well, after almost a year of doing absolutely nothing event wise, this seems like it's bringing me out of my lethargic mentality. As the descentdent of a man who was wounded and captured at Glendale as a member of Co. K, 4th PA Reserves, I'd love to do this one. Count me in. Thanks.
Bill Birney

[Bill]

I'm probably missing something, but I can't find any registration information concerning Glendale-Malvern Hill on the internet. Not up yet, or am I just looking in the wrong places?

[ley74]

Bill:

You are correct. Effective Tuesday we have secured all the land. While there are several small details to work out, these will be done in the next week.

This land was not available until October 2007 and we have been working diligently to put on a first rate event but, we needed the land first. The NPS and CWPT have been excellent to work with.

Summary guiding impressions (I believe) are in this thread and we are hoping to have the site up with more information by Sunday. Registration is currently dependent on specific issues surrounding the principal units and commanders. We will probably release what we have and set a day and time for registration for the latter part of January.

The good news is, we have a green light and are on a tight schedule. Those of you who have put on such events know that a hybrid (living history with a march and opposed fire) may understand what we are dealing with.

We deeply appreciate your patience. You will have more information on Sunday evening.

[Bill]

Ley,

Thanks for the quick response. I understand your problems. I'm involved with a Mainstream event that's scheduled for the weekend after Glendale-Malvern Hill. Our website isn't up yet either. Funny, there's always that last piece of missing information.

[ley74]

The event Yahoo Group can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/

There is no approval necessary.

General Registration will commence next Thursday, January 24, 2008.

[ley74]

Shameless bump!

[Eric Tipton]

Folks:

You will now notice the event banner for Glendale is up-and-running here on the AC Forums. If you click that banner, it will take you to the web site that Ley describes above.

[ley74]

Please note- The first communication from the event committee has been posted at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/

This will be a regular feature, as we lead up to the event. Plese feel free to ask questions.

Thank you for your interest.

[ley74]

List of registrations received through 2/9/08 are up on the Yahoo Group. See post above for the link. Please look in the "Files" section.

Thank you,

[ley74]

The second list of registrations are up on the Yahoo Group. We are running three-to-one Confederate over Union. If you are thinking about coming to this event in blue, please register soon.

By the way... Dave "Grumpy" Townsen is rasing a company! How about that!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/

[ley74]

Communication No. 3 is up on the Yahoo Group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glenda...ern_hill_2008/

[ley74]

Registrations received through 3/10/08 are on the Yahoo Group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/files/Registration%20List/

[Charles Heath]

Folks,

Communication #4 is up on the Yahoo Group, and #5 will not be far behind.

Glendale_Malvern Hill 2008 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/)

[ley74]

Registrations through 3-16-08 are also updated in the Files section

[ley74]

The Yahoo Group has been updated with new information and Communication 5 is also posted.

In short, Confederate registration was cut off with March 20 postmarks. You will be contacted about going blue, if not, we will refund your money. The Final Confederate Registration Listing will be out late on Sunday and those through 3/16 are already in the files section of the Group.

There will be no increase in registration fees on April 1. All Union registrants will be required to pay only the $25 fee. Any funds donated above this amount will go to the CWPT to purchase Glendale.

Finally, due to insurance reporting, we have been forced to cut off all registrations postmarked on April 7, 2008. We apologize but must have the insurance.

Thank you all.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/

[ley74]

Communication No. 5 is up, as well as the list of registrants through March 23, 2008.

Confederates registrations postmarked after March 20 will be asked to go "blue". If not, registrations will be returned.

Please see other announcements on the Yahoo Group.

[ley74]

Gentlemen:

We have a number federal registrations in this past week (will be up on the list server "Yahoo Group" Monday). It will take about 20 more to re-open the Confederate side at the last possible minute. If you are thinking about attending this event as a federal, we would appreciate it. So would several Confederates waiting to get in.

Please search on this forum for history and FAQ. You will be amazed.

One last thing, a couple of folks for the work weekend on April 12th would be great. The NPS is supplying 100% of the supplies. All you need are boots, gloves and a great sense of humor. A wonderful BBQ lunch will be supplied. No kidding. Please PM or email me at ley74@rcn.com

[ley74]

The registration list through April 3 is up on the Yahoo List server.

Please remember, registrations MUST be postmarked no later than April 7. Thank you.

[ley74]

Evening to you All:

Life has interrupted for the last couple of days and more information is up on the Yahoo List Server. If you have not done so, please join. If you do not you may miss critical information regarding the event. The http may be found in this thread.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

[GrumpyDave]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/glendale_malvern_hill_2008/

[Charles Heath]

Folks,

Confederate registration has been closed for some time, and federal registration closed on Monday. As Bartles & James used to say in their deadpan but enjoyable commercials, "Thank you for your support."

Grumpy Dave has a nice size company, and Jerry has what would pass for a brigade at some events. Finding redlegs willing to fire a few rounds on the actual ground at Malvern Hill has proven to be a bit of a challenge, but I'm happy to see the fellows who like to reach out and touch someone with lengthy Sharps have a nice contingent of serious living history buffs. Rest assured all of Central Virginia's rainfall shortages will be solved during the weekend of 18-20 April 2008, unless Grumpy has really and truly broken the curse.

I'm looking forward to the event-before-the-event in the form of a work day hauling appliances and junk from the gas line cut crossing Willis Church Road (just north of the Parsonage Ruins) this Saturday (12 April 2008) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the NPS has installed a new culvert, as well as promised the provision of a roll on/off dumpster to help accomplish some of this work. "Bull" Watson says there is a bribe in the form of BBQ for lunch, but at the risk of introducing a forum conflagration as to what BBQ is best, worst, over rated, and/or underated, we'll leave it at that. If you missed Park Day last weekend, well, here's a second opportunity to have some fun.

As if Ley doesn't have enough emails in his box, if you are interested in getting a bit dirty, funky, muddy, and sweaty for a few hours Saturday, then shoot him an email at ley74@rcn.com