| Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862 - Lee's uncertainty as
to McClellan's movements and the destruction of the bridges over the
Chickahominy caused the Confederates to remain inactive for 24 hours.
But on the morning of the 29th, when it became certain that the
Federals were moving toward the James, Longstreet and A.P. Hill
crossed the Chickahominy at New bridge, passed within sight of
Richmond, and that night went into bivouac within striking distance of
the center of the retreating column. The next morning Jackson crossed
farther down and followed directly upon McClellan's rear. Magruder
moved down from Savage Station between the swamp and the Chickahominy
to effect a junction with Jackson, and Huger was sent along the
Charles City road. Holmes, who was stationed at Fort Darling on the
south side of the James, was ordered to cross over with his division
to the north bank, where he was joined by Wise's command and proceeded
down the Osborne pike to strike the line of retreat at Malvern hill.
Thus the entire Confederate force about Richmond was bent upon the
capture or annihilation of McClellan's army.
About 10 a.m. on the 30th the enemy appeared at Brackett's ford and
tried to rebuild the bridge, but he was repulsed by Slocum's division
and part of Hexamer's battery. At noon Jackson's advance reached White
Oak bridge, which he found destroyed and the approaches guarded by
Smith's division with several pieces of artillery, under the command
of Capt. Ayers. An attempt was made to repair the bridge, but the
severe fire drove the workmen away. Jackson then placed 31 guns in
position and opened a terrific cannonade, forcing Smith to fall back a
short distance and form a new line. D.H. Hill then sent over Munford's
cavalry and some skirmishers, but they were driven back across the
stream by the fire of Ayers' guns, which had been placed under cover
of a wood. The enemy continued his artillery firing until after dark,
but made no further effort to cross the creek. In his report Jackson
says: "A heavy cannonading in front announced the engagement of Gen.
Longstreet at Frazier's farm and made me eager to press forward; but
the marshy character of the soil, the destruction of the bridge, and
the strong position of the enemy for defending the passage prevented
my advancing until the following morning."
South of the White Oak swamp, at a place called Glendale, several
roads came together, the junction being known as Charles City or New
Market cross-roads. The Long bridge road ran nearly east, the Charles
City road northwest toward Richmond, the New Market road southwest and
the Quaker road south toward Malvern hill. It was at this point that
Lee hoped to strike a telling blow on McClellan's right flank.
McClellan realized the danger that threatened him there and disposed
his forces to guard against an attack or to meet it if it came.
Franklin, with the divisions of Smith and Richardson and Naglee's
brigade of Peck's division, was charged with the defense of the roads
leading to White Oak bridge; Slocum held the ground between Franklin
and the Charles City road; Kearny's division was placed between the
Charles City and New Market roads; McCall's division was on the left
and front of Kearny; Hooker, with Thompson's and Kirby's batteries,
was in the rear of McCall, his left extending to the Quaker road;
Sedgwick's division was stationed at Nelson's farm in the rear of
Kearny and McCall; Porter was at Malvern hill, and Keyes at Turkey
bridge. About noon Huger, Mahone's brigade in advance, drove in the
Federal pickets on the Charles City road, and about 2:30 p.m. Mahone's
advance appeared in the edge of the timber across Brackett's field
from Slocum. Seeing that Slocum's line was well protected by fallen
trees with the open field in front, Mahone wisely deemed the position
too strong to attack and ordered up Moorman's battery to open the
engagement. Battery K, 4th U.S., and Battery E, 1st R.I., responded
with such spirit that Mahone withdrew his infantry to the shelter of
the woods, but continued the artillery fire until late in the evening.
This was the beginning of the battle of Glendale - also called
Frazier's farm, Nelson's farm, White Oak Swamp, Charles City
Cross-roads and New Market Cross-roads.
When Longstreet, over on the New Market road, heard the sound of
Huger's artillery he supposed it to be the signal for the general
attack and ordered his own batteries to open fire. A little later his
infantry advanced in heavy columns and fell upon Seymour's brigade of
McCall's division. McCall hurried reinforcements to Seymour in time to
prevent his left flank from being turned, but six companies of the
12th Pa., under the command of Col. Taggart, posted some distance in
advance of the main line, were cut off and to avoid capture the men
fell back in some confusion on Hooker's line, where they were rallied
by Taggart and served on Hooker's right, reporting to Hooker for
orders. Two German batteries (Diedrich's and Knierim's) were also
forced back, and as the disorganized medley of men and horses rushed
back upon Hooker it looked for a little while as though the Federal
line would break. But Hooker's men stood firm and as the victorious
Confederates rushed forward in pursuit they were greeted by a
well-directed fire in front and on either flank that sent them flying
back to the woods. As they gave way Gen. Grover, with the 1st Mass.,
followed and at the same time Col. Owen, with the 69th Pa., advanced
into the open field on Longstreet's flank. Grover was met by a heavy
fire from the enemy's reserves, but he was quickly reinforced by the
26th Pa. and 2nd N.H., and the attack on the left was effectively
repulsed. The fight was now transferred to Kearny's front and McCall's
right. The enemy, heavily reinforced, made a determined charge upon
Randol's battery near the New Market road, and although the heavy
charges of canister tore great gaps in the advancing line the
Confederates came on with a momentum that was irresistible. The 4th
Pa., which was supporting the battery, gave way - all except Co. B -
and before the battery could be withdrawn it was overrun by an
overwhelming force, the horses killed and the guns overturned. Around
the one company that had stood its ground men of other commands
rallied and a fierce hand-to-hand encounter ensued, in which bayonets
and clubbed muskets were the principal weapons. But the gallant
company and its meager support were swept to the rear, followed by a
horde of yelling Confederates. McCall's right was now broken and his
entire line borne back, with a loss of several pieces of artillery. It
was now nearly sunset and since 4 p.m. Kearny had repulsed three
attacks on his position. He now formed two lines in the woods on the
right of the road and threw Taylor's brigade into the gap caused by
McCall's defeat. While engaged in this work he met McCall and asked
him to form another line to cooperate with Kearny's men in stopping
the rushes of the enemy. There was a slight lull in the battle just
then and McCall rode forward to gather some of his men for the new
line suggested by Kearny, when in the gathering dusk he fell into the
lines of the 47th Va. and was captured. The arrival of Taylor's
brigade proved sufficient, however, to hold the enemy in check, and as
it was now too dark for another assault the battle ended. Lee's object
in bringing on this engagement was to cut McClellan's army in two at
the Charles City road and destroy it in detail. Had Slocum not been
strong enough to hold back Huger at this point, or if Jackson had been
able to force a crossing at White Oak bridge and attack the rear of
the retreating column, the result would have been disastrous. Lee had
figured confidently on both these possibilities becoming certainties,
but both failed and the Army of the Potomac was thereby saved from
destruction.
About the time that the battle of Glendale was at its height an
attempt was made by Holmes and Wise to turn the Federal rear at
Malvern hill. In his report Holmes says: "About 4 o'clock Maj. Meade,
of the engineers, rode up and reported that the enemy was retreating
in considerable confusion along the road leading over Malvern hill. *
* * I accordingly at once directed my chief of artillery, Col.
Deshler, to proceed to the point indicated, some 2 miles down the
river road, with three sections, of 2 rifled guns each, selected from
the different batteries, and dispatched the 30th Va. regiment, Col.
Harrison commanding, of Walker's brigade, as a supporting force. Soon
afterward, feeling solicitous for the safety of this detachment, I put
the remainder of the division in motion for the same point and
proceeded to reconnoiter the ground in person." On his way to the
position selected Holmes met Lee, who approved of the movement, and as
the forces of Holmes and Wise numbered about 7,000 men, he directed
that the batteries at once open fire on the Federal position. Sykes'
division had reached Malvern hill about 11 a.m. and had taken a
position to guard the approaches in front. Part of Buchanan's brigade
occupied a grove of pines on the right, the remainder of it supporting
Weed's battery; Lovell's brigade prolonged the line to the left,
covering the guns of Edwards', Smead's, Carlisle's and Voegelee's
batteries; Warren's brigade was in the valley to the left of Lovell to
watch the river road. It was against this line that Holmes opened
fire, but before he could get his artillery fairly at work the Union
batteries were playing on his guns, while a gunboat in the river began
dropping huge shells among his infantry. Sykes reports that "The
concentrated fire of our artillery smashed his batteries to pieces,
compelled him to leave two guns and six caissons on the ground, and
drove his infantry and cavalry ignominiously in retreat. He was not
again heard from in that direction."
Source: The Union Army, Volume 5, Cyclopedia of Battles,
1908 |