Battle of Malvern Hill, Glendale, Henrico County, Virginia

Significance: 1) The retreating US Army of nearly 80,000 strong took a defensive position on Malvern Hill during the night of June 30. Morning of July 1, Maj. Gen. Porter oversaw deployment of infantry and 1000 pieces of artillery. 150 guns were in reserve near the Malvern House.

2) Gen. Lee's Confederate divisions (about 70,000 men) advanced on converging roads and came under artillery fire as they began deploying in the woods.

3) Maj. Gen. Longstreet proposed establishing two grand Confederate batteries (on the right of 60 guns and on the left 30 guns) to take the Federals in a cross-fire.

4) Lee issued orders about 2 P.M. for a general assault if the Confederate artillery succeeded in suppressing the US guns. Only 20 Confederate guns got into action and these were soon silenced.

5) In the meantime, Brig. Gen. Armistead's brigade came under heavy fire and acted to force back sharpshooters and skirmishers in their front, triggering the "general assault."

6) Maj. Gen. Magruder, forced to countermarch after heading southwest on the wrong "Quaker Road," reached the front about 4:30 and fed his brigades piecemeal into an existing attack.

7) As on the previous day, Maj. Gen. Holmes was unable to advance because of the US gunboats.

8) About 6 P.M., Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill joined the action. His battle lines were cut to pieces by cannister, but the soldiers held on for an hour of deadly combat, inflicting heavy casualties.

9) With fresh troops, Magruder launched a final attack about dusk that briefly penetrated Union lines. His soldiers could not exploit the breakthrough.

10) During the night, the Army of the Potomac completed its withdrawal to Harrison's Landing where Maj. Gen. McClellan established a fortified enclave protected by naval gunboats.
Survey number: HALS VA-36