The Battle of Malvern Hill was a battle of the American Civil War, and the last of the 'Seven Days' battles. It occurred on July the 1st, 1862, and by which McClellan completed his change of base to the James River.
After the battle of Fraser's Farm, McClellan had retreated with his 85,000 Federal troops to Malvern Hill, a strong position on an elevated plateau shaped like an amphitheatre. His lines were securely posted behind fences, ditches and hedges, their batteries and infantry commanding the slope which the Confederates must ascend to attack them. Robert E Lee ordered an attack, which was meant to be made simultaneously by all parts of his line at a given signal, the 'Confederate yell'. But his lieutenants were so separated that the signal could not be heard, and the attacks were therefore feeble and disorganized. D H Hill and Magruder bore the brunt of the fight. Time after time they charged the impregnable Federal position, but in vain. They were always driven back with fearful slaughter. The battle lasted until nightfall. During the night McClellan retired under cover of a violent storm. Research Battle of Malvern Hill
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Warfare
Research Battle of Malvern Hill
