up and delivered a paper to General Lee, who sat quiet and serious on a rear portico. The commander mounted his horse, and it was understood that the time for action had come.

Pressing on toward the York River railroad, A. P. Hill, who was in advance of Longstreet, had reached the vicinity of Cold Harbor about 2 p. M., and there encountered the enemy. He immediately formed his line nearly parallel to the road and soon became hotly engaged. The arrival of Jackson on the left was momentarily expected and it was supposed that his approach would cause the extension of the enemy's line in that direction. Under this impression,

Longstreet was held back until this movement should commence. Hill's single division met with impetuous courage the principal part of the Federal army now on the north side of the Chickahominy. It drove the Federals back and assailed them in their strong position on the ridge. The battle raged fiercely and with varying fortune more than two hours, but the superior force of the enemy, assisted by the fire of the batteries south of the Chickahominy, which played incessantly on their columns, caused the Confederate troops to recoil. Most of the men had never been under fire until the day before, but they were rallied and in return repelled the advance. Some brigades were broken, others stubbornly maintained their positions, but it became apparent that the Federals were gradually gaining ground. Longstreet was ordered to make a diversion in Hill's favor by a feint on the Federal left. In making this demonstration the great strength of the position already described was discovered, and Longstreet perceived that to render the diversion effectual the feint must be converted into an attack. He resolved with characteristic promptness to carry the heights by assault. His column was quickly formed near the open ground, and just as he was ready for the assault Jackson arrived. Jackson's right division, that of Whiting, took position on the left of Longstreet. At the same time D. H. Hill formed on the extreme left, and

after a short but bloody conflict forced his way through the morass and obstructions and drove the enemy from the woods on the opposite side. Ewell advanced on Hill's right and engaged the enemy furiously. The line being now complete, a general advance was ordered. On the right the Confederates moved forward with steadiness, unchecked by the terrible fire from the triple lines of infantry on the hill and the cannon on both sides of the river, which burst upon them as they emerged upon the plain. The dead and wounded marked the way of the intrepid advance. The Federals were driven from the ravine to the first line of breastworks, over which the Confederate column charged up to the entrenchments on the crest. These were quickly stormed, fourteen pieces of artillery captured, and the enemy driven into the field beyond, and then into the woods on the river bank. Night put an end to the pursuit. Long lines of dead and wounded showed the location of each stand made by the Federals in their stubborn resistance, and the field was strewn with the slain. On the left the attack was no less vigorous and successful. D. H. Hill charged across the open ground in his front, one of his regiments having first bravely carried a battery whose fire enfiladed his advance. He captured several of the Federal batteries and drove their forces in confusion toward the river until darkness rendered further pursuit impossible.

On the morning of the 28th, General Stuart drove the last of the enemy to the south bank of the river and burned the railroad bridge. During the forenoon, columns of dust south of the Chickahominy showed that the Federal army was retreating. The following morning found the whole. line of works deserted and large quantities of military stores of every description abandoned or destroyed. Late in the afternoon General Magruder attacked the Federals, and a severe action ensued which continued two hours, and was terminated by night. The Federals continued the retreat under cover of the darkness, after losing several hundred prisoners, and leaving their dead and wounded on the field.

At Savage Station were found about two thousand five hundred men in hospital and a large amount of property. Stores of much value had been destroyed, including the necessary medical supplies for the sick and wounded. But the time gained enabled the retreating column to cross White Oak Swamp without interruption and destroy the bridge.

Jackson reached Savage Station early on the 30th and was directed to pursue the enemy while Magruder followed Longstreet by the Darbytown road. As Jackson advanced, he captured such numbers of prisoners and collected so many arms that two regiments had to be detailed for their security. His progress was arrested at White Oak Swamp. The Federals occupied the opposite side and obstinately resisted the reconstruction of the bridge. Longstreet and A. P. Hill came upon the Federals, who were strongly posted across the Long Bridge road one mile from its intersection with the Charles City road. Huger's route led to the right of this position, Jackson's to the rear, and the arrival of their commands was awaited to begin the attack. General Theophilus H. Holmes had crossed from the south side of James River with part of his division on the 29th, and, reinforced by General Wise with a detachment of his brigade, on the 30th he moved down the river road and came upon the line of the retreating army near Malvern Hill. Here, reinforced by Longstreet and Hill, the Federals were attacked and the battle raged furiously. The Federals were driven with great slaughter from every position but one, and this they maintained until they were enabled to withdraw under cover of the darkness. The entire field remained covered with the Federal dead and wounded.

On July 1st, Jackson arrived and was directed to continue the pursuit. He found the Federals occupying a high range extending obliquely across the road in front of Malvern Hill, where they had concentrated their powerful artillery, supported by masses of infantry protected by

earthworks. Immediately in front the ground was open and from a quarter of a mile to half a mile in width, sloping from the crest so that it was easily swept by the fire of the Federal infantry and artillery. Before reaching this open ground, the Confederates had to pass through a thickly wooded country traversed by a swamp, and within the range of the batteries on the heights and the gunboats in the river, under whose incessant fire all movements had to be executed. Jackson formed his line for action. D. H. Hill pressed forward across the open field and engaged the enemy gallantly, breaking and driving back his first line, but he found himself unable to maintain the position. Jackson sent to his support his own division and that part of Ewell's which was in reserve; but, owing to the increasing darkness and to the intricacy of the forest and swamp, they did not arrive in time and Hill was compelled to abandon part of the ground he had gained. On the right, the attack was also gallantly made by Huger's and Magruder's commands. The brigades advanced bravely across the open field, raked by the fire of cannon and musketry. Some gave way, others approached close to the guns, driving back the infantry, compelling the advanced batteries to retire to escape capture, and mingling their dead with those of the enemy. Night was falling when the attack began, and it soon became difficult to distinguish friend from foe. Part of the troops were withdrawn to their original positions; others rested within a hundred yards of the batteries that had been so bravely but vainly assailed.

On July 2d it was discovered that the Federals had withdrawn during the night, and pursuit was commenced. General Stuart, with his cavalry, led the advance. A violent storm prevailed throughout the day, and the Federals succeeded in gaining the bank of James River and the protection of the gunboats. Here it was deemed inexpedient to attack; and in view of the condition of the Confederate troops, who had been marching and fighting almost incessantly for seven days, it was determined to withdraw and allow them to rest.