Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/165

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enemy drew reinforcements from their lelt and threw them over to tin- right to oppose General Hill's advance the fire from the gun- boats in tin- river at the same time being directed so as to guard against probable approach upon their left. The first line was broken and gave way before the daring troops of Hill's division, but not being properly supported to meet the accumulating odds against them, the position gained had to be abandoned. Magruder's attack upon the enemy's left was not made until near the close of the day, and, though desperate efforts were made at this point to break the Federal line, no material advantage had been gained when darkness closed the struggle. The brave Confederates had been baffled, but not beaten. Resting upon their arms that night, they intended to renew the attack next morning, but during the night the enemy had stolen away, leaving the dead and wounded on the field. They had sought and found protection under a powerful fleet of gun-boats at Harrison's Landing, and this closed the series of "Seven Days' Battles Around Richmond."

The greatest loss sustained by the 23rd in the seven days' of fight- ing was at Malvern Hill. According to Captain Cole, of Co. D, the number of killed in this battle was about thirty; the "Roster" re- cords the loss not so large, the number of wounded, by Captain Cole, was estimated at about seventy-five. The number of the regi- ment engaged in this closing fight was between 150 and 175, officers and privates. Sergeant-Major W. F. Gill, of Granville, was killed at Malvern Hill; Captain Cole, of Co. D, and Lieutenant Munday, of ' ' K, " were wounded. Adjutant Turner, of Granville, was wounded in the fight at Games' Mill, and Captain Young of the same county wounded at Malvern Hill.

After Malvern Hill several weeks of quiet were passed near Rich- mond. No further movement was attempted by McClellan on the Peninsula. The next movement of the Washington government was to appoint John Pope, the man who had "always seen only the backs of his enemies," to take' command of the army. With a "flourish of trumpets" he began his preparations of threatening Richmond from the north, which change of tactics was promptly apprehended by General Lee. Of Jackson's flank movement, by which he managed to strike Pope at a point where he least expected, and after a sanguinary conflict at Cedar Run put him to flight, win- ning large trophies and capturing many prisoners, it is unnecessary to speak. This initiatory victory over Pope led to active measures

in Washington to concentrate all the available Federal force on the 11