e Chickahominy. The enemy held the high
ground beyond, and artillery fire was continuous, but no infantry was
engaged. There was no change until nightfall, when we bivouacked where
we were. Our loss, _one_ artilleryman mortally wounded, proved that no
serious effort to pass the slough was made; yet a prize was in reach
worth the loss of thousands. While we were idly shelling the wood,
behind which lay Franklin's corps--the right of McClellan's army--scarce
a rifle shot to the southwest, but concealed by intervening forest,
Longstreet and A.P. Hill were fighting the bloody engagement of
Frazier's Farm with Heintzelman and McCall, the Federal center and left.
Again, fractions against masses; for of the two divisions expected to
support them, Magruder's and Huger's, the latter did not get up, and the
former was taken off by a misleading message from Holmes, who, from the
south bank of the James, had reached the Newmarket road a day later than
was intended. Longstreet and Hill fought into the night, held a large
part of the field, and captured many prisoners (including General
McCall) and guns, but their own loss was severe. After the action,
Franklin quietly passed within a few yards of them, joined Heintzelman,
and with him gained Malvern Hill, which McClellan had fortified during
the day, employing for the purpose the commands of Keyes and Porter.

On the succeeding morning (July 1), Jackson followed the enemy's track
from White Oak Swamp Creek toward Malvern Hill, passing the field of
Frazier's Farm, and Magruder's division, which had arrived in the night
and relieved the exhausted commands of Longstreet and Hill.

Malvern Hill was a desperate position to attack in front, though, like
Cold Harbor, it could be turned on the right. Here McClellan was posted
with his whole force. His right was covered by Turkey Creek, an affluent
of the James; his left was near that river and protected by gunboats,
which, though hidden by timber, threw shells across his entire front.
Distance and uncertainty of aim saved us from much loss by these
projectiles, but their shriek and elongated form astonished our landward
men, who called them lamp posts. By its height, Malvern Hill dominated
the ground to the north, the James River, and the Newmarket road on
which we approached, and was crowned with a numerous and heavy
artillery. On our side, from inferior elevation, artillery labored under
a great disadvantage, and was brought into action i