D. H. Hill rode up to
General Toombs and ordered his brigade forward. Some sharp words ensued
between these officers, and the men moved forward handsomely to the brow
of the hill. At this time, however, the steady stream of fugitives
pressing back from the charge, broke the alignment of the brigade and
separated the regiments. Colonel Butt's regiment went forward with
Kershaw's brigade. The whole Confederate charge was soon checked and the
troops fell back in disorder. Their loss was fully 5000 men, and the
loss in Toombs' brigade was 219 men, making his losses in the two
engagements over one-third of his entire number. Malvern Hill was a
blunder which was never repeated, but it was a disastrous one for the
Georgia troops.

The subjoined correspondence will be understood in the light of the
meeting of General D. H. Hill and General Toombs near Malvern Hill
during the progress of the charge of the Confederate forces.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,
In the Field, July 6, 1862.

MAJOR GENERAL D. H. HILL.

_Sir_: Military movements since Tuesday last have prevented
an earlier reply to your conversation with me on the
battlefield that evening. I understood you to say, among
other things, that "Your (my) brigade would not fight";
that you "always knew it would not fight"; that it
"pretended to want to fight, but would not"; "Where were
you when I was riding in front on my horse trying to rally
your brigade?" I desire first to know whether I am correct
in my understanding of your language, and if not, wherein I
am mistaken.

And secondly, to request of you such explanation of that
language as you may choose to give.

I am sir,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT TOOMBS.

July 6, 1862.

_General_: Your note has just been received. My remarks
were personal to yourself and not to your brigade. I did
not in the slightest degree reflect on your men. What I
said was in substance this: "You have been wanting to
fight, and now that you have one, you have got out of it."
There were witnesses to our conversation, and if my remarks
were severer, I will let you know.

It may be well to suggest to you that, as the commanding
officer on the field, I h