Page:Civil War The 42nd Infantry Division of Bedford County Virginia.djvu/14

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near Frasier's farm. The streams were all swollen and out of their banks and Lee's army had trouble reaching the place of attack in time. Longstreet and Hill were there with 18,000 troops; they did what they could, but coundn't do too much damage, not what General Lee had planned. They hit McClellan's wagon train and artillery and captured 20 more guns by making a bayonet attack just before dark.

The Union army had taken up a strong positions at Malvern Hill on July 1, General McClellan hoping to make his last stand before retreating to the James River. General Lee had hoped to hit the Union army in full strength at dawn on this day, but only General D. H. Hill with his two brigades arrived on time. General Hill sent General Magruder and General Hunger to storm this hill and was cut down almost to a man. General Jackson, General Longstreet and General A. P. Hill arrived just before dusk and made plans to hit the Union forces next day. At dawn they found no Union forces on Malvern Hill, they had moved out during the night and were headed to the James River; they reached there on July 7.

General Lee rested his men a few days and returned back to Richmond on July 8 in full control of Richmond, so ending the Peninsula campaign as McClellan went on to Harrison's Landing to head back to D. C.

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