628 
ACHIEVEMENTS OE FIELD AKTILLEKY. 
ascribe the failure of their effort to reach the hill to the preponderating 
effect of the artillery fire on the side of their opponents, and to the 
manner in which their infantry was left to face the batteries alone. 
One of the leading Generals on the Confederate side is quoted by 
Lieutenant Birkhimer as saying, “The result was exclusively due to 
the Federal artillery fire, which seemed as destructive as could have 
been that of 20,000 muskets, and I doubt if that number of muskets 
could have held the position and driven our forces back.” 
And in his report of the seven days* battles, of which that of Malvern 
Hill was one, the Union commander (McClellan) remarked—“It is not 
my purpose now to make mention of distinguished services. 
I will simply call attention to the invaluable services rendered by the 
artillery, and say that its performances have fully justified my antici¬ 
pations, and prove it to be our policy to cherish and increase that arm.” 
Magruder’s splendid charge is worthy of our admiration as a 
determined effort of infantry to reach guns in position. All that 
bravery could accomplish was done by them, but when they emerg’ed 
from the cover of the woods, in which the line of their advance was 
formed, they were always met by the same storm of missiles, and, often 
as they renewed their efforts, they never could progress beyond the 
limit which the guns set to their courage. Malvern Hill may therefore 
fitly illustrate an achievement of which artillery has every reason to 
be proud, and may justly figure with Friedland, Wagram, and Eylau 
of the preceding era. 
But a month later guns were again to have an opportunity of display¬ 
ing powers equal to something more than moral effect. On the 30th 
BATTLE OF MANASSAS.—30th August , 1862. 
