Madness! Battlefield Burials at Malvern Hill

In today's video, we're on the Malvern Hill Battlefield to see two pits that are thought to be the remnants of battlefield burials. The hail of solid shot, shell, and canister at Malvern Hill took it's toll upon the advancing Confederate troops of the Army of Northern Virginia. Many would be wounded or die during the assaults in the afternoon and evening of the 1st of July, 1862; prompting the survivors to do something about the remains of their former comrades as the fighting subsided and came to a close.

Though Lee did not achieve his objective of dislodging the federal troops from Malvern Hill, the Army of the Potomac, under McClellan's orders, would continue their hasty withdraw towards their new supply depot along the banks of the James River, bringing an end to the first attempt to seize the City of Richmond and opening up the door for Lee to conduct his own offensive later in the year.

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Today's video is going to be an exception from my usual upload. I had some free time this week and this video was something I was planning on making for a while. During my previous trip to the battlefield, I'd learn about and discovered the location of these battlefield burials.

If you wish to visit the location, it's on the original trail of the Malvern Hill National Battlefield Park in the cluster of woods between Carter Mill Road and Willis Church Road. The site is best accessed from the Parsonage parking space, though I'd recommend starting from the Federal position and working your way towards the location to give you an impression of the commanding position the Army of the Potomac held that day.

If you visit the site, remember to be respectful and do not trifle with the features. They, much like many of the breastworks and trenches at other sites throughout the Richmond National Battlefield Park chain, are fragile and can be damaged easily.

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Links:

https://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/histor...

https://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/histor...