Malvern Hill: Porter in Command?

[tony_gunter]

From wikipedia:
"McClellan did not delegate an interim commander; Porter, who was in command during the initial attack, became the de facto leader on the Union side of the battle.[25]" (citation is Sears)

Did Porter actually issue orders to troops outside his command until McClellan arrived and assumed command?

 

[Belfoured]

From wikipedia:
"McClellan did not delegate an interim commander; Porter, who was in command during the initial attack, became the de facto leader on the Union side of the battle.[25]" (citation is Sears)

Did Porter actually issue orders to troops outside his command until McClellan arrived and assumed command?

This is from the "horse's mouth" in his article in 2 B&L:

[p. 409]
"Our new field of battle embraced Malvern Hill, just north of Turkey Creek and Crew's Hill, about one mile farther north. Both hills have given name to the interesting and eventful battle which took place on July 1st, and which I shall now attempt to describe.

The forces which on this occasion came under my control, and were engaged in or held ready to enter the contest, were my own corps, consisting of Morell's, Sykes's and McCall's divisions, Colonel H. J. Hunt's Artillery Reserve of one hundred pieces, including Colonel R. 0. Tyler's Connecticut siege artillery, Couch's division of Keyes's corps, the brigades of John C. Caldwell and Thomas F. Meagher of Sumner's corps, and the brigade of D. E. Sickles of Heintzelman's corps. Though Couch was placed under my command, he was left uncontrolled by me, as will be seen hereafter. The other brigades were sent to me by their respective division commanders, in anticipation of my needs or at my request.
…
[p. 414]
General McClellan, accompanied by his staff, visited our lines at an early hour, and approved my measures and those of General Couch, or changed them where it was deemed advisable. Though he left me in charge of that part of the field occupied by Couch, I at no time undertook to control that general, or even indicated a desire to do so, but with full confidence in his ability, which was justified by the result of his action, left him free to act in accordance with his own judgment.

…
[p. 416]
While the enemy's artillery was firing upon us General Sumner withdrew part of his corps to the slope of Malvern Hill, to the right of the Malvern house, which descended into the valley of Western Run. Then, deeming it advisable to withdraw all our troops to that line, he ordered me to fall back to the Malvern house; but I protested that such a movement would be disastrous, and declined to obey the order until I could confer with General McClellan, who had approved of the disposition of our troops.
…

[p. 421]
It was at this time, in answer to my call for aid, that Sumner sent me Meagher, and Heintzelman sent Sickles, both of whom reached me in the height of battle, when, if ever, fresh troops would renew our confidence and insure our success.
…

[p. 423]
I received orders from him to withdraw, and to direct Generals Sumner and Heintzelman to move at specified hours to Harrison's Landing and General Couch to rejoin his corps, which was then under way to the same point. FN …

FN "The General Commanding desires you to move your command at once, the artillery reserve moving first to Harrison's Bar. In case you should find it impossible to move your heavy artillery, you are to spike the guns and destroy the carriages. Couch's command will move under your orders. Communicate these instructions to him at once. The corps of Heintzelman and Sumner we move next. Please communicate to General Heintzelman the time of your moving. …"

 

[tony_gunter]

This is from the "horse's mouth" in his article in 2 B&L:

[p. 409]
"Our new field of battle embraced Malvern Hill, just north of Turkey Creek and Crew's Hill, about one mile farther north. Both hills have given name to the interesting and eventful battle which took place on July 1st, and which I shall now attempt to describe.

The forces which on this occasion came under my control, and were engaged in or held ready to enter the contest, were my own corps, consisting of Morell's, Sykes's and McCall's divisions, Colonel H. J. Hunt's Artillery Reserve of one hundred pieces, including Colonel R. 0. Tyler's Connecticut siege artillery, Couch's division of Keyes's corps, the brigades of John C. Caldwell and Thomas F. Meagher of Sumner's corps, and the brigade of D. E. Sickles of Heintzelman's corps. Though Couch was placed under my command, he was left uncontrolled by me, as will be seen hereafter. The other brigades were sent to me by their respective division commanders, in anticipation of my needs or at my request.
…
[p. 414]
General McClellan, accompanied by his staff, visited our lines at an early hour, and approved my measures and those of General Couch, or changed them where it was deemed advisable. Though he left me in charge of that part of the field occupied by Couch, I at no time undertook to control that general, or even indicated a desire to do so, but with full confidence in his ability, which was justified by the result of his action, left him free to act in accordance with his own judgment.

…
[p. 416]
While the enemy's artillery was firing upon us General Sumner withdrew part of his corps to the slope of Malvern Hill, to the right of the Malvern house, which descended into the valley of Western Run. Then, deeming it advisable to withdraw all our troops to that line, he ordered me to fall back to the Malvern house; but I protested that such a movement would be disastrous, and declined to obey the order until I could confer with General McClellan, who had approved of the disposition of our troops.
…

[p. 421]
It was at this time, in answer to my call for aid, that Sumner sent me Meagher, and Heintzelman sent Sickles, both of whom reached me in the height of battle, when, if ever, fresh troops would renew our confidence and insure our success.
…

[p. 423]
I received orders from him to withdraw, and to direct Generals Sumner and Heintzelman to move at specified hours to Harrison's Landing and General Couch to rejoin his corps, which was then under way to the same point. FN …

FN "The General Commanding desires you to move your command at once, the artillery reserve moving first to Harrison's Bar. In case you should find it impossible to move your heavy artillery, you are to spike the guns and destroy the carriages. Couch's command will move under your orders. Communicate these instructions to him at once. The corps of Heintzelman and Sumner we move next. Please communicate to General Heintzelman the time of your moving. …"

Thanks! Were there any other major battles of the civil war where a commanding officer was unexpectedly absent from the field of battle and the ranking officer on the field assumed command and issued orders to the whole?

 

[Belfoured]

Thanks! Were there any other major battles of the civil war where a commanding officer was unexpectedly absent from the field of battle and the ranking officer on the field assumed command and issued orders to the whole?

I'm wagering that our Gettysburg authorities would be able to weigh in about that issue on July 1 from the Army of the Potomac side.

 

[tony_gunter]

I'm wagering that our Gettysburg authorities would be able to weigh in about that issue on July 1 from the Army of the Potomac side.

Are you referring to Hancock? Wasn't he sent with specific orders to take command until Meade arrived?

 

[pmuskett]

Are you referring to Hancock? Wasn't he sent with specific orders to take command until Meade arrived?

Reynold's or Hancock were not issuing orders for the whole army at Gettysburg. Meade was not unexpectedly away from the battlefield either. He had not arrived on the scene yet, as he had not decided to fight at Gettysburg until later on July 1st.

Hancock was to take command on the scene, but not the rest of the Union Army. George Meade was still doing that from Taneytown, Maryland. He was also to give information to Meade concerning the ground at Gettysburg. Here is Hancock's 5:25 message to Meade.

"5.25 [P.M., JULY 1, 1863.]
GENERAL: When I arrived here an hour since, I found that our troops had given up the front of Gettysburg and the town. We have now taken up a position in the cemetery and cannot well be taken. It is a position, however, easily turned. Slocum is now coming on the ground, and is taking position on the right, which will protect the right. But we have, as yet no troops on the left, the Third Corps not having yet reported; but I suppose that it is marching up. If so, its flank march will in a degree protect our left flank. In the meantime, Gibbon had better march on so as to take position on our right or left, to our rear, as may be necessary, in some commanding position. General G. will see this dispatch. The battle is quiet now. I think we will be all right until night. I have sent all the trains back. When night comes, it can be told better what had best be done. I think we can retire; if not, we can fight here, as the ground appears not unfavorable with good troops. I will communicate in a few moments with General Slocum and transfer the command to him.
Howard says that Doubleday's command gave way.
General Warren is here.
Your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK
Major-General, Commanding Corps.
General BUTTERFIELD,
Chief of Staff."

Reynold's was only in command of a wing of the Union army, again not the whole. And even Sickles, who was a part of that wing, left Emmitsburg to answer General Howard's call for help, after Reynold's was dead. Howard had told Hancock that at some point, which is why Hancock mention's it to Meade. Sickles was in communication with Meade too.

Phil

 

[Belfoured]

Are you referring to Hancock? Wasn't he sent with specific orders to take command until Meade arrived?

That's my understanding but it's outside my "wheelhouse" - I know it's the subject of discussion among the Gettysburg crew, as are Howard's and Reynolds' authority.

At Malvern Hill, I'm not sure it's accurate to say that McClellan was unexpectedly absent. As Porter's account makes clear, the issue was the extent of his authority. McClellan had been at Malvern Hill earlier in the day but had left that location when the actual battle commenced.

 

[67th Tigers]

McClellan was present and was in command.

The initial fighting, until about 1830, was immediately commanded by Couch, whose division was on the front line, and was the ranking general on the line.

McClellan and Porter were both together at the command post near Malvern House when Couch signaled that the pressure was increasing (due to DH Hill's attack starting) and he needed reinforcement. McClellan had already pulled three brigades from other sectors to create a central reserve, and he ordered them in. At this point, McClellan rode to the front of the Irish Brigade and started to ride forward to take command of the fighting in person. Porter then persuaded McClellan that he could handle it, and McClellan should remain at the command post overseeing the whole army. Porter then rode to Couch's and Morell's divisions with the reinforcement and assumed direct command of the engaged front around 1830-1900. McClellan watched from his command post, and received reports of the fighting, whilst holding his final reserve (McCall's division) to hand.

As to command whilst McClellan and Franklin recce'd Harrison's Landing from ca. 1000-1400, Sumner reports he received a note reminding him he was in command whilst McClellan was out of contact. The problem was he decided come off the hill and make an attack on Lee. Porter refused the order and both were arguing about it when McClellan returned, which was before any significant fighting, and sided from Porter. Sumner then left the CP in a sulk, and Porter remained.

McClellan then started another circuit the check his lines, and had gotten as far as Richardson's division when the noise of firing from the north started (the start of the skirmishing that would snowball into the unplanned rebel attacks). He returned to the CP, which is where he was then Couch signaled at 1800.