Malvern Hill, a plateau-like elevation in Henrico County, Virginia, provided an impressive natural military position about two miles (3.2 km) north of the James River.
The hill rose some 130 feet (40 m) to its crest to form a crescent about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length and 0.75 miles (1.21 km) wide.
Its slope was about one mile (1.6 km) in length and very gradual, with only one or two notable depressions.
Along the western side of the hill ran Malvern Cliffs, a bluff-like formation that overlooked Turkey Run, a tributary of nearby Turkey Island Creek.
Western Run was another tributary of Turkey Island Creek, which lay mostly along the eastern side of the hill and slanted slightly into the northern side.
One depression dipped some sixty feet (18 m) at the valley of Western Run and slanted upwards to the plateau.
Malvern Hill's center was slightly lower than the flanks.
The gentle, bare slant meant that any assailing army could not easily take cover, and artillery would have the benefit of a clear, open field.

Several farms were positioned near Malvern Hill.
Roughly 1,200 yards (1,100 m) north of the hill were the Poindexter and Carter farms.
Between the two farms was a swampy and thickly wooded area that made up the course of Western Run.
The largest in the area was the Mellert family's farm, usually called the Crew farm for a former owner, situated at the western side of the hill.
About a quarter of a mile due east of Malvern Hill was the West farm.
Between these two farms lay the Willis Church Road, which some locals called the Quaker Road.
This road also ran past the Malvern house, the hill's namesake, which was perched atop the southern edge of the plateau. "
It was, altogether, an exceedingly formidable position", wrote historian Douglas Southall Freeman. "
Had the Union engineers searched the whole countryside below Richmond, they could not have found ground more ideally set for the slaughter of an attacking army."
Malvern Hill, a plateau-like elevation in Henrico County, Virginia, provided an impressive natural military position about two miles (3.2 km) north of the James River. The hill rose some 130 feet (40 m) to its crest to form a crescent about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length and 0.75 miles (1.21 km) wide. Its slope was about one mile (1.6 km) in length and very gradual, with only one or two notable depressions. Along the western side of the hill ran Malvern Cliffs, a bluff-like formation that overlooked Turkey Run, a tributary of nearby Turkey Island Creek. Western Run was another tributary of Turkey Island Creek, which lay mostly along the eastern side of the hill and slanted slightly into the northern side. One depression dipped some sixty feet (18 m) at the valley of Western Run and slanted upwards to the plateau. Malvern Hill's center was slightly lower than the flanks. The gentle, bare slant meant that any assailing army could not easily take cover, and artillery would have the benefit of a clear, open field.
Several farms were positioned near Malvern Hill. Roughly 1,200 yards (1,100 m) north of the hill were the Poindexter and Carter farms. Between the two farms was a swampy and thickly wooded area that made up the course of Western Run. The largest in the area was the Mellert family's farm, usually called the Crew farm for a former owner, situated at the western side of the hill. About a quarter of a mile due east of Malvern Hill was the West farm. Between these two farms lay the Willis Church Road, which some locals called the Quaker Road. This road also ran past the Malvern house, the hill's namesake, which was perched atop the southern edge of the plateau. "It was, altogether, an exceedingly formidable position", wrote historian Douglas Southall Freeman. "Had the Union engineers searched the whole countryside below Richmond, they could not have found ground more ideally set for the slaughter of an attacking army."
Battle of Malvern Hill