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were unnecessarily stopped in their inarch by a swollen rivulet. This unex-pected delay led to interchange of messages for several hours between GeneralLongstreet and myself, I urging Longstreet to begin the fight, he replying.But, near 2 o’clock, that officer was requested to go forward to the attack; thehands of my watch marked 3 o’clock at the report of the first field-piece.\ TheFederal advanced line—a long line of skirmishers, supported by several regi-ments—was encountered at 3 o’clock. The greatly superior numbers of theConfederates soon drove them back to the main position of Casey’s division.It occupied a line of rifle-pits, strengthened by a redoubt and abatis. Herethe resistance was very obstinate; for the Federals, commanded by an officerof skill and tried courage, fought as soldiers generally do under good leaders;and time and vigorous efforts of superior numbers were required to drivethem from their ground. But the resolution of Garland’s and G. B. Ander-son’s brigades, that pressed forward on our left through an open field, under adestructive fire, the admirable service of Carter’s and Bondurant’s batteries, anda skillfully combined attack upon the Federal left, under General Hill’s direction,by Rodes’s brigade in front and that of Rains in flank, were at last successful,and the enemy abandoned their intrenchments. Just then reenforcementsfrom Couch ’s division came up, and an effort was made to recover the position.But it was to no pui-pose; for two regiments of R. H. Anderson’s brigadereenforced Hill’s troops, and the Federals were driven back to Seven Pines.
Keyes’s corps (Casey’s and Couch ’s divisions) was united at Seven Pinesand reenforced by Kearny’s division, coming from Savage’s Station. But thethree divisions were so vigorously attacked by Hill that they were broken anddriven from their intrenchments, the greater part along the Williamsburgroad to the intrenched line west of Savage’s Station. Two brigades of theirleft, however, fled to White Oak Swamp.
General Hill pursued the enemy a mile; then, night being near, he re-formedhis troops, facing toward the Federals. Longstreet’s and Huger’s divisions,coming up, were formed between Hill’s line and Fair Oaks.
For some cause the disposition on the Charles City road was modified. Twoof General Huger’s brigades were ordered to advance along that road, withthree of Longstreet’s under Brigadier-General Wilcox. After following thatroad some miles, General Wilcox received orders to conduct his troops to theWilliamsburg road. On entering it, he was ordered to the front, and two ofhis regiments joined Hill’s troops near and approaching Seven Pines.
When the action just described began, the musketry was not heard at myposition on the Nine mile road, from the unfavorable condition of the air;and I supposed for some time that we were hearing only an artillery duel.But a staff-officer was sent to ascertain the facts. He returned at 4 o’clockwith intelligence that our infantry as well as artillery had been engaged anhour, and all were pressing on vigorously. As no approach of troops frombeyond the Chickahominy had been discovered, I hoped that the enemy’s
\ General D. H. Hill, who directed the onset, In their reports, the Union commanders namesays in his report: “At 1 o’clock the signal guns 12:30 and 1 o’clock as the time of the Confederatewere fired, and my division moved off in fine style.” attack.— Editors.