224

TWO DAYS OF BATTLE AT SEVEN PINES.

General Jolinston determined to attack the Federal right before McDowellcould come up. I was ordered to move my division to the vicinity ofMeadow Bridge, bring up A. P. Hill ’s division from the vicinity of Ashland,and make preparations, as soon as possible, to attack at Mechanicsville andBeaver Dam Creek. Longstreet’s division was ordered to take position northand east of Richmond, and D. H. Hill ’s division was ordered to the groundvacated by mine on the Williamsburg road. Magruder’s troops were notmoved; but, at my request, I was relieved from longer commanding Gen-eral Magruder, and he was ordered to report, in future, direct to GeneralJohnston. At the same time D. R. Jones’s division, two brigades, of Magru-der’s proper command, posted on our extreme left, remained temporarilyunder my control, for service in the proposed attack. Brigadier-GeneralWhiting was regularly assigned, temporarily, to the command of my division.

About sunset, May 28th, I reported to General Johnston that A. P. Hill ’sdivision would be close in front of Mechanicsville, on the north side of theChickahominy, before midnight, with orders to attack that place at dawn onthe 29th. As soon as A. P. Hill ’s attack commenced, my division and D. R.Jones’s division would cross the Meadow and Mechanicsville bridges, and thethree divisions, constituting the new left wing of Johnston’s army under mycommand, would make a prompt and combined attack on the right of theFederals, strongly posted at Beaver Dam Creek. I was satisfied that the threedivisions could carry the works at that place by open assault, but it would bea bloody business—called for, however, by the necessity for prompt actionbefore McDowell could join McClellan. I did not know, in any detail, whatGeneral Johnston intended to do with the rest of his forces during thecontest I was ordered to initiate, but I.was perfectly: satisfied that he woulduse the whole strength of his army against McClellan, and, if possible, defeathim before McDowell could arrive.

On receiving my report General Johnston stated that his latest informa-tion showed McDowell’s army had returned to Fredericksburg; and it wasbelieved he was moving north from that place. In this state of affairs, therewas no longer any necessity for crossing the Chickahominy, attacking thethree Federal corps on the north side of that stream, and moving against thevery strong position at Beaver Dam Creek; while there were but two Federalcorps on our side, gradually coming within striking distance where the naturalfeatures of the ground were not against us. General Johnston ordered thecontemplated attack on the Federal right to be suspended, and directed meto withdraw A. P. Hill ’s division, bring it to the south side of the Chicka-hominy, and place it on our extreme left.

General Longstreet, who was present, then proposed that an attack bemade early next morning, the 29th, in the direction of Seven Pines. GeneralJohnston said that it was not quite certain that McDowell had moved north;the disposition made of our troops whilst it was supposed McDowell was com-ing was too strong on the left to admit of immediate and advantageous attackbeing made in the direction of Seven Pines; that Huger’s division from Nor-folk was expected to join us very soon; and that the enemy, east of us, had