TWO DAYS OF BATTLE AT SEVEN PINES .

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MAP SHOWING POSITIONS PRELIMINARY TO THE BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES.

works, was densely wooded and swampy. The soil in all that region, whenwet, is very soft and spongy, making passage over it difficult even forinfantry. In the dense woods the thick undergrowth is matted with tangledvines, and the luxuriant foliage, in the full bloom of spring, rendered itin many places impossible to distinguish objects ten paces distant. A vio-lent rain-storm set in about 5 p. m. on the 30th, a few hours after GeneralJohnston had determined to attack next morning. The heavy rain con-tinued all night, and the face of the country was literally flooded. Atdaylight on the 31st the Chickahominy was booming, passable only atthe bridges, and continued to rise during the day, although it had ceasedto rain.

General Keyes gives a still closer view of his condition at that time. Onthe morning of the 31st he reported to General McClellan ’s cliief-of-staff:

“ Everything on the part of the Confederates indicates an attack on my position, which isonly tolerably strong, and my forces are too weak to defend it properly. Brigadier-GeneralSumner told me yesterday he should probably cross the Chickahominy last night. If he did so,and takes post nigh Old Tavern and this side, I should feel more secure than I do now.”

Sumner did not cross at the time referred to, and there is no other indica-tion that he had orders or authority to do so. But General Keyes’s report,made that morning, develops the fact that there was a dangerous gapbetween these two corps, and shows that there was a strong probability