242

TWO DAYS OF BATTLE AT SEVEN PINES.

see General Longstreet in regard to this matter. Captain Beckham asked mewhere General Longstreet was to be found. I referred him to GeneralJohnston who, with several others, was present. General Johnston saidGeneral Longstreet’s division was on the Nine-mile road and he was prob-ably with it; but, if not, he might be found on the Williamsburg road withthat part of his command.

I now quote again from the suppressed portion of my official report:

“ In about an hour I learned by note from Captain Beckham that neither General Long-street nor any portion of his command was on the Nine-mile road. This note was imme-diately shown to General Johnston, who dispatched his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Washington,to General Longstreet with directions to turn his division into the Nine-mile road, provided itcould be done without material loss of time. This message did not reach General Longstreet.”

It was about 9 a. m. when I handed Captain Beckham’s note to GeneralJohnston, who was amazed at the information and for a time stronglyinclined to discredit it, thinking that my aide had not gone far enough on theNine-mile road to come up with Longstreet’s troops. Johnston then sent oneof his own aides, Lieutenant J. B. Washington, to Longstreet, with ordersfor the latter “to send three brigades by the Nine-mile road.” Washingtonrode at full speed along the Nine-mile road, and soon found himself withinthe Federal picket-line—captured. 1 As I first wrote in my report:

“ An hour later Captain Beckham reported that he had found Longstreet’s division on theWilliamsburg road, halted, for the purpose of allowing General D. H. Hill’s troops to file by.”

In a letter to me dated February 7th, 1863, Captain Peckham says it wasabout 10 a. m. when he reached General Longstreet. He adds:

“ Kemper’s brigade, which formed a part of General Longstreet’s division, was at a halt when

I got to General Longstreet’s headquarters, and, what surprised me most, was accompanied bywagons loaded with baggage and camp-equipage.”

During these delays the firing of cannon across the Chickahominy, andreports from our troops guarding the river between New Bridge and Mechan-icsville, indicated threatening movements of the Federals on that side. About

II A. m. General Johnston directed me to take Hampton’s and Hatton’sbrigades, proceed to the Chickahominy bluffs, and assume command of all theforces on that side, in case the Federals made any attempt to cross the river.At the same time, the other three brigades, after about five hours’ delay nearthe suburbs of the city, accompanied by General Johnston, proceeded on theNine-mile road, and halted near the point at which the road to New Bridgeturns off. Finding nothing that required my presence on the banks of theriver, I placed Hampton’s and Hatton’s brigades in position from which theycould promptly resist the passage of the river at New Bridge or above, andcould support the other three brigades when needed, and then joined Gen-erals Johnston and Whiting, near Old Tavern. About 2:30 p. m., nothinghaving been heard from General Longstreet since my aide returned from theWilliamsburg road, the chief of my staff, Major Whiting, requested to be

j) General Casey says this incident helped to put him on his guard.— Editors.