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TWO DAYS OF BATTLE AT SEVEN PINES.

ing of June 1st, accorded, in the main, with General Longstreet’s report tome at the time; and I never questioned the accuracy of General Johnston’sstatement in regard to the general positions occupied by these three divisionsuntil I saw the recently published “ Official Records.” But I knew there wasa gap between Whiting’s right and Longstreet’s left, and I knew, too, thatMagruder’s troops were not concentrated at Old Tavern.

Only one of the many remarkable statements made by General Longstreetin regard to the operations of the second day will be mentioned here. In aletter written in 1874 to General George W. Mindil, Federal, for the avowed pur-pose of throwing light upon the Confederate side, General Longstreet says:

“ I do not remember to have heard of any fighting on the second day, except a sharp skirmishreported by General Pickett as he was retiring, under the orders of General Lee , to resume ourformer position.”

Without dwelling upon what might have happened if General Johnstonhad not been disabled, or discussing what President Davis “ ought to havedone, or had time to do,” it is proposed to show that General Johnston isgreatly in error in reference to the positions of the contending forces on themorning of June 1st, and to present evidence that will refresh General Long-street’s memory in regard to the fighting he “ heard of ” that day.

In reference to the positions occupied by the three divisions under GeneralLongstreet, it has already been stated and proved that D. II. Hill’s divisionwas in bivouac in the woods west of Casey’s earth-works; and that largeportions of the divisions of Longstreet and Huger were around Casey’s re-doubt, in the open field west of the second abatis. Before midnight, May 31st,Colonel Jenkins’s command was withdrawn to Seven Pines, and the brigadesof Wilcox and Pryor moved forward from the redoubt and bivouacked on thesides of the Williamsburg road, in advance of Seven Pines, the head of theircolumn being on the ground where Colonel Jenkins ceased fighting. Pickett’sbrigade was still far back on the railroad, where it was posted by Longstreet’sorder when the attack was commenced, May 31st, and Mahone’s brigade wasthree and a half miles out on the Charles City road.

Two brigades of the division under Whiting were in line of battle, facingnearly east, the right being on the railroad about five hundred yards west ofFair Oaks, the left in the woods on the north of the Nine-mile road, and theother three brigades within close supporting distance. There were six brigadesin Magruder’s command. Two of them were guarding the Mechanicsville andMeadow Bridge roads. The positions of the other four brigades are given ina note, dated 11 p. m., May 31st, addressed to me by their immediate com-mander, General McLaws . He says:

“ General Cobb, five regiments, [posted] from the Mecbanicsville road to General Harvey’splace; General Kershaw from General Harvey’s to Baker’s; Generals Griffith and Semmesfrom General Kershaw’s right to New Bridge, and on the line down New Bridge road.”

Magruder’s six brigades were the only forces guarding the crossings of theChickahominy from New Bridge to Meadow Bridge.

On the Federal side Keyes’s corps, with abundant artillery, occupied thatpart of the Federal third line of defense which was on the south side of the