HANOVER. COURT HOUSE AND GAINES'S MILL.

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thought I could not be in earnest or that I had greatly misjudged the sit-uation. This shows how suddenly the tide may turn in battle and on whatlittle incidents success may depend.

The forces arrayed against us, and especially those which had thus farbeen launched upon my command, were the chosen of Southern manhoodfrom Maryland to Texas . No braver or more spirited body of men was to befound among the Confederates, or any who more strongly believed in theirown invincibility. % Their general officers, from the chief down, had beenselected for earnest devotion to their cause, and well-earned reputation forintelligent and energetic performance of duty in other fields. With fewexceptions they had been my personal friends, and many of them my intimateassociates. In the varied relations to them as subaltern, as instructor, asacademical and regimental comrade, in social life, as competitor for honorin war and in garrison life, and engaged in watching those performing tryingduty in Kansas, Utah, and elsewhere, I learned to know them well and torespect their decision under conviction of duty, when, to my regret, they leftthe cause of the Union. Notwithstanding my friendship, my personal regardfor these old friends and former comrades, which never varied, it was myduty to oppose them, when arrayed against the Union, to the utmost. Atthe earliest moment, when separation was attempted, and afterward, myefforts were continuously directed against the success of their cause. One ofthe results of those efforts was manifested on this battle-field. I was enabled,after great labor and care, to meet these friends and comrades in command ofmen, than whom there could be none more intelligent, better disciplined,braver, more confiding in each other, and more determined on success. Theyembraced soldiers from Maine, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York ,and all New England —together with all the regular army, then at the East,from all parts of the country. Their commanders were not excelled by thosein any other corps in ability or experience; they had the highest confidencein each other, in the army, and in their own men, and were fully competentto oppose their able adversaries.

I have said we did not fear Lee alone at Beaver Dam Creek. Nor, thoughanxious, did we fear the combined attack of Lee and Jackson at Gaines’s Mill.Defeat to us was necessarily great damage to them. Our flanks were secureand could not be turned; though fewer in numbers, the advantages of ourposition, combined with the firm discipline of our own brave men, overcamethe odds. Our adversaries were forced to meet us face to face. All day theystruggled desperately for success, and near night, after fearful destruction,broke our line at one point, just at a time when a most unforeseen mismanage-ment on our part aided to crown their labors with possession of the field.Still, our confidence was not broken; and, as we shall see in a succeedingpaper, under like circumstances victory crowned our arms with successagainst the same opponents, strongly reenforced, at Malvern Hill.

& The known presence of President Davis and General Lee, to oversee, direct, encourage, and urge, wasanother influential power in favor of the Confederates in this movement.— F. J. P.