350
He had me wake up General Whiting and make him sign a pass and animpressment order (which no one under the rank of major-general had aright to do). He had about fifty-two miles to ride to Richmond; to the Nine-mile bridge, near which General Lee was in person, I suppose the distancewas as great, so that the ride occupied him, with the time lost in impressingrelays of horses, about ten hours. He must have reached his rendezvous withGeneral Lee and his three major-generals about noon on the 23d. If he rodeinto the city first, the meeting would have been a few hours later. He rejoinedhis corps at Beaver Dam Station on Tuesday (24th), and assembled the wholeof it around Ashland Wednesday night, the 25th. About two hours by sunon the 26th we came into collision with McClellan’s outposts. We were muchmystified at first to know why the general should put a battery in positionand cannonade the bushes furiously for ten minutes only to drive away apicket. We found out afterward this was his signal to you [General D. H.Hill], and in a little while the distant sound of your guns at Ellerson’s milltold us that the ball had opened.”
It will be seen from the narrative of Major Dabney that General Jackson,who fought some of his most desperate battles on Sunday, would not startto Richmond till Sunday had passed. He had the pass and impressmentorder from General Whiting that he might not be known 011 the road; hewore no insignia of rank, and as he would have been known in Richmond hedid not go to that city. It was 3 p. m. on the 23d when I saw him at GeneralLee ’s headquarters. Major Dabney is mistaken in saying that the signal-gunswere intended for me. A. P. Hill was farther up the Chickahominy, and hewas to cross first, and, being nearer to Jackson, could hear his guns better
EXTERIOR LINE OF DEFENSES OF RICHMOND ON THE MECHANICSVILLE ROAD (LOOKING SOUTH-EAST).FROM A SKETCH MADE AT THE TIME OF MCCLELLAN’S ADVANCE.
TO?®
mm