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THE SEHEN DAYS,” INCLUDING FRAYSER’S FARM.

FRAYSER’S FARM-HOUSE, FROM THE QUAKER ORCHURCH ROAI), LOOKING SOUTH.

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN 1885.

This house, was used as General Simmer’s headquar-ters and as a hospital during the battle. The lightingtook place from half to three-quarters of a mile to theright, or westward. The National Cemetery is shownin the middle distance.

It is easy to see that the battle of theprevious day would have been a quick ~and bloodless Confederate victory if Jack-son could have reached his position at thetime appointed. In my judgment the evacua-tion of Beaver Dam Creek was very unwise on the part of the Federal com-manders. We had attacked at Beaver Dam, and had failed to make an impres-sion at that point, losing several thousand men and officers. This demonstratedthat the position was safe. If the Federal commanders knew of Jackson’sapproach on the 26th, they had ample time to reenforce Porter’s right beforeFriday morning (27th) with men and field defenses, to such extent as tomake the remainder of the line to the right secure against assault. So thatthe Federals in withdrawing not only abandoned a strong position, but gaveup the morale of their success, and transferred it to our somewhat disheart-ened forces; for, next to Malvern Hill, the sacrifice at Beaver Dam wasunequaled in demoralization during the entire summer.

From Beaver Dam we followed the Federals closely, encountering themagain under Porter beyond Powliite Creek, where the battle of Gaines’s Milloccurred. General A. P. Hill , being in advance, deployed his men and openedthe attack without consulting me. A very severe battle followed. I'came upwith my reserve forces and was preparing to support Hill , who was sufferingvery severely, when I received an order from General Lee to make a demon-stration against the Federal left, as the battle was not progressing to suithim. I threw in three brigades opposite the Federal left and engaged them