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“THE SEVEN DAYS," INCLUDING FRAYSER’S FARM.

OPENING OP THE BATTLE OF FRAYSEK’S FARM : SLOCUM’S ARTILLERY ENGAGED WITH THAT OF HUGER,AT BRACKETT’S, ON THE CHARLES CITY ROAD. FROM A SKETCH MADE AT THE TIME.

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Huger would be in position when I was ready. After getting my troops inposition I called upon General A. P. Hill to throw one of his brigades to covermy right and to hold the rest of his troops in readiness to give pursuit whenthe enemy had been dislodged. My line extended from near the Quaker roadacross the New Market road to the Federal right. The ground upon which Iapproached was much lower than that occupied by General McCall, and wasgreatly cut up by ravines and covered with heavy timber and tangled under-growth. On account of these obstructions we were not disturbed while get-ting into position, except by the firing of a few shots that did no damage.Holmes got into position below me on the New Market road, and was after-ward joined by Magruder, who had previously made an unsuccessful attackon the Federal rear-guard at Savage’s Station.

By 11 o’clock our troops were in position, and we waited for the signal fromJackson and Huger. Everything was quiet on my part of the line, exceptoccasional firing between my pickets and McCall’s. I was in momentaryexpectation of the signal. About half-past 2 o’clock artillery firing was heardon my left, evidently at the point near White Oak Swamp where Huger wasto attack. I very naturally supposed this firing to be the expected signal, ;and ordered some of my batteries to reply, as a signal that I was ready tocooperate. While the order to open was going around to the batteries,President Davis and General Lee, with their staff and followers, were withme in a little open field near the rear of my right. We were in pleasant con-versation, anticipating fruitful results from the fight, when our batteriesopened. Instantly the Federal batteries responded most spitefully. It was