Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-07-23
The BATTLE OF THE SEVEN PINES GENERAL
JOHNsTOS's OFFICIAL REPORT.

JOHNSIONS OfFlOlAL REFOhE.
RICHMOND, June 2I,h, 1854
GsnT S. CooprR, Adj. and Insp'r Gent!
Sr-B, fore the SOh Nay had Gscertalnsd from
trusty scouts, that Key. Corps Ouc.mped this
ide 1f the CAckahominy, near the Williamsburg road.
Ga tha, day Hsj,r General D. H. HI reported a strong
body Immediately in bis fsort. Ga receiving this report
determined 10 attack them next morning-hopitg to
be able to defeat Keys Corps completely in its more Ad-
vanced position before il could be reinforced. Written
orders we're despatched 10 Major Generals Hill, Huger
aad G. W. sui.h Gen. Longstrsot being my Head.
ilr,ers, received verbal instructions. The receipt Of
the o. dsrs vac ackI ov5dged. Gen. Ill., supported by
the vision Of G,n. Long street Who had the direction
o. opsrsons on the rgtJ) Nss 10 aivsoce BY the VIII
namsbu,g read TO attack the enemy In front General
Guzer with bic Division, to move down the Charles
Cyv road In order to attack in A,rk the troops who
might b. engaged with Hill aud L>pgstreet unless be
fund in his front force enough occupy his DIVISION;
General Smith was to march to the junction Of the NeE
Bridge road and the Nine Nile road, to be in readiness
either to fall on Keys right fink, or to cover LorB
streets left They TO move at dAybresk. Heavy
aud protracted rains during the afternoon and night BY
sw ling the stream Of the 0hickAhomny increased the
probability Of our having to deal with no other tIooPs
.han those Of Keys. The same cause prevented the
arompt and puncuil movement Of the troops. Those
Of Smith Hill ana Longstreet were in position early
enough, however, to commence operations BY O'Clock,
AN.
or General Lopgstreet unwilling to make partial
attack, insead Of the combined movement which had
been paaued waited from hour TO hour for Gen. He.
gers vision. At length, at Pollock, P he deter
/ II. dryly
olmmeuced HE advance at that hour, opening the en-
glgemeut Si,h artillery AID skirmishers By o'clock 1t
became close and heavy.
IL the mean time, had placed myself on the left Of
the force employed in this attack, with the Division Of
General Smith, that | might be on a part Of the field
Eherc could observe and be ready - meet any coun
ter movements which the enCmJ'5 General might make
.gans; our centre or lef 0Sing to sOme peculiar con
don Of the Atmosphere the sound Of the muskeuy did
not reach w. cons Ienty deferred giving the signal
for Gen smi,Ls AdyaLce, till about O'Clock, at which
time NJ IT .sper Whiting, Of Gen Smiths staff whom
had sent to learn the state Of afrs with Gen. Long
streets column returned reporting that il was pressing
on with visor Smiths troops we're at orce moved for
| ward
The principal attack was made by h'jor General Long
rect with bis own and n It General d Fl Hills Divi
sionthe latter mostly in advance. is brave troops,
admirably commanded and most CALAMITY led forced
their way through the ablts which formed the enemys
external deeuOes and sormed their entertainments by
determined and irresistible rush. Such Was the ma
ner in wlich the enemys first line was carried TOE
operaon was repeated with the same gAaatry and sue
$, as our troops their victorious through
tae entm,s successive camps and entertainments. Al
each new position they encountered fresh troops belong
fg to it, aad renforceuelts brought on from the rear
Thus they had to to repel repeated Efforts to re0ke
works which they had carried But their advance was
never successfully resisted.
Their onward movement was only stayed by the com.
ing Of night By night fall they had forced their way
= the Seven Plies" having driven the enemy back
more than two mes through their Own camp, aud from
A series Of eutret c. IN 'nS and rope every attempt
to recapure them with great slaughter The skill, vgor
a1d decision with which these operations condcct-
ed by Gen. Lor gsrest are worthy OF the highest praise
He was worthily seconded By AIjor General Hill, o!
whose conduct and couSge no speaks 10 the highest
terms.
Msjor General Smiths Division moved forward at 4
o'elo,k-Whiting's three Bfgides leading Their pro
rress was imPeded by tie ercmys skirnshors, which
!
A. TIL, point, wsitng's own, aud PetigreN Bng'd',
engaged superior force OF the enemy. Hoods, By my
Der, moved on TO cooperate with Longsireet. Gsu
smith vas desired hasten up With all the troops vii
10 reach He brought up HsmPton's and BAttOn's B'i
gIdss III 9 !,H minutes.
The sueBgh of the sncny's petition however, ena
Llsd him to hold IL until dark
Abou. sunset, being struck from my horse, 5overely
wounded by fragment Of a shel, was carried from
the field and jor General G. W Smith succeeded 10
the command.
He was prevented from Eesumug his attack on the en-
enys position mex morning, BY the discovery OF strong
eruenctwspts, not sen oa the previous evening. hi
vision byouscked, on the night Of the slst, SthiG
r1asket shot Of the enrenchmea's which they were at
tsekios wher darkness saycd the co, Ct, The kill
energy and IetOludOn with which Msicr General smtf
dirts Cd tho attack, would have secured sIcots5 If I
could have been nsdo an hCu: earlier.
The troops Of Longstreet and a passed the night oil
the 81 It en- lie ground which they bad Wor Tee enc
we're strongly reinforced from the Forth side oil the
oltkaLOminy on the evening and night of the slst.-
TIE troop, engaged By Gen. Smith undoubtedly
t ON the other side Of the river.
On the morlig of the lst Of Jare, the enemy a.
tEksd the b!lBhoe O ueu IShetI WHICH WAS tuiPOi
by that Of Gen. Pryor. The attack was vigorously re
lied By these two Bigs6eS the brunt of the action
fall on Gen. Pickett. This the last denOnstrs-
ton made by the enemy.
Our troop, employed the residue Of the day In secur'
log and bearing of the Csptur,d artillery, email arms
ald o;ber properly; AID In the everiog quietly re.
turned to their own camps
We took Ten pieces Of artillery, siz thousand so o0)