Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-04-23

81 have believe the enemy Is tying 10 WORK
bis way my rear the roaiN which comes into TIE
turnpike IL miles this side Of Beverley have there
fore suggested to COL Scott that he take position with
bis regiment thst road.
R.s3ec fully, ETC.,
JoaS PEGaIM, L. Col, etc"
true copy.
JAMS L. OORLEY, Capt. O. s. A. A. G.
From this extract and these orders there WG no room
for misiaking tho position, Ia the Brcbanan road,
requested by Col Psgam Il WAS at the june ion OF the
county road ani tie Buchanan turnpike.
You will obeerve the stringency OF these orders
They gave me no discretion L { US anal z, them.
l. wes ordered to take pDsltion in the Buchanan
road, as rtq tqussted by Gel Pegram.
was ordered TO defend my position to TIE Last, il
sbt uld be attacked.
5. Ia there should be any movement Of the enc
ny OF which positive, was not authorized to use
my discretion whether or not / shtuj leave my posi-
don to meet or cOuateracs that movement; but wss
inform Gen. Gasnett OF |. by Aourted express, and
Of course wait Nor orders
Thrro but Two contingencies on which should
have IelI jusi6ed in leaving my position.
I. II Col PegrAm had reg rested me- to go tnJShere
e'ss. As be the commanding officer at me iorI'
Gnl presumed TO kaoU, fom his pekets and s'ou >
more Of the movements Of the enemy than any one
es and as had b'en placed il my position ct ns re-
qats :, should have abandoned II a gone aat"here
else he desir on kN r,qles pEeSum ng-hat my oo
effaNS-
Garrett.
The oaly osher contingency on which should have
felt jus if in quitting position was should ase'
tln oy ary thtt the tnsmy would not come aoI
the county read which ordered 10 guard and aoi
which Col Pegram ttCasht it Nas almost cs'Ian they
would come heard c firing on th, mou Itin In the
direction OF Col. Peg ans camp Iadeed it had CON-
mtncsd before hSa received The fore goiog orders Il
was at at struggling II pickst- ecgAged, 90
presume was the case. After while 1t beclms more
animated, and vSl.ey could occasionally be heard
though generally t seemed be Independently and at
will Ulimaiey artillery tpe'sd And'wns eoalinucd sth
great animaaoP thoigAl that the artillery vas f. ed
Gt CU PsCrIu's fort and from kis fort bad no rea
20 believe :ba! he had removed S1y OF his Srtieiy
side OF his enir nobmens II short from the hiilg OF
the artry thought tha: the ensmy had attacked his
camp. Blu Was that any reason way slOild "a disGbe-
denee OF Gen GarnsttS order qr M position ard 60 to
the firing! / thought not. For II the eneUy were
working their way around Coonsl PegIans right
nS be thought il 'alm1st certain they were
ing 1t 20 get into his tie oeun road which
| was ordered to guard, thought very natural
tley shouts make En attack 'on his camp, either
bsn, 6ja st aek or iegDd attack, to attract his
Colonel PegIAlt) Rttent n. and cover up their de-
sg1 Of eating his by the ccuaty road aforesaid
Va r,Ore lacked for the euemy by thh road Gs eager
II sfter IL, 6rug commC re ID rs did before.
Asaa-I rea c. cd il i Sd u.d leave my siton, and
The eltny n Y sbserc, should cone asrg tLat road
= 4
Comasery at res, etc, thFre, or snoud go up the
ain and att, OK Colonel gram IN his rear, AID
should be arragned before ut martial for dloh-di
eace to ord-rs, Whist defence could m,ke' would
s,y thought fsht Vas goiug on at carp, and that
NV presence was neces ssArv. Bus the Jldge Advocate
would reply DID DO; Col Pegran form in ks letter
tha, It almost certain tha, the enemy we're working
tire way srougd his right alpk 70 coma int the tu
PIKE ct the pJnt at ~ ch you Vsri p5sieds DID nos
General GArnst oidr ycu 20 take position a. that poiet
II - IL. H. s.l1 - FNnar
Da he give ytu auy discretion WhAs=Ver in regrd 10
Leaving ygur position Oa tAe coatrHEy, did he pot or
Ter thar il there were NOV meat Of the enemy OF
shcL you posiiSc, you were TO inform Kim ,t /,
by mounted sXpres AID Of course, wait Tor orders'
Dd not Colonel gram inioym you in his le,tr he had
{ cWary scouting between his camp ard your pod;ioH,
and ough you not 20 have knO7h that ne wouli have
ssat for you Il be had wanted your t. tn 5, inerrO
eyt1res coui only hIyo rApid in the slt IN ltiVc.
re eat II hid lrf mS position, aud tho enemy ha3
come slo1g sha: way, a. Colon Prgrsm thought al
sost ccrtsin they weuld do ! Etuli have been, aud
and would have deserved have beeu es.tercd for di
obe dieucs OF orders.
AgAia-I, occurred to ME il should 70 up lie meun-
t,in an! before getting TO Col PsgIaHs camp men
dghu1G N he wooif 'Dd l. neaFiy al woods between
my po oI and ki- ,mp O0ol VII ch party shold d.
r, 9: nv men 10 ff-s There vas no badge by which
friends could be distinguished fion eneniss and eveo
if there vi en- t uli hNs besu Of M usa in the
vood. shOul as lklis have ed o. friends as foes
Shoud Cur li, DE- cd on me by mslsks, Should
have returc,d the f:e Ald thus he most di-asruus
cons Icrcei Nou have ensucd la such csse, both
the pualc ard cour. martial woui have cJnd5Tn ID
me Tor dsyb wing ord r., by leaving my p1fl0n.
have since a. c csrtanrd wss riSh. on trs poiut Or
men eag4g d N hs d ;nt % Rel nouuttl, k1eW 20 h
log OF py posi- ion oi ny presence in their immtdi
ate borhoo J. and many OF them las since ioli me,
that had 90 Up, they certainly would hAv hed upon
ne. Li.uf. S.A, am OF LynchburE, who commaaded
our piece Of Arlry in the ,h. afer CAPT; D. Lagal
~ss wounded, has Informed me, thai II had c>ms up
turnpike hat daT, be would havs "ridjed" ny regi
uent. Hal on fdcaishcd With guii,, might proe-
allJ have d,r'd mleriL service In 'hd fight, but
T.t,out guido, vas as Likely TO dp as much damage
to friends ts oS.
Again, uhsc'sd, roy position is occupied by ne, q;
the ias,aucs Of Col. gram He has informed in
letter. that be has cavalry aeou'irg h. ctmp
ID my posi- o ana IL he needs es whers he certl IL
will inform me Of it.
ON ,h .se corsi era'ions, id not think proper to
di bey Gsu ,raets orj.rs aa1 leave NY PCS ton
4 | should get some IN s4lgs from Col. Ptgnm that
he d,sr T d me to do Alihough | constantly locked
Tor ,he eSemy the couliy raj, aOlg Which 1t VS.
al most Ger aim tho Dsmy ~Ouid come y9 Gs eager
| licked for a message irJm Ool gam, by SONS Cf
E1as clval whicl b. in ogmed scouting between
MS amp and nv rO.iion b.. gettrg suci message
any information from he fight, and ccming npltient
| dc ermioed to seud mps'erge mysef therefore
orier,j i Mr. John Dusbrs, volunteered for that
pu pore 10 90 to Uoonsl Psgrsm and knoE from him
wh ther or n he wished services al any oher point
than the one then OcCup d. sul II 60, 10 send ma
dse Ii not | ordered Hggh,s 10 bring me inlorml
iou Of VITA. was grng on. H. dashed up the mOu0tlin
a, rapid galop sAai,ed his re.urn. A. length ios
gan to think il time for him to be back. BIT then
r,co14cied ne would have to 20 more than six miles
Gel. Pegrams camp, and the sane distance back, be-
sides ding and hav an interview With that Ciesr-
At lng,h a cavalry officer ard few Of his rnen csms
do N the tusnpkA lie sunou'cd hms If AZ Lieut.
TO ,drane, OF the Churobyils Cavalry, from Angus
c,un;y, Virginia Hs iniorued IN, that the eaemy, IL
"a. uuubtr 81 1000 or 5 900 mfn, d come around
oi PcP-aa's left (1ot hs rish0 ia k, aud (" re th'
az d fighting with some lhTee hundred OF our
m d. Ab, ut nile aud half in The rear Of Co'olel Pc
grams c.mr, ard between ny regiment aGd that CAM
a II re had been attack upon the camp i.se; tha
90: the ght and he enemy the iift #
the turnpike, ss wouli Gpptoeh' tee camp; that gu
men hsd piece Of artillery il TIE road, and
;La. / uEs waneed nj tha fqht B inr Ertis6 d. then