The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-07-05
THE SEyEN.DAYS, BATTLES.

Results of the Battles Before iiichmond as
Described by Gen. Joe Johnston In n Con.
hdepuai Letter to Gen. Beaurcgard.
a correspondent of the New York
Times furnishes that paper with the two
following letters. which he says were both
addressed to Gen. Beauregard and cap.
tured IN his baggage at the close of the
war:
AMELIA SPRINGS, August 4, 1862.
MY Dear General: | had the pleasure
TO receive your letter of the 18th ultimo
day or two ago. twas an especial sat.
Isiaction to have accounts OF your health
so much more favorable than those rumor
has been bringing us. hope to hear of
you before long in the most important
position the war may make. The zone
horse department" you speak of would
not be suffered by the country. | am not
sure that you are right in regarding the
success of McC.s Strategic movement"
as evidence Of skill 1t seems to me to
be due rather to our having lost two days
Immediately after the principal fight
that of Friday-and many hours after
ward, especially on Tuesday. was told
that the action on that day commenced
about 6 o'clock p. M, but one and one.
half or two miles from the field Of Mon.
days engnr en- 1t, 1t is said, too, that
4 large portion Of our army was idle on
each of these days. The "battle of
Malvern Hill" tuesday was but fifteen
or twenty miles from the middle Of
McC.'s position on the Chickahominy.
The result Of that action terminated our
pursuit. 1t seems to me that the partial
results were due to want of the "bull-
dog tenacity" you give us credit for. If
the enemy had been pressed vigorously
on Saturday and Sunday he must have
been ruined; could never have fixed
himself securely on the James River.
He left his position on the Chickahominv
without our knowledge, because the wide
interval by which he escaped was not
observed by cavalry, as it should have
been.
But for my confidence in McC.'s want
of enterprise should on Thursday
night, after three. fourths of the troops
had crossed the Chickahominy, have
apprehended that he would adopt the
course you suggest for him. Had he
done so he might have been in Richmond
on Friday before midday. BY concen-
trating his troops on the south side of
the river before daybreak on Friday he
would have been between our main body
and the city, with only one fourth of our
force in his way. This fraction he could
have beaten in two hours, and marched
to Richmond in two hours more.
must confess that the advantages we
have gained by what is termed the seven.
days fighting are not very evident to me.
am very glad to find that you think
with me that the true principle was an
attack of one of the enemy's fractions in
superior force. That was my attempt on
the 3lst of May, which would bave been
full success but for the sloth of new
division, which delayed Longstreet's
attack six hours, which did not leave us
time to complete the destruction of
keyes's corps. If this new division had
come up to time we would have had two.
thirds of our troops against one third OF
McC.'s. l wish you could have seen
soma Of your old acauaintances fight at
Williamsburg. There hes been nothing
during the war equal to the conduct OF
Writings, at Rarhamsville, two days
later, behaved beautifully. :! intended
Immediately after these affairs to give
you circumstantial account of them,
not being willing that you should derive
your opinion, as the best of our country
men must do, from the Yankee papers.
But being always in the immediate
presence of the enemy, l could never
command the few hours necessary for it.
! hope to do it still before returning to
duty, which may be between the 18th
and Goth. hope without reason) to go
back to the Rappahannock, leaving Lee to
command at Richmond. Yours truly,
j. E. JOHNSTON.
The following is interesting, though on
a different subject:
CAMP FRspEnlcEssuae, 80 Dec, '62. |
RICHMOND, E January, '6S.
My Dear General: J. was very glad to
receive your note of the oath, which
reached me yesterday, and to hear of the
successful progress you are making in
the defences Of Charleston. / have felt
very easy or that subject since you have
been there, and hope if the ironclads of
the enemy visit you they may never re.
turn. ! see that q new one, under Capt
Worden, has just left New York fol
Hampton Roads. A second, from Phila.
delphia, is soon TO follow, and still there
is to be third. The monitor and three
others are now there. 1t looks as il
they may attempt the James River; bul
unless combined with their army in q
land attack I hardly thiik they will
venture. 1 unite with you in rejoicing
at the reverse Gen. Burnside has expert.
enced ut Fredericksburg. 1t has created
great disappointment Mt the North
Their expectations were so great and SO
confident that the revulsion has been
proportionately depressing. Their army
IL still between the Rappahannock and
Potomac, and there is no indication as
yet of their future purpose. I am anx,
ious for it to be disclosed. 1 trust that
Gen. Johnston viii be able to defeat them
signally in the West. It W, relieve
things amazingly. Believing =; you
will be able to repel any attack .pon you
and with my best wishes for your success:
and happiness, and many returns of the
New Year, remain very truly yours,
r. Z. LEE.
GEN. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Tho sassOn fha Iifiln Ant Taught