Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-25
SEVEN PINES FIGHT.
THE BATTLE AS REPORTED ey GEN.
E7AL JOHNSTON.
lie Tells How He Whipped the Enemy-A
Great Victory Won by tho Con-
fedcrafes.

'h' "'Nt va hattic DelOre Richmond
was that Of Seven Pines, as we call IL.
Fair Oaks, as it was designated by the
federais
II was courageously fought on both sides.
The killed and wounded were many.
That night the streets of Richmond were
filed with wounded men. Hospital nc.
commodations were insignificant. but the
doors of hundreds Of private residences
were opened TO our brave defenders
The following is the official report made
by General Johnston and dated Rich
pond. June ~, 1852
Go'ercl $. Cooper, Adj,som and Tnspeotor-
GcsG'Gl:
Sr,Bcforc the 30th Of MAY had ascer.
taincdfrom trustv scouts that Kcyes's corps
vas encamped on this side Of the Chicka
iomlny, near the Williamsburg road. On
tina, day MOjor-Gencrai ID. II. HilI reported
, strong body Immediately In his front.
On receiving tins report, / determined 10
attack hun next morning TO be
cole 70 defeat keyes's corps completely in
IS moro advanced position before II cOuld
l. reinforced. Written orders were dis
PATCHED to Malor-Generals Hin. Hugor, and
&. ". Smith. General Longstreet being
near my headquarters. received verbal in
t'ructionS. The receipt of orders were ac-
lnoWledgcd.
General Hin. supported bv the division
Of General longstrGot (who had the direc-
tion If operations on the right. was TO adj
vance bv the Williamsburg road TO attack
thc enemy IN front. General Huger with
lie division, was to 90 down the Charles
city road IN order 90 attack in flank the
troops who might be engaged with
lin aud LongstTect, unless he found
IN ms front force enough to occupy
us division. General Smith was to
march 90 the junction Of the Bridge
Ypal and tho Nne-Milo road 10 be
IN readiness either 10 fall on Keyes's
yEhf flank, or 20 cover IOngstrects left.
They were % move at daybreak. Heavy
rnd protracted rains during the afternoon
and urht by swelling the streams of the
(mcbahomiuy increased the probability Of
our having 20 deal with no other troops
than those of Kcvcs. The same cause pre-
vented the prompt and punctual move
mont of the troops. Those Of Smith, Hill,
sud Longstrect were ID position early
enough. however, to commence operations
ly > o'clock A. NJ.
Naior-Grucrll Longstreet, unwilling 10
,.ako "a part al attack. instead Of the COM
f.uod movement which had been planned.
waited from hour to hour for General HUI
ll's division. At length at O'Clock T.
ST be- determined 20 attack without those
troops. He accordingly commenced his
.ivIuco at chat hour. opening the engage
yl,ut with artillery and skirmishers. By 3
O'Clock u became close and heavy.
tu the mean time / had placed myself on
1h. ',ff Of the force employed IN this at-
t.rt. with the division Of General Smith,
rM.t might Doe on the field whore | could
Observe and boz ready 90 meet any counter
movements which the enemy's General
might make against our centre or lett.
Nvu- 90 some peculiar condition Of the
atmosphere Tire sound Oi the musketrv did
l.t reach rs. consequently deferred
owing cine signal for GtneT'l Smiths adj
-.nce tili aiout o'clock, 40 which time
fia.r Jasper Whiting. Of General Smiths
t-.F. whom bad sent 10 learn the state Of
affairs with General IOngstreets column,
r..rruoI. reporting that IL was pressing on
with yrur. Smiths troops were at once
moved forward.
DID,. principal attack was made by Major
G.uerl Longstrcct, with ms own and
rn.or-Gcrcrd y. H. HIS div,sion-the
li'ior mostly in advance. liius brave
troops. admirably commanded and most
ga .lartit ird forced their way through the
Ct1ls which formed the cnemy's external
defence. and ~tormcd their entrenchments
iy determined and irresistible rush.
srch was tLc WguurrIn which the cnemy's
first lirc Was carried. Inc operation was
i..e4tr3 with the same gallantry and sue
,... a- .ur troops pursued their victorious
..r.sr through the CnemYs successive
....- and entertainments st each new
t.nthov encountered fresh troops be
,-..- o. II and reinforcemonts brought
.. .r... iAc rear Thus they had TO repel
r.....7 efforts % retake works which
i carried. bat their advance was
r.... .n.re,-iu.ly resisted.
onward movement was only stayed
It t.. coming of night. By nlghtlali
..I forced their way To the seven
I...-." ltr.us driven the enemy back two
r..... firHu-u their own camps, and from
r.- o- entertainments, and repelled
overs a't rf t1 recaPture them with
.r.. .....t.r IL, skill, ylgOr, and de-
,.U w.n Winch these operations were
I..-.H l General Longstreet are
Un.r OFF .l. highest praise. lie was
rt... .s0li.i hy Major-General hlll,
conn .urf ana courage he speaks
i,i,-. terms.
n General smiths division moved
..I .t o'clock Nhitney's three
idiug. Their progress was m
tI.I '.. f|n funmv.s sklrmlshers, Whlch.
th.r rpuort. were driven back to the
.I So ibis point Whitney own and
s's brigade engaged superior
..r.u ftr enemy. Hoods. by my order,
...r| Dl go c0rucTafe with Longs treet.
t..- Smith was desired 10 hasten up
.lI .I t.e troops within reach. He
ir.a 70. Hampuu'- and iattJn'o bri-
lI.... .u b. t.W minutes.
IIc strength ot the cucmy's position,
however. enabled him % holdit until dark.
Al.at .Uus.t, being struck from my
l.I- ..serc.} wounded hr % fragment Of
..tI. Iva. carried ud the fold and Major
.r,r. r.. a.. ~. Smith succeeded 20 the COM
ufri.
l,. vas prevented from resuming his at
60. Ou ll ouemg's position next morning
% B. g "a ~. Vi o.
rt sr on The previous evening. tis
....n. hN11aoEci ON the night of the
.... within musket-shut of the Cnirench-
r...f. which thew We're attacking, when
darkness .'4vel the conflict MaiOr-Gen-
..l NHtl directed the attack, and would
n.., secured urcC~s If T. could have been
...i- 1903 Gour earlier.
Nu -1..ruur oi the lst of june the
t..ur .ttarkel the brigade of General
f.-L.tt which was supported 10y that OF
General lIor. The attach was vigorously
I...t,l d. these TWO brigades. the brunt
.I o.. action falling on General Pic kett
I.'. N.s the last demonstration made 10y
t.r enemy.
c.- .-..ps employed the residue of the
Cos .uriuc End bearing of tho cap
faf.i ar. lcry. small arms. and other pro,
l..,r. aal iu the evening quietly returned
q. t0rir own camps.
A.r t.ol ten pieces of artillery, six thou
send 1u~a.ts. one garrison nag. and four
.fuentt coln--. besides quantity OF
nt and camp eQulpaSe.
..a..f-t.eueral LonErtieet reports the loss 80
In .i. command ns being about. ......3,OOO
%a..i-Dcncral e.. ". smith reports his loss 49,
1.....-......-.. ...'.'''...''''' ''''''~o'
.r..,,
7.at of the enemy j. stated IN their own
u a.Isper. Co have exceeded l0OOO-an eS-
,ll.Ie winch is, no doubt, short of the
TRUTH. Had Maior-General Huger's dlvi-
f... (, .eu ln position and ready for action
u I.l those ~ Smith. Longstreet, and hlu
moved. ] ann satisfied that kcyes's corps
w llj hato teen destroyed instead of be-
sd. w.rlly defeated. Had It gone mo ac3
-..g e.en at Z o'clock the victory would
l.v, been much more complete.
far-.Geucrals Smith and Longstreei.
.o,.. Id high terms Of the conduct OF
t...r superior and staff officers.