The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-22
ADVANCE AND RETREAT.
fCOntiDucd from mage \

Of Maj Gen. G.. w. Smith, who at that
time commanded the division:
referring to the reports Of the sew
eral commanders for details. it is only
necessary for me to state that the Texas
| brigade, under command of Brighten
John b. Hood, supported on the right
| by the Hampton Legion and the ] 9th
tia. regiment, of Col. Hampton's Fri
g3dc, We're selected, and ordered for
ward by Gen. Whiting, to drive the
enemy from the woods then occupied
in front of their landing. Late in the
day the Tennessee Brigade, command
ed by Brig Gen. Anderson was placed
iii position To support and cover the left
flank of the Texans. All the troops en-
gagged showed the finest spirit, were I'M
der perfect control, and behaved ad-
mirably. The bIunt of the contest was
borne by the Texans, and to them is
due the largest share OF the honurs of
the day at Ethan. The Texas Brigade
lost eight killed and rs wounded: i'm
the other portions of the command
there were II wounded and none kill
ed"
This affair which brought the bri-
gade so suddenly and unexpectedly un-
der lire for the first time, served as a
happy Introduction to the enemy
Back to the Richmond Lines.
The ensuing day the march was re-
we reached the Baltimore Crossroads
i'm which vicinity we bivouacked about
five days; thence we retreated to a point
near Richmond. About this juncture It
Vas. rumored that the Commanding
General contemplated the abandonment
OF the Capital of the Confederacy. Gen
Mcclellan, however, soon threw across
the Chickahominy, to the south bank,
about one-fourth of his forces and the
Confederate army was ordered to make
ready to assafl this detachment. Maj
Gen. &. w. Smith massed his division
on the Nine Miles road the morning Of
the 3lst OF May. Longstreet and Hill
assembled Oh the right, lower down on
the Chickahominy; they attacked and
were driving the enemy Handsomely,
when about p. III. Sen. Smith ordered
Gen. Whiting TO advance through the
swamp. The object was to assault, on
his right flank. the enemy engaged
against Longstreet. Laws Brigade came
in contact with the. 4Federals, as my
troops would soon have done, had not
Gen: Johnston. in person. unfortunately
changed my direction by ordering me
to move off by the right fla NIX and join
Longstree txaHt. Shortly after l passed
the railroan II battery, to my surprise,
fired upon us from the rear. ] never
theless coruinaIfd to march by the flank;
a few minutes later i heard roar upon
roar of mtskntry in the direction of the
ground | had. just left, and naturally
supposed our troops were firing into
each othe1t by mistake. The under
growth in the swamp through which
we were passing was very dense, and
the waterSwAkt deep in some places:
consequenuy,-9o ur progress was not as
rapid as tfuksired Soon after this
heavy firing In rear, Maj. S. d. Lee came
to me in great haste with instructions
to return forthwith as our troops on
the left. retnifed support, and, at the
same time. Informed me that Gen
Johnston Ind been wounded. 1 imme-
diately started back. but nightfall ap-
preached before was enabled to re-
join Maj.-Gen Smith. and render him
the assistance I would have gladly at
forded. The following day my brigade
remained in line of battle without en-
countering the enemy; with this march
ing and countermarching ended the part
taken by my troops In the battle Of
Seven Pines or Fair Oaks.