The National tribune., 1906-02-22
AND RETREAT.

Of Mai Gen. G. w. Smith, who at that
| time commanded the division:
| Referring to the reports of the sew
erai commanders for details. il is only
| necessary for me to state that the Texas
| Brigade, under command of Brig. Gen.
John b. Hood, supported on the right
| ny the Hampton Legion and the 18th
Ga. regiment, of Col. Hampton's Bri-
gadc, 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 tn support and cover the left
| flank of the Texans. All the troops en-
gagged showed the finest spirit, were un-
der perfect control, and behaved ad-
mirably. The brunt of the contest was
borne by the Texans, and to them is
due the largest share of the honUrs of
| the day at E,ltham. The Texas Brigade
lost eight killed and IS wounded: in
the other portions of the command
there were II wounded and none kill
ed."
This affair, which brought the bri-
eade so suddenly and unexpectedly un-
deI fire for the first time, served as a
happy Introduction to the enemy.
Back Ia the Richmond Lines.
The ensuing day the march was re-
sumed to the rear and continued till
we reached the Baltimore Crossroads,
in which vicinity we bivouacked about
five days; thence we retreated to a point
near Richmond. About this juncture 1t
was. rumored that the Commanding
General contemplated the abandonment
Of the Capital of the Confederacy Gen
Mcclellan, however, soon threw across
the Chickahominy, 10 the south bank,
about one-fourth of his forces, and the
Confederate army was ordered to make
ready to assail this detachment. Maj
Gen. q. w. Smith massed his division
on the Nine Miles road the morning of
the 31st OF May. Longstreet and Hill
assembled on the right lower down on
the Chickahominy; they attacked and
were driving the enemy Handsomely
when about p. m. Gen. 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. Federals, 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 flank, and join
Longstreetkleft. Shortly after 1 passed
the railro3th ~ battery to my surprise
fred upon US from the rear. never
thelesS continufd to march by the flank;
a few minutes later / heard roar upon
roar of musl<ntry in the direction of the
ground | had. just left, and naturally
supposed oar troops were firing into
each otheJI by mistake. The under-
growth in the swamp through which
we We're passing was very dense, and
the waterEwast deep in some places;
consequently our progress was not as
rapid as diilesired Soon after this
heavy firing in rear, Maj s. ID. Lee came
to me in great haste with instructions
to return forthwith. as our troops on
the left rednifed support, and, at the
same time, Informed me that Gen
Johnston Ind been wounded. 1 imme-
diately started back. but nightfaIl ap-
preached before / was enabled to re-
join Maj.-Gen. Smith. and render him
the assistance | would have gladly af-
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