The National tribune., 1907-09-26
N T.. which had ~ killed and So
Johnston Decide. to Attack.

Johnston Decides to Attack.
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston was not the
man to let such an opportunity as Nc
IClellan offered him to pass unimproved.
1t was said that he waited for a heavy
rain to swell the Chickahominy, and
make certain his destruction of that
portion of the army thrown across the
river. He says himself that the rain
which came was timely to his plans,
but he had determined upon the move
ment before the rains set in. He had
at that time about 10000 men well in
hand to throw against the Third and
| Fourth Corps, aggregating not over 49,
| 600 men. Johnston had his army di-
vided into four strong divisions, each
about the size of our corps, and COM
manded respectively by Longstreet, d.
H. Hill, Gustavus Smith and BENZ. HUI
ger.
May 80 he issued orders for battle on
the morrow. The exposed corps were
to be attacked simultaneously on both
fianbs and in front by overwhelming
forces. Huger, following the Charles
City road, was to turn keyes's left and
attack his rear, Hill was to assault in
front, Smith was to proceed to Old
Tavern, repel any attempt of the troops
to come across the river, and attack on
the Union right, while Longstreet was
to follow up Hill and complete the
break thru the center.
Mcclellan had begun the construction
of several bridges along his front and
the cutting and corduroying of roads
This work had not been pushed with
much celebrity, and the enemy's fire
from the opposite side interfered very
greatly. Sumner had pushed the bridges
in his front with more VigOr, and,
thanks to the zeal and ingenuity of his
soldiers, had two nearly completed. One
was about two miles above the railroad
bridge, and the other a mile and a half
above this. These had been made by
sinking piles in the mud and laying on
them puncheons, held in place by ropes
and grapevineS.
Casey's Division, made up almost
wholly of new regiments, had been i'm |
prudentiy pushed out to the little sta
ton of Fair Oaks, on the railroad, about |
six miles from Richmond The Nine
Mile road, leading from the Williams
burg road TO the New Bridge road. |
crossed the railroad at this point.
Three-quarters of mile to Casey's |
left and rear was the little settlement of |
Seven Pines, at which was Couch's Di-
vision, with its right extended to Fair
Oaks. Nearly two miles to the rear OF
Seven Pines was Kearny's Division, in |
light works, covering the Williamsburg |
road where it crosses large clearing
to enter the woods. Hooker was much
farther back and to the south, watching
the passages thru the White Oak |
Swamp.
Notwithstanding his exposed position,
Casey had done no more to strengthen |
it than to throw up two small lunets for
his field artillery. |
Johnston Advances.
AS the night of May 80 came on a
furious storm burst, which speedily set
the Chickahominy raging. Johnston
this as d potent assistance to
his plans. 1t made the roads simply i'm
passable to wheeled vehicles, and John
ston ordered his artillery left behind |
The march was ordered to begin at |
daybreak, and the energetic Longstreet |
was able to begin with short delay the |
march from Richmond followed by the |
divisions of Hill and Smith. The peo- |
pie of Richmond were fully apprised of
what was impending, and gathered in |
great numbers to witness the departure |
of the troops. Many followed nearly to |
the battlefield. s-" !!
A little after S O'Clock Johnston was
Informed that Longstreet, II II and Gus
tayus Smith were in position to begin |
the battle. -..,..a- |