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Chapter 7: battle of Williamsburg.
On reporting to
General Longstreet at
Williamsburg, I ascertained that there was fighting, by a portion of our troops, with the enemy's advance, at a line of redoubts previously constructed a short distance east of
Williamsburg, the principal one of which redoubts, covering the main road, was known as Fort Magruder.
I was directed to move my command into the college grounds and await orders.
There was now a cold, drizzling rain and the wind and the mud in the roads, and everywhere else, was very deep.
After remaining for some time near the college, I received an order from
General Longstreet to move to Fort Magruder and support
Brigadier General Anderson, who had command of the troops engaged with the enemy.
My command was immediately put into motion, and I sent my aide,
Lieutenant S. H. Early, forward, to inform
General Anderson of my approach, and ascertain where my troops were needed.
Lieutenant Early soon returned with the information that
General Anderson was, not at Fort Magruder, having gone to the right, where his troops were engaged, but that
General Stuart, who was in charge at the fort, requested that four of my regiments be moved into position on the right of it and two on the left.
As I was moving on to comply with his request and had neared Fort Magruder,
General Longstreet himself rode up and ordered me to move the whole of my command to a position which he pointed out, on a ridge in a field to the left and rear of the
Fort, so as to prevent the enemy from turning the position in that direction, and to await further orders.
General Longstreet then rode towards the right, and I was proceeding to the position assigned me, when one of the
General's staff officers came to me with an order
