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“If Gen. McClellan is there in force, we had better let him alone.”
Longstreet laughed and said, “Don't get scared, now that we have got him whipped.”
Reconnoissance, ordered by
Longstreet on the right, found a position favorable if we could employ a heavy force of artillery.
A hill across
Turkey Creek on the west gave ground whence 40 or more guns could enfilade the enemy's batteries and lines of battle.
A wheat-field to the northeast gave positions whence a hundred guns could cross fire with them.
Could we mass and open two such batteries, and follow their fire by a simultaneous charge of heavy columns, we would have a chance of winning a victory.
Lee ordered the plan carried into effect.
Meanwhile, a line of battle had been formed through the woods and fields.
Whiting was on the left with three brigades (one of
Jackson's under
Hampton, and two of his own).
D. H. Hill came next with five, then two of
Huger's, six of
Magruder's, and two more of
Huger's, including
Ransom's, detached from
Holmes's division.
The remainder of
Holmes's was held on the
River road, and was not engaged.
Longstreet and
Hill were in reserve behind
Magruder; and
Ewell's and
Jackson's own division, behind
Jackson.
The enemy's batteries kept up a severe fire through the woods and along the roads, and the gunboats in the
James participated for some hours with their heavy guns, until at length some shells burst prematurely over their own lines, when their fire was ordered to cease.
The order to charge the enemy's lines was, however, not made absolute.
Magruder,
Huger, and
D. H. Hill, with their 14 brigades, were notified as follows about noon: —
July 1, 1862.
Batteries have been established to rake the enemy's line.
If it is broken, as is probable,
Armistead, who can witness the effect of the fire, has been ordered to charge with a yell.
Do the same.
By order of
Gen. Lee.
The charge, therefore, was made to depend upon our being able to inaugurate and conduct with success an artillery duel of some magnitude.
Pioneers were sent to open a road to the left, and it was
