The battle of the Seven Pines.
General Johnston's Official report.
--before the 30th May; that ascertained from trusty corps was encamped on this of the near the Williams that day Mag-Gen, D. H. ported immediately in his front. On receiving this report, determined to attack them next morning be able to defeat Keys's corps completely in its more advanced position before it could be reinforced. Written orders dispatched to Major Generals Hill, Huger, and G. W. Smith, being near my headquarter received, verbal Instructions the receipt of orders was acknowledged. General supported by the division of General. Longstreet (who had the direction of operations on the right to advance by the Williamsburg road to attack the enemy in front; General Huger, with his division was to move down the Charles city road, in order to attack in flank the troops who might be engaged with and unless he found in his front force enough to occupy his division; General Smith was to march to the function of the New Bridge road and the road to be in readiness to fail on Koya's right flank or to cover Longstreet's left. They were to at daybreak. Heavy and rains during the afternoon and the of the increased the probability of our having to dealt with no other troops than those of same cause prevented the prompt and movement of the troops. Those of Hill, and Longstreet were in position early enough, however, commence operations by o'clock A. M. Major General Longstreet and to make a attack instead of had been for Gen. Huger's division. at 2 o'clock P. M., he determined to troops. He accordingly commenced his advance at that hour; opening the with and o'clock it became clean and heavy. in the meantime, I had placed myself on the left of the force employed in this attack; with the of General , that I might be on a part of the field where I could observe, and he ready to any counter movement which the enemy's General might make against our centre or left. Owing to some peculiar condition of the the sound of the musketry did not reaching. deferred the signal for General Smith's advance till about 4 o'clock, at which time Major Jasper Whiting, of Gen. Smith's staff, whom I had sent to learn the state of affairs with General Longstreet's column reporting that it was pressing on with vigor. Smith's troops were or once moved forward. the principal attack was made by Major General Longstreet with his own and Major General D. H. Hill's division — the latter mostly in advance. brave troops, admirably commanded and mortigallantly led, forced their way through the battle which formed enemy defences and stormed their by a determined and in which the enemy's first line was carried. The operation was repeated with the gallantry and success as our troops pursued their victorious career through the enemy's camps and at New position they fresh troops belonging to it, and reinforcement brought on from the rear. Thus they had to repeated efforts to retake works which they had carried but their advance was never resisted. their onward movement was only stayed by the coming of night. By they had forced their way to the "Seven Pines," having driven the enemy back more than two miles, through their own comps, and from a series of and repelled every attempt to recapture with great slaughter. The skill, vigor, and with which operations were conducted by Gen. Longstreet are worthy of the he was worthily seconded by Major General Hill, of whose conduct and courage he speaks in the highest terms. Major General Smith's division moved forward at o'clock — Whiting's three brigade . their progress was by the enemies which, with their supports, were back to the railroad. At this point, Whiting's own, and Pettigrew's brigade, engaged a superior force of the enemy. Hoods, by my order moved on cooperate with Longstreet. Gen. Smith was desired to hasten up with all the troops within reach. He brought up Hampton's and Hatton's brigades in a few minutes. the strength of the enemy's position, however, enabled him to hold it until dark. about subset being struck from my horse severely wounded by a fragment of a shell, I was carried from the field, and Major-General G. W. Smith succeeded to the command. he was prevented from resulting his attack on the enemy's position next morning; by the discovery of strong not seen on the previous evening. His the night of the 31st, within the entrenchments which they were attacking, when darkness stayed the conflict. The skill, energy and resolution with which Major-General Smith directed the attack; would have success if it could have been made an hour earlier. the troops of Longstreet and Hill passed the night of the 31st on the ground which they had won. The enemy were strongly reinforced from the north side of the on the evening and night of the 31st. The troops engaged by were undoubtedly from the other side of the river. on the morning of the 1st of June, the enemy attacked the brigade of Gen. Pickett which was supported by that of Gen. the attack was vigorously repelled by these two brigades, the brant of the action falling on Gen. Pickett. This was the last demonstration made by the enemy. our troops employed the of the day in securing and on the captured artillery, small arms, and other property and in the evening own We took ten pieces for artillery, six thousand (6,000) muskets--one and four regimental colors, besides a large quantity of tents and camp .
| Master General Longstreet the loan in his command as being about | 3,000 |
| Major-General G. W. Smith reports his | |
| Total | 4,263 |
