THE

SOUTHERN MAGAZINE

JANUARY, 1872.

WHAT I SAW OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAHOMINY.

F the reader expects from this somewhat egotistical title an the humble narrator assigns himself no part in that great struggle, save that of a very obscure but (he claims) an intelligent, and certainly an interested spectator. And let it be enough added concerning the question, Who is the narrator? that he was then a soldier of the Confederate army under General Lee, falling substantially in that class called in those days "high privates." He was, indeed, by no means. "high" in his fortunes or position; but could at least claim, without self-flattery, these qualities denoted by the phrase: a liberal education, wholly civic and contemplating anything in the future rather than a military career; a motive purely disinterested and devoid of military aspiration in donning the "gray," and a corresponding place in the service entirely obscure and subordinate. The story compels one other statement, in spite of the fear of egotism, to give the necessary answer to the reader's question: "How came a mere 'high private' to see anything in the great battle of Chickahominy so much more worth narrating than what any other private saw, that he should claim a place in THE SOUTHERN MAGAZINE?" It was on this wise, gentle reader. The staff-organisation of our armies was then imperfect, and, as many will remember, the place of "orderlies persons of the Generals commanding corps and armies was supplied by the temporary detail of men from some neighboring body of cavalry. (A very sorry usage, which General Lee soon superseded.) Now let it be supposed that it was the fortune of the writer to be

near the

detailed for such a task, and attached to the person and staff of Stonewall Jackson during the "campaign around Richmond," and the reader will apprehend his position with sufficient correctness. And although there may still be apparent reason to complain of the writer "stat nominis umbra," the shade still entreats the benevolent readers to believe that the incidents related are all of the most substantial authenticity, seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. Of their truth, a sufficient evidence it is hoped will be found in their vraisemblance, and their consistency with the published histories of the battle and the testimony of survivors. Some one may say that the minute accuracy affected in relating incidents, and even words, after such a lapse of time is suspicious. My defence is, first, that the tremendous scene was indelibly impressed upon a memory not unretentive by the novelty and interest of the occasion; next, that the recollections of it have been kept bright by the oral detail of the narrative from time to time to private circles of interested friends; and last and chiefest, that I am guided by written records or memoranda of the incidents, made during a tedious convalescence from camp-fever contracted at that time.*

Let it be added (after the fashion of the politicians who always excuse their aspirations thus, modest souls!) that these friends who have heard my little narrative deem it worth telling to the great public, and among them so has judged the editor of THE SOUTHERN MAGAZINE. It was my strange fortune to witness from my obscurity something of the inner working of the machinery of that grand drama. which has never been disclosed in print; and I believe that my exact and homely detail of the sayings and doings of the historic personages who were then before me, will give a fresher and also a more truthful conception of them than that derived from the more stately Muse of History.

Before I proceed to tell just what I saw in the battle of Chickahominy, let me remind the reader of the events which will make my story intelligible. General Lee had succeeded to the command of the army defending Richmond; and General Jackson, after completing his immortal "Valley campaign" at Port Republic, had brought his victorious corps by forced marches to assist in driving McClellan away from Richmond. On the night of June 26, 1862, he reached Pole Green Church, a few miles north of the Chickahominy, and went into bivouac there as the initial battle at Mechanicsville began between the Hills and McClellan's extreme right. It will be remembered that the Federal army had held up to this time both sides of the Chickahominy, and was steadily creeping up so as to enclose the north-east angle of the city in its monstrous jaws. General Lee's plan was to turn its right wing, and so cut it off from its point of support and its ships at the White House. It was to effect this that Jackson was bearing down from Ashland upon the Chickahominy, and the Hills and Longstreet were thrown to the north side of

As the value of a historical statement depends upon its exact authenticity, and our contributor, from mere shyness of publicity, will not permit us to append his name, we think it proper to state that we can, from our personal knowledge, guaranty his veracity; and also that the MS. has been read by the Rev. Dr. Dabney, who admits the entire accuracy of all the statements referring to the battle.-ED.