Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[364] of my operations on the Peninsula, to which they do not refer.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to transmit the report of Major-General Magruder, and the officers of his command, of the operations in the late engagements around Richmond. At the request of General Magruder, I forward the report, without the delay which would necessarily attend its accompanying my own, which, for the want of the reports of other division commanders, I am unable to submit. I have only been able to give it a cursory examination, and to append such remarks as were suggested in its perusal.

General Magruder appears to have greatly exerted himself to accomplish the duty devolved on him, and I can bear testimony to the uniform alacrity he displayed in its execution. He had many difficulties to contend with, I know. I regretted at the time, and still regret, that they could not have been more readily overcome. I feel assured, however, that General Magruder intentionally omitted nothing that he could do to insure success.

I am, most respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

1. General Magruder is under a misapprehension as to the separation of the troops operating on the north side of the Chickahominy, from those under himself and General Huger, on the south side. He refers to this subject on pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, of his report.

The troops on the two sides of the river were only separated until we succeeded in occupying the position near what is known as New Bridge, which occurred before twelve o'clock M., on Friday, June twenty-seventh, and before the attack on the enemy at Gaines's Mill.

From the time we reached the position referred to, I regarded communication between the two wings of our army as reestablished.

The bridge referred to, and another about three quarters of a mile above, were ordered to be repaired before noon, on Friday, and the New Bridge was sufficiently rebuilt to be passed by artillery on Friday night, and the one above it was used for the passage of wagons, ambulances, and troops early on Saturday morning.

Besides this, all other bridges above New Bridge, and all the fords above that point, were open to us.

2. Major-General Huger's division was ordered to move, on Sunday, by the Charles City road. It was not intended, or directed, to move by the Williamsburg road, as General Magruder seems to have understood me to say, on Sunday, the twenty-ninth June. (See report, p. 8.)

3. General Magruder sent a member of his staff to me on Sunday, when he had reached “Fair Oaks,” and requested to be reinforced, saying that the enemy was in force in his front, and advancing upon him.

I directed two of General Huger's brigades to be diverted from the Charles City road, by which they were then advancing, and moved to the Williamsburg road to support General Magruder.

They were subsequently ordered to return to their original line of march, there being found to be no need for them on the Williamsburg road. (See report, p. 11.)

4. The report sent to General Magruder, by General Jones, that General Jackson had informed the latter that he could not cooperate with him, having been ordered on other duty, originated in some mistake, and General Magruder was advised of the error as soon as it came to my knowledge. (See p. 14.)

5. General Magruder is under a misapprehension as to the withdrawal of any part of this force, with which he was to operate. (See p. 14.) The misapprehension arose from a misunderstanding before referred to, as to the road by which General Huger was to march on Sunday, June twenty-ninth, and from the erroneous report with regard to a change in General Jackson's movements just alluded to.

6. General Magruder was ordered to relieve the troops under General Longstreet, Monday night, June thirtieth, after the latter had been operating all day, had repulsed the enemy, and won the position contended for. Many prisoners had already been brought in, among them General McCall--and the battle was over. No enemy was known to be in position that night, and our troops were in undisturbed possession of the battle-field. One of the objects in bringing up General Magruder was to have fresh troops to discover the enemy. (See p. 25 of report.)

7. The note referred to by General Magruder as received from Colonel Chilton, directing him to press the enemy on his right, and informing him that General McLaws's division had gone in fresh, (see p. 39,) was written after General Magruder had sent to me for reenforcements by one of his staff. I was with General McLaws at the time, and, on receiving the application, ordered General McLaws to advance with his division. General Magruder was directed to press the enemy on his right, because I thought he was tending to march to the left.

Remark No. 1.--New Bridge was finished on