Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/549

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Lieutenant-Colonel , Assistant Adjutant-General, A. N. V.:

Colonel—On the 19th of October, having partially recovered from my wound received at the battle of the Wilderness, I reported for duty, and assumed command of the troops on the north side of the James river, consisting of the local defence troops, commanded by Lieutenant-General Ewell, Hoke's division, Field's division, and Gary's brigade of cavalry, as well as Pickett's division, holding the lines from the James river to Swift creek.

General Ewell's command was in position in the trenches, between the river and Fort Gilmer; General Hoke between the New Market and the Darbytown roads, and General Field took up the line to the Charles City road, both along the line of works which had been thrown up connecting Fort Gilmer with the exterior line, at the Charles City road. General Gary was picketing the White Oak swamp, the crossings of which had been obstructed, and had the main body of his cavalry to the left of and back of the outer line of works.

On the 25th of October, I was advised of the crossing of heavy bodies of the enemy to the north side of the river, continuing until the morning of the 27th.

General Field was directed to throw a strong regiment across the Charles City road, and every effort was made to strengthen my works and dispose of the force at my command, so as to cover the long line I had to defend as well as possible. Early on the morning of the 27th, it became evident that the enemy was moving to my left, and about nine o'clock heavy skirmishing, amounting in some places almost to attacks, was opened along my line, from the New Market to the Charles City road. Under cover of this fire the enemy pushed a column through the White Oak swamp, cutting out the obstructions at Hobson's crossing—a point about a mile and a half below the line of works—and driving off the cavalry pickets stationed there. Anticipating such a move, being convinced the skirmishing between the New Market and Charles City roads was but a feint, and that the real move was to flank our position, by crossing the swamp, and taking the unoccupied works on the Williamsburg and Nine-Mile roads, down which they would then