Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/565

Rh the afternoon I received orders to take command of the whole line from the left of my brigade to Chaffin's farm. I found on this line the City Battalion, detachments from Scales and Thomas's brigades, and Johnson's old Tennessee brigade, numbering in all about one thousand men. I went out to the picket line to discover what troops were there, and reached Cox's farm, "Signal Hill," where I had been informed the picket line was established, in time to meet the enemy coming in by way of Double Gates, but could see or hear nothing of our pickets, who ought to have been on this part of the line. I learned afterwards that the line, from some distance to the left of Double Gates to the river, was occupied by detachments from the City Battalion and Johnson's brigade. They unquestionably behaved badly—ran away from their posts, and could not give any intelligible report of what had occurred when they were found, which was not until some time after dark. Knowing little or nothing of the country in front, and only that the enemy were advancing up the Varina road, I immediately moved Johnson's brigade from Four-Mile creek up to B. Aiken's house, to secure Chaffin's from disaster. Night closed in before I found the pickets, and without my learning anything definite of the enemy. During the night, however, I found that the picket line had been disturbed only between where it crossed the Kingsland road and the river, and had it adjusted and ready for an advance at early dawn. I, moreover, discovered by means of scouts that there was no enemy in advance of their usual lines on the left of the Varina road. At daybreak the next morning the pickets on the right (from Johnson's brigade) advanced and found the enemy on Signal Hill throwing up entrenchments. I received orders to dislodge them if I could. During the night three regiments from Pickett's division reported and were put in position near the B. Aiken house, in all about six hundred (600) men. Harris' Brigade was found near the B. Aiken house, and with these troops to hold the line, I thought that I could drive the enemy away with mine, and was making dispositions with this view, when I received orders to suspend operations until further orders. About sunset received orders to proceed, but it would have been impossible to arrange for it by dark. The navy opened upon the enemy during the evening; Johnson's brigade advanced against the hill early the next morning and found it abandoned. Five or six prisoners of various colors and nationalities were captured, several muskets, and a lot of entrenching tools also. The navy claims the credit of driving them from the position, and doubtless aided in producing the result. Something, however, is due to the sharp-shooters of Johnson's brigade, who hugged closely the