Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/289

 Report of General B. R. Johnson. 279

Please make a report to me Let me know exactly what you are doing. I am, General,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Signed] G. G. Pickett, Major General.

Brigadier- General Bushrod Johnsoyi, Commanding, &c.

Headquarters Department North Carolina,

Petersburg, Va., Saturday, 1864.

General. — I have sent you two dispatches this evening, and have ^ received no reply. I have received no re-enforcements except what you have now with you. You will fall back, therefore, to Swift Creek, bringing off your artillery which has been disabled first. Place one regiment and a battery in position on the crossing of the road from Chesterfield Courthouse to this point. Leave a line of pickets to withdraw at daylight. Intrenching tools will be sent you at Swift Creek.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[Signed] G. G. Pickett, Major- General.

This was received by me about 10 P. M. on the 7th of May, 1864.

Between 10 and 11 P. M. the artillery was put in motion. At 12 P. M. the infantry moved, and by 3 A. M. on the morning of the 8th of May our forces had crossed to the south bank of Swift Creek. Dur- ing the day and night of the 8th I sent out several parties to the junc- tion to collect property, arms and accoutrements. The field of battle was occupied by our troops until about 10 A. M. on Monday, the gth inst., when the enemy advanced upon our position at Swift Creek. In this advance they passed to the north of the junction. From re- ports of cavalry and from the observations of Major-General Hill, who returned from the junction about 10 A. M., the enemy must have come into the turnpike, south of Timsberry (?) Creek. From subse- quent information it appears that a portion of their forces went as far north as Chester. During the 8th and the morning of the 9th our troops were engaged in constructing a good line of rifle pits with batteries under the supervision of Col. Harris. Hagood's brigade was posted on the left, covering the turnpike bridge, and extending well out on either side. A detachment from this brigade and a section of artil- lery occupied Brander's bridge on the extreme left. McKathen's Fifty-first North Carolina regiment covered the railroad bridge, and Tilman's brigade was posted on the right, covering Level Ford and