Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/45

 44 Southern Historical Society Papers.

pursuit of the enemy, but his request was refused." General Lee adds: "That this splendid brigade shared only the labor, and not the glory of that memorable July day was not the fault of its com- mander; and when General Beauregard says that he cannot help believing that if Jackson had been on his right flank at ManaSsas the 'movement would not have balked,' he does great injustice to the memory of a noble old hero and as gallant a soldier as the war pro- duced."

As to the real causes of the miscarriage of General Beauregard' s plan of attack there need be little doubt. They are plainly stated by his immediate superior in command, General Joseph E. Johnston, in his official report, as being the "early movements of the enemy on that morning and the non-arrival of the expected troops " from Harper's Ferry. He adds: "General Beauregard afterward pro- posed a modification of the abandoned plan, to attack with our right, while the left stood on the defensive. This, too, became impractica- ble, and a battle ensued, different in place and circumstances from any previous plan on our side."

There are some puzzling circumstances connected with the sup- posed miscarriage of the order for our advance. The delay in send- ing it is unexplained. General Beauregard says it was sent "at about eight A. M.," but D. R. Jones had received his corresponding order at ten minutes past seven, and firing had begun at half-past five.

The messenger was strangely chosen. It was the most important order of the day, for the movements of the army were to hinge on those of our brigade. There was no scarcity of competent staff- officers, yet it was intrusted to "a guide," presumably an enlisted man, perhaps even a citizen, whose very name was unknown.

His instructions were peculiar. Time was all-important. He was ordered not to go direct to Ewell, but first to make a detour to Holmes, who lay in reserve nearly two miles in our rear.

His disappearance is mysterious. He was never heard of after receiving the order, yet his route lay wholly within our lines, over well- beaten roads and far out of reach of the enemy.

Lastly, General Beauregard, in his official report, gives as his rea- son for countermanding the movement begun by Ewell at ten o'clock, that in his judgment it would require quite three hours for the troops to get into position for attack. Had the messenger dispatched at eight been prompt, Ewell might have had his orders by nine. But at nine we find Beauregard in rear of Mitchell's Ford, waiting for an