Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/418

 410 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Gainesville, Ga., May lo, 1890.

Mr. Salem Dutcher, Aug^ta :

My Dear Sir, — Your favor of the 8th instant, enclosing account of Williamsburg, is received, and both have been carefully read and considered.

Your account is a graphic illustration of the affair on our right, where the batde was really made ; is as clear as any account of de- tails of that battle that I have read, and, I am pleased to say, is per- fectly fair.

Early's attack against Hancock was counter to my advice, and was made after the battle was over. At best it was only the repulse of a single brigade, in which the successful party failed to pursue or ven- ture out of his stronghold, while on our right we not only drove back the attacking parties, but took a portion of their artillery and pur- sued the retiring troops as far as was consistent with our orders as rear guard. With high respect,

Your obedient servant,

J. Longstreet.

Col. Salem Dutcher, Augusta, Ga,:

Dear Sir, — My recollection of the battle of Williamsburg agrees substantially with your statement. It was certainly not a drawn bat- de, as we took the enemy's position and his guns and remained on the field, not leaving Williamsburg until the next morning.

The loss in A. P. Hill's brigade was great, particularly in killed — the fatal casualties being in unusually large proportion. About half of Company A, Eleventh Virginia Regiment, were killed and wounded, and the regiment took two of the enemy's cannon to the right of the felled timber.

Yours truly,

R. M. Mitchell.

THE BATTLE OF MAY 5TH.

Editors Chronicle: In commenting in a recent issue of your paper on some inaccuracies in Barnes* History of the United States, Pro- fessor Derry instances his statement that Williamsburg was a Union victory. The Professor says this is erroneous, it being, in reality, a drawn battle.