Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 34.djvu/26

 18 Southern Historical Society Paper*.

that I cannot be mistaken either as to the fact of our recon- noisance, or our report to Generals Lee and Jackson after our return, which was probably about 10 P. M.

In my letter to General Long", I may have been mistaken in saying that it was at this late hour that General Lee asked General Jackson. ''How can we get at these people?" For in light of what Colonel Marshall has said, it seems probable that this question was put by General Lee, and replied to by Gen- eral Jackson at an earlier hour, soon after their conference began, and before, instead of after, the reconnoisance in Hooker's front was made. What Colonel Marshall says passed between Lee and Jackson must have occurred while Captain Boswell and myself were out on our reconnoisance, in which case what we heard on our return was to some extent a repetition of what had been previously discussed in the presence of Colonel Mar- shall, as to what could be done in case an attack on Hookers front, which would save valuable time, was impracticable.

If it had been already known positively that an attack in Hooker's front was out of the question, the reconnoisance would not have been ordered ; and although General Lee and General Jackson were considering what else might be done whilst waiting for our report, it stands to reason that the very hazardous move- ment around Hooker's right was not finally decided upon until the last hope of a successful attack in front was abandoned, on the information obtained by Captain Boswell and myself as to the strength of the enemy's position and defenses in front oi Chancellorsville.

Colonel Marshall seems also to be mistaken in saying that General Lee dictated a letter to President Davis on the night of May ist, for General Lee wrote to Mr. Davis on May 2nd, in part, as follows:

"I have no expectations that any reinforcements from Long- street or North Carolina will join me in time to aid in the con- test at this point, but they may be in time for a subsequent occa- sion.

<4 We succeeded in driving the enemy from in front of our position at Tabernacle Church, on all the roads back to Chan- cellorsville, where he concentrated in a position remarkably fav-