Holmes was held in check by Porter’s Army Corps, minus McCall’s division, on Malvern Hill; and the cavalry, which might have been employed effectively against the enemy’s left flank and rear, was still north of the Chickahominy, returning from a destructive but useless raid on the depot at the White House.  Nor had the conduct of the battle been unaffected by the complicated nature of the general plan.  Longstreet attacked alone, Hill being held back, in order to be fresh for the pursuit when Jackson and Huger should strike in.  The attack was successful, and McCall’s division, which had shared the defeat at Gaines’ Mill, was driven from its position.  But McCall was reinforced by other divisions; Longstreet was thrown on to the defensive by superior numbers, and when Hill was at length put in, it was with difficulty that the fierce counterblows of the Federals were beaten off.

Jackson had been unable to participate in the conflict.  When night fell he was still north of the White Oak Swamp, seven miles distant from his morning bivouac, and hardly a single infantry man in his command had pulled a trigger.  According to his own report his troops reached White Oak Bridge about noon.  “Here the enemy made a determined effort to retard our advance and thereby to prevent an immediate junction between General Longstreet and myself.  We found the bridge destroyed, the ordinary place of crossing commanded by their batteries on the other side, and all approach to it barred by detachments of sharp-shooters concealed in a dense wood close by...A heavy cannonading in front announced the engagement of General Longstreet at Frayser’s Farm (Glendale) and made me eager to press forward; but the marshy character of the soil, the destruction of the bridge over the marsh and creek, and the strong position of the enemy for defending the passage, prevented my advancing until the following morning."* (* O.R. volume 11 part 1 pages 556, 557.)

Such are Jackson’s reasons for his failure to co-operate with Longstreet.  It is clear that he was perfectly aware of the importance of the part he was expected to play; and he used every means which suggested itself as practicable to force a crossing.  The 2nd Virginia Cavalry, under Colonel Munford, had now joined him from the Valley, and their commanding officer bears witness that Jackson showed no lack of energy.

“When I left the general on the preceding evening, he ordered me to be at the cross-roads (five miles from White Oak Bridge) at sunrise the next morning, ready to move in advance of his troops.  The worst thunderstorm came up about night I ever was in, and in that thickly wooded country one could not see his horse’s ears.  My command scattered in the storm, and I do not suppose that any officer had a rougher time in any one night than I had to endure.  When the first grey dawn appeared I started off my adjutant and officers to bring up the scattered regiment; but at sunrise I had not more than fifty men, and