apprehensive that he might undertake to come down upon his flanks and re-enforce “Little Mc.” or the “Young Napoleon,” as the commander of the Federal Army was now called.  On the 20th of May, Johnston heard of two of the Federal Corps, Keyes’ and Heintzleman’s, being on the south side of the Chickahominy, while the others were scattered along the north banks at the different crossings.  McClellan had his headquarters six miles away, towards the Pamunkey River.  This was considered a good opportunity to strike, and had there been no miscarriages of plan, nor refusals to obey orders, and, instead, harmony and mutual understanding prevailed, the South might have gained one of its greatest victories, and had a different ending to the campaign entirely.  G.W.  Smith lay to the north of Richmond; Longstreet on the Williamsburg Road, immediately in front of the enemy; Huger on the James; Magruder, of which was Kershaw’s Brigade (in a division under McLaws), stretched along the Chickahominy above New Bridge.

All these troops were to concentrate near Seven Pines and there fall upon the enemy’s two corps, and beat them before succor could be rendered.  No Lieutenant Generals had as yet been appointed, senior Major Generals generally commanding two divisions.  The night before the attack, General Johnston called his generals together and gave them such instructions and orders as were necessary, and divided his army for the day’s battle into two wings, G.W.  Smith to command the left and Longstreet the right; the right wing to make the first assault (it being on the south side of the York River Railroad).  G.W.  Smith was to occupy the Nine Mile Road, running parallel with Longstreet’s front and extending to the river, near New Bridge, on the Chickahominy.  He was to watch the movements of the enemy on the other side, and prevent Sumner, whose corps were near the New Bridge, from crossing, and to follow up the fight as Longstreet and D.H.  Hill progressed.  Magruder, with his own and McLaws’ Division, supported Smith, and was to act as emergencies required.  Kershaw was now under McLaws.  Huger was to march up on the Charles City Road and put in on Longstreet’s left as it uncovered at White Oak Swamp, or to join his forces with Longstreet’s and the two drive the enemy back from the railroad.  Keyes’ Federal Corps lay along the railroad to Fair Oaks; then Heintzleman’s turned abruptly at a right angle in front of G.W.  Smith.  The whole was admirably planned, and what seemed to make success doubly sure, a very heavy rain had fallen that night, May 30th, accompanied by excessive peals of thunder and livid flashes of lightning, and the whole face of the country was flooded with water.  The river was overflowing its banks, bridges washed away or inundated by the rapidly swelling stream, all going to make re-enforcement by McClellan from the north side out of the question.  But the entire movement seemed to be one continual routine of blunders, misunderstandings, and perverseness;