To-day a letter, hastily written by Gen. Lee to the
Secretary of War, stated that his headquarters would be at, or beyond that
point, whence couriers could find him if there should be anything of importance
the Secretary might desire to communicate during the day. This is the day of
battle! Jackson is in the rear of McClellan's right wing! I sent this note
to the Secretary at once. I suppose Mr. Randolph had been previously
advised of Gen. Lee's intention to fight to-day; but I do not know it. I
know some of the brigadier-generals in the army do not know it; although they have
all been ordered to their commands. This is no uncommon order; but it is
characteristic of Lee's secretiveness to keep all of his officers in
profound ignorance of his intentions, except those he means to be engaged. The enemy
cannot possibly have any intimation of his purpose, because the spies here
have no intelligence; and none are permitted to pass the rear pickets in sight of
the city without my passport. What a change since the last battle!
To-day, in compliance with an intimation of the President,
all in the departments, who felt so disposed, formed a military organization
for the defense of the city, and especially of the archives, which had been
brought back since the assumption of command by Gen. Lee. Col. Bledsoe
denounced the organization as a humbug! Defending the government, or readiness
to defend it, in such times as these, is no humbug! In the fluctuations of a great
battle, almost in the suburbs of the city, a squadron of the enemy's horse
might penetrate even to the office of the Chief Executive, when a few hundred
muskets, in the hands of old men and boys, might preserve the papers.
After dinner I repaired, with Custis and a few friends, to my
old stand on the hill north of the Jews' Cemetery, and sat down in the shade to
listen. Many persons were there as usual — for every day some firing could be
heard — who said, in response to my inquiries, that distant guns had been heard
in the direction of the Pamunky River.
“That is Jackson!” I exclaimed, as the sounds were distinctly discerned by
myself; “and he is in their rear, behind their right wing!”
All were incredulous, and some doubted whether he was within
a hundred miles of us. But the sounds grew more distinct, and more frequent,
and I knew he was advancing. But how long could he advance in that direction
without being overwhelmed? Everywhere else along the line a deathlike silence
reigned, that even the dropping fire of the pickets, usually so incessant,
could be heard.
This suspense continued only a few minutes. Two guns were
then heard northeast of us, and in such proximity as to startle some of the
anxious listeners. These were followed by three or four more, and then the fire
continued with increasing rapidity. This was Gen. A. P. Hill's division in front
of the enemy's right wing, and Lee's plan of battle was developed. Hill was
so near us as to be almost in sight. The drums and fifes of his regiments, as
they marched up to the point of attack, could be easily heard; how distinctly,
then, sounded his cannon in our ears! And the enemy's guns, pointed in the
direction of the city, were as plainly discerned. I think McClellan is taken by
surprise.
One gentleman, who had been incredulous on the subject of a battle
to-day, held his watch in his hand ten minutes, during which time one hundred
and ninety guns were heard. Saying he believed a battle was in progress, he
replaced the watch in his pocket, and sat down on the ground to listen.
Another hour, and the reports come with the rapidity of seconds,
or 3600 per hour! And now, for the first time, we hear the rattle of small
arms. And lo! two guns farther to the right,—from Longstreet's division, I
suppose. And they were followed by others. This is Lee's grand plan of battle:
Jackson first, then Hill, then Longstreet — time and distance computed with
mathematical precision! The enemy's balloons are not up now. They know what
is going on, without further investigations up in the air. The business is upon
earth, where many a Yankee will breathe his last this night! McClellan must be
thunderstruck at this unexpected opening of a decisive battle. Our own people,
and even our own general officers, except those who were to participate in the
attack, were uninformed of Lee's grand purpose, until the booming of Jackson's
guns were heard far on our left.
As the shades of evening fall, the fire seems to increase in
rapidity, and a gentle breeze rising as the stars come out, billows of smoke
are wafted from the battle-field. And now, occasionally, we can distinctly see
the bursting of shells in the air, aimed too high by the enemy, and exploding
far this side of our line of battle.
Darkness is upon us, save the glimmer of the stars, as the
sulphurous clouds sink into the humid valleys. But the flashes of the guns are
visible on the horizon, followed by the deep intonations of the mighty engines of
destruction, echoing and reverberating from hill to hill, and through the vast
valley of the James in the rear.
Hundreds of men, women, and children were attracted to the
heights around the city to behold the spectacle. From the Capitol and from the
President's mansion, the vivid flashes of artillery could be seen; but no one
doubted the result. It is only silence and inaction we dread. The firing ceased
at nine o'clock P.M. The President was on the field, but did not interfere with
Lee.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 136-8
