... I was met by Colonel
John S. Preston, one of the General's aides, who informed me
that General Beauregard had gone where the fighting was ... but
that General Johnston was just in front, and his directions were
that we should proceed to the left, where there was a heavy fire
of musketry.... When we reached General Johnston, he expressed
great gratification at our arrival, but it was very perceptible
that his anticipations were not sanguine. He gave me special
instructions as to my movements, directing me to clear our lines
completely before going to the front.... In some fields on the
left of our line we found Colonel Stuart with a body of cavalry
and some pieces of artillery, belonging, as I understood, to a
battery commanded by Lieutenant Beckham.... I found Stuart
already in position beyond our extreme left, and, as I
understood it, supporting and controlling Beckham's guns, which
were firing on the enemy's extreme right flank, thus rendering
very efficient service. I feel well assured that Stuart had but
_two_ companies of cavalry with him, as these were all I saw
when he afterward went in pursuit of the enemy. As I approached
the left, a young man named Saunders came galloping to me from
Stuart with the information that the enemy was about retreating,
and a request to hurry on. This was the first word of
encouragement we had received since we reached the vicinity of
the battle.
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