The battle which was fought was planned by
McDowell, at least so far as the ground on which it was fought
was concerned. He made a movement on our left which was wholly
unexpected and unprovided for, and we were compelled to fight a
defensive battle on that flank, by bringing up reenforcements
from other points as rapidly as possible. When Generals Johnston
and Beauregard arrived on the field where the battle was
actually fought, it had been progressing for some time, with the
odds greatly against us. What was required then was to rally the
troops already engaged, which had been considerably shattered,
and hold the position to which they had been compelled to retire
until reenforcements could be brought up. According to the
statements of both generals, the command of the troops then on
the field was given to General Beauregard, and he continued to
exercise it until the close, but in subordination, of course, to
General Johnston, as commander-in-chief, while the movements of
all the reenforcements as they arrived were unquestionably
directed by the latter. According to the statement of both, the
movement of Elzey's brigade to the left averted a great danger,
and both concur in attributing the turning of the tide of battle
to the movement of my brigade against the enemy's extreme right
flank (General Beauregard in a letter on the origin of the
battle-flag, and General Johnston in his 'Narrative' recently
published).
Pages:
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598