Williamsburg, 409
mistakes in reference to my own regiment simply because I know the facts.
For these figures I am indebted to a little volume published by my friend and comrade, C. T. Loehr, entitled, " War History of the Old First Regiment, Virginia Infantry/'
Very respectfully,
E. P. Reeve.
WILLIAMSBURG.
A GRAPHIC STORY OF THE BATTLE OF MAY 5, 1862,
Helated by Salem Dutcher and Endorsed by General Longstreei — The Truth of History,
May 20, 1890.
[From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle^
Editors Chronicle : The truth of history can only be made mani- fest by participants in its events giving in their experience before time removes them from the scene of action. The enclosed sketch (which it is hoped you will kindly publish) has been written to correct some misapprehensions about the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, which was fought on May 5, 1862, and opened the stirring campaign of that year. To insure accuracy, it has been submitted to General Longstreet, the Confederate commander, and the response of that distinguished officer, by his permission, accompanies the sketch. Accompanying, also, is the statement of Colonel Mitchell, who was in the action as Captain Company A, Eleventh Virginia infantry, A. P. Hiirs brigade, Longstreet' s division. Colonel Mitchell has a con- temporaneous history of the operations of his regiment in this and other actions, and on recovery of the document, now mislaid, it is understood will give some further account of this particular engage- ment. As no Georgia troops were engaged — though the Tenth Geor- gia (Colonel Phinizy's regiment) was in the stiff skirmish of the even- ing before, and on the 5th the Fifth North Carolina, our gallant friend. Captain Edge Eve's original command before he ** jined the cavalry, suffered severely — it is particularly desirable the real facts should be known in this State. S. D.
