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right from the Williamsburg road; the first turns off near the toll-gate.
On reaching your position on the Charles City road, learn at once the routes to the main roads to Richmond on your right and left, especially those to the left, and try to find guides.
Be ready, if an action should be begun on your left, to fall upon the enemy's left flank.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. E. Johnston, General.
P. S.--It is important to move very early. J. E. J.
General,--I fear that in my note of last evening, of which there is no copy, I was too positive on the subject of your attacking the enemy's left flank.
It will, of course, be necessary for you to know what force is before you first.
I hope to be able to have that ascertained for you by cavalry.
As our main force will be on your left, it will be necessary for your progress to the front to conform at first to that of General Hill.
If you find no strong body in your front, it will be well to aid General Hill; but then a strong reserve should be retained to cover our right.
Yours, truly,
J. E. Johnston, General.
Headquarters right wing, Fairfield Course, Virginia, May 30, 1862.
Major T. G. Rhett, Assistant Adjutant-General:
Sir,--I have the honor to draw the attention of the Commanding-General to the great extent of my line, reaching from New bridge on my right, to one mile to the left of the Meadow bridges.
The protection of this line was necessarily incumbent upon my troops, even so far as beyond Brook Run, until General A. P. Hill took possession on my left.
I have a regiment stationed beyond Brook Run, with which the rest of my command find some difficulty in communicating.
I therefore desire to have that regiment replaced by one from General Hill's division, which is nearer, and can communicate with it much more readily than I can. I deem it necessary to mention that even after this Major T. G. Rhett, Assistant Adjutant-General:
