America\'s Military Adversaries. From Colonial Times to the Present

Johnston did as ordered but, being outnum-
bered, fell back to Richmond with Union
forces in slow pursuit. Several severe skir-
mishes ensued in a futile attempt to stop the
Yankee juggernaut, and Huger’s division was
closely engaged. However, in virtually every
encounter he moved slowly while getting his
troops in motion, especially during the critical
clash at Seven Pines on May 31, 1862. That is
where Johnston hoped to crush the isolated
Union corps commanded by Gen. Erasmus
Keyes, which was isolated from McClellan’s
main force. However, Huger’s deployment
proved hopelessly inept, and his men com-
pletely entangled Longstreet’s division. A
large battle slowly developed, and Union
forces, though roughly handled, escaped in-
tact. Longstreet, unsupported in battle by
Huger, roundly criticized his dilatory move-
ments; Johnston, seeking to cover himself, de-
clared, “Had Major General Huger’s division
been in position and ready for action when
those of Smith, Longstreet and Hill moved, I
am satisfied that Keyes’ Corps would have
been destroyed instead of being merely de-
feated.” Huger, stung by such criticism, de-
manded a court of inquiry, but none was ever
convened.
Johnston, being wounded, was then re-
placed by the aggressive Gen. Robert E. Lee,
who launched an immediate counterattack
across the line. The so-called Seven Days’ Bat-
tle commenced, in which Huger fought ac-
tively but failed to perform satisfactorily.
Lee’s complaints, coupled with the congres-
sional report about the loss of Roanoke, led to
his dismissal from field activities on July 12,

1862. Thereafter, he functioned in the less-de-

manding role of inspector of ordnance and ar-

tillery in the western theater. The elderly sol-

dier performed capably in this military back-

water, and in 1863 he was appointed chief of

ordnance of the Trans-Mississippi Depart-

ment, another minor post. He remained so

employed with little fanfare until the end of

the war.

With peace restored, Huger returned to

Fauquier County, Virginia, where he became a

farmer. He lived out the remainder of his life in

relative obscurity and died at Charleston,

South Carolina, on December 7, 1877. Al-

though a soldier of demonstrated experience

and technical expertise, Huger was clearly past

his prime and, hence, only marginally effective.

See also

Davis, Jefferson; Johnston, Joseph E.; Lee, Robert E.;

Longstreet, James

Bibliography

Miller, William J., ed. The Peninsula Campaign of 1862:

Yorktown in the Seven Days.Campbell, CA: Savas

Woodbury, 1995; Newton, Steven H. The Battle of

Seven Pines, May 31–June 1, 1862.Lynchburg, VA:

H. E. Howard, 1993; Rhoades, Jeffrey L. Scapegoat

General: The Story of Major General Benjamin

Huger.Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1985; Sauers,

Richard A. “The Confederate Congress and the Loss

of Roanoke Island.”Civil War History40, no. 2

(1994): 134–150; Van Velzer, William R. “Benjamin

Huger and the Arming of America, 1825–1861.” Un-

published master’s thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Insti-

tute and State University, 1994; Wert, William D. “The

Battle of Seven Pines.” Civil War Times Illustrated

27, no. 6 (1988): 20–28; 22–29, 46, 50.

HUGER, BENJAMIN