Confederate Reconnaissance Mission

On 2 June 1864, Confederate Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard sent Maj. Gen. Bushrod Johnson's troops toward nearby Federal pickets to reconnoiter their strength. The Confederate troops initially captured the northern portion of the Federal picket line, but by the afternoon Union troops had regained a part of their position. The death of Confederate regimental commander Col. O. M. Dantzler and the arrival of Federal reinforcements prevented the Confederates from taking the southern section of the line. Beauregard determined that it would not be prudent to send Brig. Gen. Matt Ransom's brigade to assist Gen. Robert E. Lee, for fear of losing the rail line. Late the next day Beauregard relented at the order of Lee.