_Sir_: Military movements since Tuesday last have prevented an earlier reply to your conversation with me on the battlefield that evening. I understood you to say, among other things, that "Your (my) brigade would not fight"; that you "always knew it would not fight"; that it "pretended to want to fight, but would not"; "Where were you when I was riding in front on my horse trying to rally your brigade?" I desire first to know whether I am correct in my understanding of your language, and if not, wherein I am mistaken. And secondly, to request of you such explanation of that language as you may choose to give. I am sir, Your obedient servant, ROBERT TOOMBS. July 6, 1862. _General_: Your note has just been received. My remarks were personal to yourself and not to your brigade. I did not in the slightest degree reflect on your men. What I said was in substance this: "You have been wanting to fight, and now that you have one, you have got out of it." There were witnesses to our conversation, and if my remarks were severer, I will let you know. It may be well to suggest to you that, as the commanding officer on the field, I have an official report to make which will not be modified by your note. It is notorious that you have a thousand times expressed your disgust that the commanding general did not permit you to fight. It is equally notorious that you retired from the field. These are the two facts of which I reminded you on Tuesday. I made no comment upon them, and if the simple truth has been offensive, the interpretation of it has been your own. Yours truly, D. H. HILL, BRIGADIER GENERAL TOOMBS. Major General. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, July 6, 1862. GENERAL D. H. HILL. _Sir_: Your note of this date has just been received. It is scarcely necessary for me to say it is not satisfactory. It would be inappropriate to comment upon it properly in this note, and for that reason alone I waive it for the present.