按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
turning some of them against the right flank of the Confederates；
broke their line； and compelled them to withdraw for security behind
the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city in 1862。
By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the
Mechanicsville； pike； the enemy thought to corner us completely； for
he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the
day before； but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of
doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the
defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy。 He felt certain that on
account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy
except by the Meadow bridge； and it also seemed clear to him that we
could not pass between the river and his intrenchments； therefore he
hoped to ruin us； or at least compel us to return by the same route
we had taken in coming； in which case we would run into Gordon's
brigade； but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these
illusions。
Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him； we could have
crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were
discovered by scouting parties which； while the engagement was going
on； I had sent out to look up fords。 This means of getting out from
the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use； however； unless
there was no alternative； for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry
Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so
large a body of mounted troops。
The chances of seriously injuring； us were more favorable to the
enemy this time than ever they were afterward； for with the troops
from Richmond； comprising three brigades of veterans and about five
thousand irregulars on my front and right flank； with Gordon's
cavalry in the rear； and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank；
holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge； I was apparently hemmed
in on every side； but relying on the celerity with which mounted
troops could be moved； I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly
perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse
than those then surrounding us。 Therefore； instead of endeavoring to
get away without a fight； I concluded that there would be little
difficulty in withdrawing； even should I be beaten； and none whatever
if I defeated the enemy。
In accordance with this view I accepted battle； and the complete
repulse of the enemy's infantry； which assailed us from his
intrenchments； and of Gordon's cavalry； which pressed Gregg on the
Brook road； ended the contest in our favor。 The rest of the day we
remained on the battle…field undisturbed； and our time was spent in
collecting the wounded； burying the dead； grazing the horses； and
reading the Richmond journals； two small newsboys with commendable
enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital
to sell their papers。 They were sharp youngsters； and having come
well supplied； they did a thrifty business。 When their stock in
trade was all disposed of they wished to return； but they were so
intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other
purposes than the mere sale of newspapers； so they were held till we
crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose。
After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached
Mechanicsville； I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills。 Near
the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again； and
sending me word； about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the
Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg； but when we overtook Merritt he
had already brushed the Confederates away； and my whole command went
into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills。
The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed。 They were
〃to break up General Lee's railroad communications； destroy such
depots of supplies as could be found in his rear； and to defeat
General Stuart's cavalry。〃 Many miles of the Virginia Central and of
the； Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up； and
several of the bridges on each burnt。 At Beaver Dam； Ashland； and
other places； about two millions of rations had been captured and
destroyed。 The most important of all； however； was the defeat of
Stuart。 Since the beginning of the war this general had
distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted
force。 Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured； and
had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well…nigh
invincible； indeed； in the early years of the war it had proved to be
so。 This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in
Lee's rear； and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had
inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible。
In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most
disheartening； but his death was even a greater calamity； as is
evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer （Cooke）； who says：
〃Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment； and General Lee
was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his
death。 When it reached him he retired from those around him； and
remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory。 When
one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart； General Lee said： 'I
can scarcely think of him without weeping。'〃
》From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's
Landing； the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions
where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler。 We got to the
James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of
prisoners； and camped between Haxall's and Shirley。 The prisoners；
as well as the captured guns； were turned over to General Butler's
provost…marshal； and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by
his surgeons。 Ample supplies； also； in the way of forage and
rations； were furnished us by General Butler； and the work of
refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously
pushed。 By the 17th all was ready； and having learned by scouting
parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket
that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that
evening on my return march； crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's
bridge； and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads。
My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our
absence； and as to where I should find it； made our getting back a
problem somewhat difficult of solution； particularly as I knew that
reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond； and
that most likely some of these troops were being held at different
points on the route to intercept my column。 Therefore I determined
to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House； and sent to Fort
Monroe for a pontoon…bridge on which to make the crossing。 While
waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade
to Hanover Station； to destroy the railroad bridge over the South
Anna； a little beyond that place； at the same time I sent Gregg and
Wilson to Cold Harbor； to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as
far as Mechanicsville； so as to cover Custer's movements。 Merritt；
with the remaining brigades of his division； holding fast at
Baltimore crossroads to await events。
After Gregg and Custer had gone； it was discovered that the railroad
bridge over the Pamunkey； near the White House； had been destroyed
but partiallythe cross…ties and stringers being burned in places
onlyand that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry
us over。 In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades
were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge。 By
sending mounted parties through the surrounding country； each man of
which would bring in a board or a plank； Merritt soon accumulated
enough lumber for the flooring； and in one day the bridge was made
practicable。 On the 22d Gregg； Wilson； and Custer returned。 The
latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station；
destroyed some commissary stores there； and burned two trestle
bridges over Hanover Creek。 This done； he deemed it prudent to
retire to Hanovertown。 The next morning he again marched to Hanover
Station； and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy；
consisting of infantry； cavalry； and artillery； was posted at the
South Anna bridges。 These troops had gone there from Richmond en
route to reinforce Lee。 In the face of this impediment Custer's
mission could not be executed fully； so he returned to Baltimore
crossroads。
The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d； and that day it
crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge； marching to
Ayletts； on the Mattapony River； the same night。 Here I learned from
citizens； and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties
sent toward Hanover Court H