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citizens； and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties
sent toward Hanover Court House； that Lee had been； forced from his
position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to
the line of the North Anna。 I then determined to rejoin the Army of
the Potomac at the earliest moment； which I did by making for
Chesterfield Station； where I reported to General Meade on the 24th
of May。
Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the
Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command； and our
success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade； both
realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and
alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his
retrograde march； and both acknowledged that； by drawing off the
enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight； we had enabled them to
move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without
molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna。
Then； too； great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had
been destroyedstores that the enemy had accumulated at sub…depots
from strained resources and by difficult means； the railroads that
connected Lee with Richmond broken； the most successful cavalry
leader of the South killed； and in addition to all this there had
been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough
defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia。
When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond
were impressed； and indeed convinced； that my designs contemplated
the capture of that city； and notwithstanding the loss they sustained
in the defeat and death of Stuart； and their repulse the succeeding
day； they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered
their capital。 Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this
theory and conviction since the war。 In this view they were and are
in error。 When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my
instructions had been carried out； and my thoughts then turned to
joining General Butler to get supplies。 I believed that I could do
this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on
the south side of the Chickahominy； but the failure of Wilson's
column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike
necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge； and then moving by
Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route。
Moreover； my information regarding General Butler's position was
incorrect； so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks
by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby； for I
should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to
Haxall's。
CHAPTER XX。
GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSECROSSING THE
PAMUNKEYENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOPFIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK
CAPTURE OF COLD HARBORTHE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACEMOVEMENTS OF
GENERAL WILSON。
When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac； near Chesterfield Station；
the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought； and the
complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung
across the North Anna were in process of execution。 In conjunction
with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank
of the army； where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna
as far as Little River； crossing the former stream near Jericho
Mills。 Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it
swung to the south； covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the
infantry and the fords left behind on the march。 From the 26th to
the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied； and also
necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force； but by the 31st
he was enabled to get all his division together again； and crossing
to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry； he advanced
toward Hanover Court House。 Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a
division of the enemy's cavalry under General W。 H。 F。 Lee； and drove
it back across Mechamp's Creek； thus opening communication with the
right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills。 Just as this
had been done； a little before dark； Wilson received an order from
General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he
encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer
successfully contend against them； and in compliance with this order
occupied Hanover Court House that same day。 Resuming his march at
daylight on June 1； he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending
Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the
bridges on that stream。 Chapman having succeeded in this work；
Wilson re…united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland；
but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong
force； he was obliged to withdraw to Dr。 Price's house。 Here he
learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor； so on
the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop。
While Wilson was operating thus on the right； I had to cover with
Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the
Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown。 Torbert having recovered
from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness； had now
returned to duty。 The march to turn the enemy's right began on the
26th。 Torbert and Gregg in advance； to secure the crossings of the
Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as
much as possible in the movement； the two cavalry divisions being
supported by General D。 A。 Russell's division of the Sixth Corps。
To attain this end in the presence of an ever…watchful foe who had
just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond
and further southalmost enough to make up the losses he had
sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvaniarequired the most
vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been
allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres。 Torbert
started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to
demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark； as if the crossing
was to be made there； and having thus impressed the enemy； he was to
leave a small guard； withdraw quietly； and march to Hanovertown ford；
where the real crossing was to be effected。 Meanwhile Gregg marched
to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey； with instructions to make
feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark； when he was to
retire discreetly； leaving a small force to keep up the
demonstration； and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing； taking
with him the pontoon…bridge。
At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the
cavalry。 The troops were in motion all night； undergoing the usual
delays incident to night marches； and； early on the morning of the
27th the crossing was made； Custer's brigade of Torbert's division
driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry； and
capturing between thirty and forty prisoners。 The remainder of
Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown；
where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met。
Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade； while he sent
Custer to Hawe's Shop； from which point a road leading to the right
was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry； when the
Confederates discovered this manoeuvre； they retired in the direction
of Hanover Court House。 Pursuit continued as far as a little stream
called Crump's Creek； and here Torbert was halted； Gregg moving up on
his line meanwhile； and Russell encamping near the crossing of the
river。 This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the
Pamunkey； and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took
up a position behind my line； extending south from the river； with
the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at
Crump's Creek； the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth； and the
Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown； its left
extending to the Tolopotomy。
There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the
enemy's whereabouts； and there were received daily the most
conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements。 It
became necessary； therefore； to find out by an actual demonstration
what Lee was doing； and I was required to reconnoitre in the
direction of Mechanicsville。 For this purpose I moved Gregg's
division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop； and when it had
gone about three…fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's
cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary
breastwork of rails and logs。
This was the first occasion on which； since the battle of Yellow
Tavern； the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers；
their mounted operations； like ours； having been dependent mo