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their mounted operations； like ours； having been dependent more or
less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's
infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May。
On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his
cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing
an order himself； now that Stuart was dead； directing that the 〃three
divisions of cavalry serving with the army ＇Lee's＇ will constitute
separate commands； and will report directly to and receive orders
from the headquarters of the army。〃 The order indicates that since
Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re…organized into
three divisions； that were commanded respectively by General Wade
Hampton； General Fitzhugh Lee； and General W。 H。 F。 Lee； the
additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact；
that General M。 C。 Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had
joined recently from South Carolina。
When this force developed in Gregg's front； he attacked the moment
his troops could be dismounted； and the contest became one of
exceeding stubborness； for he found confronting him Hampton's and
Fitzhugh Lee's divisions； supported by what we then supposed to be a
brigade of infantry； but which； it has since been ascertained； was
Butler's brigade of mounted troops； part of them armed with long…
range rifles。 The contest between the opposing forces was of the
severest character and continued till late in the evening。 The
varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as
possible； so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him； sending；
meanwhile； for the other two brigades of Torbert； but these were not
available at the timeon account of delays which occurred in
relieving them from the line at Crump's Creekand did not get up
till the fight was over。 As soon as Custer joined him； Gregg
vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front；
and notwithstanding the long…range rifles of the South Carolinians；
who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears； and fought
most desperately； he penetrated their barricades at several points。
The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made
on both sides； as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very
great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant。
Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the
line of the Tolopotomy； where he could cover the roads to Richmond；
while Grant； though first sending me out merely to discover by a
strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy； saw the value of
the place to cover his new base at the White House； and also to give
us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor。 Hawe's Shop remained
in our possession finally； for late in the evening Custer's brigade
was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg； and while
it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line； the
other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works。 The
enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands； also a
considerable number of prisoners； from whom we learned that
Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear。
The battle was a decidedly severe one； the loss on each side being
heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged。 This fight took
place almost immediately in front of our infantry； which； during the
latter part of the contest； was busily occupied in throwing up
intrenchments。 Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the
presence of the enemy's infantry； and likewise that Hampton's and
Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also； and asked； at the
same time； that some of our infantry； which was near at hand； be sent
to my assistance。 I could not convince Meade that anything but the
enemy's horse was fighting us； however； and he declined to push out
the foot…troops； who were much wearied by night marches。 It has been
ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as
they related to the enemy's infantry； but the five cavalry brigades
far outnumbered my three； and it is to be regretted that so much was
risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and
Meadow bridge； when there was at hand a preponderating number of
Union troops which might have been put into action。 However； Gregg's
division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation； all
unaided as they were till dark； when Torbert and Merritt came on the
ground。 The contest not only gave us the crossroads； but also
removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements； clearly
demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank； so that
it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River； as
well as cover the direct route to Richmond。
General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate
victory； but his despatch was sent early in the day； long before the
fight ended； and evidently he could not have known the final result
when he made the announcement； for the fight lasted until dark。
After dark； our own and the Confederate dead having been buried； I
withdrew； and moving to the rear of our infantry； marched all night
and till I reached the vicinity of Old Church； where I had been
instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the enemy with Gregg's and
Torbert's divisi6ns。 As soon as I had taken position at Old Church
my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold Harbor； and the
fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force was clearly
ascertained。 But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the utmost
importance； indeed； it was absolutely necessary that we should
possess it； to secure our communications with the White House； as
well as to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the
James River。 Roads from Bethesda Church； Old Church； and the White
House centred at Cold Harbor； and from there many roads diverged also
toward different crossings of the Chickahominy； which were
indispensable to us。
The enemy too realized the importance of the place； for as soon as he
found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he
threw a body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches； and
followed it up by pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church
road as far as Matadequin Creek； where he established a line of
battle； arranging the front of it parallel to the road along the
south bank of the Pamunkey； this for the purpose of endangering our
trains as they moved back and forth between the army and the White
House。
Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward
Cold Harbor。 The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin
Creek； and a spirited fight immediately took place。 At first our
pickets were sorely pressed； but Torbert； who was already preparing
to make a reconnoissance； lost no time in reinforcing them on the
north side of the creek with Devin's brigade。 The fight then became
general； both sides； dismounted； stubbornly contesting the ground。
Of the Confederates； General Butler's South Carolinians bore the
brunt of the fight； and； strongly posted as they were on the south
bank of the creek； held their ground with the same obstinacy they had
previously shown at Hawe's Shop。 Finally； however； Torbert threw
Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action； and the enemy
retired； we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and
capturing a number of prisoners。 Gregg's division took no part in
the actual fighting； but remained near Old Church observing the roads
on Torberts flanks； one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right；
the other to his left in the direction of the White House。 This
latter road Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open； so as to
communicate with General W。 F。 Smith； who was then debarking his
corps at the White House； and on the morning of the 3ist this
general's advance was covered by a brigade which Gregg had sent him
for the purpose。
Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at
Matadequin Creek； had taken up a position about a mile and a half
from that place； on the Old Church road。 The morning of the 31st I
visited him to arrange for his further advance； intending thus to
anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee； who was being
reinforced by infantry。 I met Torbert at Custer's headquarters； and
found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture
Cold Harbor； and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so
plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it； at once giving directions
for its immediate execution； and ordering Gregg to come forward to
Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare from the duty
with which he had been charged。
Torbert moved out promptly； Merritt's brigade first； followed by
Custer's； on the direct road to Cold Harbor；