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of Nance's Shop。 This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour； and
divining this purpose he had prepared to meet it by constructing
hasty cover for his men before receiving my instructions。 About 4
o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got his force in hand； and with
Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole front of Gregg's line； and
his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's brigades。 For two hours
he continued to attack； but made little impression on Gregggain at
one point being counterbalanced by failure at another。 Because of
the evident strength of Hampton； Gregg had placed all his troops in
line of battle from the first； and on discovery of the enemy's
superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the
situation； but the messengers never arrived； being either killed or
captured； and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait
his division was in。
Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the
unequal contest no longer； and he then decided to retreat； but not
until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass
Charles City Court House in safety。 When he had got all his led
horses fairly on the way； and such of the wounded as could be
transported； he retired by his right flank…in some confusion； it is
true； but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church； where Hampton
ceased to press him。
Gregg's losses were heavy； and he was forced to abandon his dead and
most seriously wounded； but the creditable stand made ensured the
safety of the train； the last wagon of which was now parked at
Wilcox's Landing。 His steady； unflinching determination to gain time
for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic
of the man； and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited
a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my
command。 The firmness and coolness with which he always met the
responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points
in Gregg's make…up； and he possessed so much professional though
unpretentious ability； that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a
few months later to quit the service before the close of the war。
Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up
to the pontoon…bridge； for of course Hampton would now throw all his
cavalry in my front； on the river road； where it could be backed up
by Lee's infantry。 Meanwhile； General Meade had become assured of
the same thing； and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of
Wilson's divisionwhich； during my absence； had been sent out to
break the enemy's communications south of Petersburg； by destroying
the Southside and Danville railroadshe sent ferryboats to cross me
over the James。 During the night'of the 24th； and next morning； the
immense trainwhich ought never to have been left for the cavalry to
escort； after a fatiguing expedition of three weekswas moved back
through Charles City Court House to Douthard's landing； and there
ferried over the river； followed by my troops in like manner。 When
General Hampton discovered this； he moved to Drury's Bluff； and
there； on the morning of the 27th； crossed the James by the
Confederate pontoon…bridge。
CHAPTER XXII。
GENERAL WILSON'S RAIDDESTROYING RAILROADSHIS DISCOMFITURE
RESULTS OF HIS RAIDREMOUNTSMOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE
JAMESDECEIVING LEEMY ISOLATED POSITIONESTIMATE OF HANCOCK
SUCCESS OF THE CAVALRYTHEIR CONSTANT DUTIES。
While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian； the movement of
the Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected； and
Wilson； whom I had left behind for the purpose； was engaged in the
duty of covering its front and rear。 Late on the night of June 12
he； with Chapman's brigade； crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge；
in advance of the Fifth Corps； and by 7 o'clock next morning had
driven the enemy's pickets up to White Oak bridge； where he waited
for our infantry。 When that came up； he pushed on as far as Riddle's
Shop； but late that evening the Confederate infantry forced him to
withdraw to St。 Mary's Church； for early in the morning General Lee
had discovered the movement of our army； and promptly threw this
column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp； with
the design of covering Richmond。 From St。 Mary's Church Wilson
guarded all the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop；
McIntosh's brigade joining him on the 14th； by way of Long Bridge； as
the rear of the Army of the Potomac passed the Chickahominy。 In the
performance of this duty Wilson did not have to fight any engagement
of magnitude； for the bulk of the enemy's cavalry had followed me to
Trevillian。 During the 15th and 16th Wilson drew his troops in
toward the James River； and next day crossed it on the pontoon…bridge
and camped on the Blackwater； near Mt。 Sinai Church。 Here he
remained till the 22d of Junethe same day I reached the White House
with Gregg and Torbertwhen； under orders from General Meade； he set
out to cut the enemy's communications to the south and southwest of
Petersburg。
His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and
Lynchburg； and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the
most important part of his mission； and that when the work of
destruction began； it should be continued till he was driven off by
the enemy。 Wilson's force consisted of about 5；500 men； General A。
V。 Kautz； with the cavalry of the Army of the James； having joined
him for the expedition。 In moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road
near Ream's Station； first destroying it effectually at that point。
About fourteen miles west of Petersburg he struck the Southside
railroad； and broke it up clear to Burkeville； a distance of thirty
miles。 Having destroyed everything at Burkeville Junction； he moved
along the Danville road to Staunton River； completely wrecking about
thirty miles of that line also。 At Staunton River he found the
railroad bridge strongly guarded； and seeing that he could not burn
it； he began his return march that night； and reached Nottoway River；
some thirty miles south of Petersburg； at noon of the next daythe
28th。
In this expedition Wilson was closely followcd from the start by
Barringer's brigade of W。 H。 F。 Lee's cavalry； but the operations
were not interfered with materially； his success being signal till he
reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return。 At this
point General Hampton； with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry； got
between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac； there being behind them
at Ream's Station； at the same time； two brigades of infantry under
General Mahone。 A severe battle ensued； resulting in Wilson's
defeat； with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons。 In
consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across
the Nottoway River with his own division； and rejoined the army by
way of Peter's bridge on that stream； while Kautz's division； unable
to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in
the fight； made a circuit of the enemy's left； and reached the lines
of our army in the night of the 28th。
Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot； nor
the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry； seems
to have been anticipated by Wilson； for in the report of the
expedition he states：
〃Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward； I wrote to
General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no
serious difficulty in executing his orders； but unless General
Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged； and our
infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments； we should probably
experience great difficulty in rejoining the army。 In reply to this
note； General Humphreys； chief…of…staff； informed me it was intended
the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day；
the Southside road the day after； and that Hampton having followed
Sheridan toward Gordonsville； I need not fear any trouble from him。〃
I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note
of the same evening； warrant what General Wilson here says。 It is
true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by
our infantry； as General Humphreys informed him it would be； but
Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would
look after Hampton。 I do not think General Meade's instructions are
susceptible of this interpretation。 I received no orders requiring
me to detain Hampton。 On the contrary； when I arrived at the White
House my instructions required me to break up the depot there； and
then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable； nor
were these instructions ever modified。 I began the duty imposed on
me on the morning of the 23d； totally in the dark as to what was
expected o