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me on the morning of the 23d； totally in the dark as to what was
expected of Wilson； though it seems； from some correspondence between
Generals Grant and Meade； which I never saw till after the war； that
Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field
of operations throughout the expedition。
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC；
〃June 21； 1864。 9：20 A。 M。
〃BRIGADIER…GENERAL WILSON；
〃Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps。
〃The major…general commanding directs that you move your command at
2 A。 M。 to…morrow； the 22d instant； in execution of the duty assigned
you of destroying certain railroads。 Despatches received from the
White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place
yesterday evening； and that General Sheridan had also reached there；
hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment。
In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of
the enemy； and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection
of the Petersburg and Lynchburg； and the Richmond and Danville
railroads； and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent
possible； continuing their destruction until driven from it by such
attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist。 The destruction of
those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy
in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is
an important part of the plan of campaign。 The latest information
from Major…General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of
Lynchburg。 He may endeavor to form a junction with this army； you
will communicate with him if practicable； and have delivered to him
verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from
Lieutenant…General Grant to the major…general commanding this army。
Lieutenant Brooks； who will accompany your expedition part of the
way； should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found。
〃The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with
which it is commenced； and the celerity with which its movements are
conducted； your command will； therefore； have with it the lightest
supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough
execution of the duty； the supplies of the section of country you
will operate in being taken into account。 Upon the completion of the
work assigned you； you will rejoin this army。
〃The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with
the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained
for General Sheridan。
＇Signed＇ 〃A。 A。 HUMPHREYS；
〃Major…General； Chief…of…Staff。〃
〃HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES；
Mount Sinai Church； June 21； 18646 P。M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL HUMPHREYS；〃
〃Chief…of…Staff。
〃The instructions of the major…general commanding； of this date； are
received。 I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A。 M。 to…morrow。
Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the
Weldon road。
〃I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station；
or some point in that vicinity； tearing up the track sufficiently to
delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours。 At this place I
shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road； by a
rapid march； at the nearest point； tearing up the track at every
practicable point between there and Burkeville。
〃From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the
Great road （breaking the railroad at every convenient point） directly
to Burkeville； which； if we succeed in capturing； will afford us the
opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage。 As soon as
I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all
the damage possible； I shall move with all possible rapidity for
Danville and Grenboro'。
〃Circumstances must； however； is a great degree control our movements
after leaving Burkeville。
〃If Sheridan will look after Hampton； I apprehend no difficulty； and
hope to be able to do the enemy great damage。 The ammunition issued
to my command is very defective。 The implements for destroying roads
have not yet arrived； but I learn from General Ingalls that they will
certainly be here early to…morrow。
＇Signed＇ J。 H。 WILSON；
〃Brigadier…General Commanding。
The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief
of Wilson； I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George
Court House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station。 Here I found the
Sixth Corps； which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately
on hearing of Wilson's mishap； but I was too late to render any
material assistance； Wilson having already disappeared； followed by
the enemy。 However； I at once sent out parties to gather
information； and soon learned that Wilson had got safe across the
Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the army by way of
Blunt's bridge； on the Blackwater。
The benefits derived from this expedition； in the destruction of the
Southside and Danville railroads； were considered by General Grant as
equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat； for the
wrecking of the railroads and cars was most complete； occasioning at
this； time serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government； but I
doubt if all this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that
fell into the hands of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and
Rowanty Creek。 Wilson's retreat from the perilous situation at
Ream's station was a most creditable performancein the face of two
brigades of infantry and three divisions of cavalryand in the
conduct of the whole expedition the only criticism that can hold
against him is that he placed too much reliance on meeting our
infantry at Ream's station； seeing that uncontrollable circumstances
might； and did； prevent its being there。 He ought to have marched on
the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge； on the Nottoway； and
Blunts bridge on the Blackwater； to the rear of the Army of the
Potomac。
When the safety of Wilson's command was assured； I was ordered back
to Light House Point； where I had gone into camp after crossing the
James River to rest and recruit my command； now very much reduced in
numbers by reason of casualties to both horses and men。 It had been
marching and fighting for fifty consecutive days； and the fatiguing
service had told so fearfully on my animals that the number of
dismounted men in the corps was very large。 With the exception of
about four hundred horses that I received at the White House； no
animals were furnished to supply the deficiencies which had arisen
from the wearing marches of the past two months until I got to this
camp at Light House Point； here my needs were so obvious that they
could no longer be neglected。
I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July；
recuperating the cavalry； the intensely warm weather necessitating
almost an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of
the Potomac。 Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here； and
these； with the four hundred already mentioned； were all that my
troops received while I held the personal command of the Cavalry
Corps； from April 6 to August 1； 1864。 This was not near enough to
mount the whole command； so I disposed the men who could not be
supplied in a dismounted camp。
By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored； and as
General Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the
purpose of keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond； and also of
carrying Petersburg by assault if possible； I was directed to move to
the north side of the James River in conjunction with General
Hancock's corps； and； if opportunity offered； to make a second
expedition against the Virginia Central railroad； and again destroy
the bridges on the North Anna； the Little and the South Anna rivers。
I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox
at Broadway landing。 At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small
division from the Army of the James； and here massed the whole
command； to allow Hancock's corps to take the lead； it crossing to
the north bank of the James River by the bridge below the mouth of
Bailey's Creek。 I moved late in the afternoon； so as not to come
within the enemy's view before dark； and after night…fall Hancock's
corps passed me and began crossing the pontoon…bridge about 2 o'clock
in the morning。
By daylight Hancock was across； the cavalry following。 Soon a
portion of his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of
Bailey's Creek； and； aided by the cavalry moving on its right；
captured four pieces of artillery。 This opened the way for Hancock
to push out his whole corps； and as he advanced by a wheel； with his
left as a pivot； the cavalry joined in the movement； pressing forward
on the New Market and Central or Charles City ro