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第59章

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General Stuart had discovered what we were about; and he set his

cavalry in motion; sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack

my rear on the Childsburg road; Stuart himself marching by way of

Davenport's bridge; on the North Anna; toward Beaver Dam Station;

near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next

day。



My column having passed the Ta River; Stuart attacked its rear with

considerable vigor; in the hope that he could delay my whole force

long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my

front; but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade; which I

directed to fight as a rear…guard; holding on at one position and

then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the

enemy from a too rapid advance。  Davies performed this responsible

and trying duty with tact and good judgment; following the main

column steadily as it progressed to the south; and never once

permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a

halt of my main body。  About dark Merritt's division crossed the

North Anna at Anderson's ford; while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the

north side; having engaged the enemy; who still hung on my rear up to

a late hour at night。



After Merritt's division passed the river; Custer's brigade proceeded

on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad。

Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy; but

this he speedily drove off; recapturing from it about four hundred

Union prisoners; who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and

were being conducted to Richmond。  Custer also destroyed the station;

two locomotives; three trains of cars; ninety wagons; from eight to

ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines; some two hundred thousand

pounds of bacon and other supplies; amounting in all to about a

million and a half of rations; and nearly all they medical stores of

General Lee's army; which had been moved from Orange Court House

either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or

because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna。



On the morning of the l0th Gregg and Wilson; while crossing the North

Anna; were again attacked; but were covered by the division on the

south side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss;

notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the

direction of Davenport's bridge。  The possession of Beaver Dam gave

us an important point; as it opened a way toward Richmond by the

Negro…foot road。  It also enabled us to obtain forage for our well…

nigh famished animals; and to prepare for fighting the enemy; who; I

felt sure; would endeavor to interpose between my column and

Richmond。



Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized

that concentrating there was a mistake; so he began making

dispositions for remedying his error; and while we leisurely took the

Negro…foot toad toward Richmond; he changed his tactics and hauled

off from my rear; urging his horses to the death in order to get in

between Richmond and my column。  This he effected about 10 o'clock on

the morning of the 11th; concentrating at Yellow Tavern; six miles

from the city; on the Brook turnpike。  His change of tactics left my

march on the l0th practically unmolested; and we quietly encamped

that night on the south bank of the South Anna; near Ground Squirrel

Bridge。  Here we procured an abundance of forage; and as the distance

traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles; men and

horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night。



At 2 o'clock in the morning; May 11; Davies's brigade of Gregg's

division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad。

Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column; which had to

pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern; Davies drove out

a small force occupying the town; burnt a train of cars and a

locomotive; destroyed the railroad for some distance; and rejoined

the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond

railroad。  From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow

Tavern; Merritt in the lead; Wilson following; and Gregg in the rear。



The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had

the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and

while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond;

yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the

same fault that he did the first day; when he divided his force and

sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road。  He now divided his

command again; sending a portion to hang upon my rear; while he

proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern。  This separation not only

materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my

line of march; but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire

corps; while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard。



By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern

ahead of me on May 11; and the presence of; his troops; on the

Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was

approaching the Brook turnpike; this general pressed forward at once

to the attack。  Pushing his division to the front; he soon got

possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred

yards to the east of it。  This success had the effect of throwing the

head of my column to the east of the pike; and I quickly brought up

Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation

by forming a line of battle on that side or the road。  Meanwhile the

enemy; desperate but still confident; poured in a heavy fire from his

line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road; and made

Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place。  Gibbs's and Devin's

brigades; however; held fast there; while Custer; supported by

Chapman's brigade; attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted

charge。



Custer's charge; with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's

division sustaining him; was brilliantly executed。  Beginning at a

walk; he increased his gait to a trot; and then at full speed rushed

at the enemy。  At the same moment the dismounted troops along my

whole front moved forward; and as Custer went through the battery;

capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the

enemy's left; Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the

field。  Gregg meanwhile; with equal success; charged the force in his

rear…Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete

control of the road to Richmond。  We captured a number of prisoners;

and the casualties on both sides were quite severe; General Stuart

himself falling mortally wounded; and General James B。 Gordon; one of

his brigade commanders; being killed。



After Custer's charge; the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up;

the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a

small part in the direction of Richmond; which latter force finally

rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville。  A reconnoitring party

being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city; dashed across

the South Fork of the Chickahominy; drove a small force from the

enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them。  I followed this

party; and after a little exploration found between the two lines of

works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from

Mechanicsville to Richmond。  I thought we could go around within the

outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville

pike on the south side of the Chickahominy; and encamp the next night

at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the movement after dark; being

influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the

afternoon from colored people; to the effect that General B。 F。

Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the

James; about four miles south of Rich

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