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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 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 

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