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Torbert moved out promptly; Merritt's brigade first; followed by

Custer's; on the direct road to Cold Harbor; while Devin's brigade

was detached; and marched by a left…hand road that would bring him in

on the right and rear of the enemy's line; which was posted in front

of the crossroads。  Devin was unable to carry his part of the

programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right;

and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road

Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer's brigade on Merritt's

left so as to connect with Devin。  The whole division was now in

line; confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry; supported by Clingman's

brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the Confederate

breastworks; hastily constructed out of logs; rails; and earth; a

heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible

to withstand。  None of Gregg's division had yet arrived; and so

stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability

to carry the place before reinforcements came up; but just then

Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy's left; and being

directed to execute his proposition; he carried it to a most

successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry。  Just as

these two regiments passed around the enemy's left and attacked his

rear; the remainder of the division assailed him in front。  This

manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the Confederates; and the defenses

falling into our hands easily; we pushed ahead on the Bottom's bridge

road three…fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor。



Cold Harbor was now mine; but I was about nine miles away from our

nearest infantry; and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade

of cavalry; which arrived after the fight。  My isolated position

therefore made me a little uneasy。  I felt convinced that the enemy

would attempt to regain the place; for it was of as much importance

to him as to us; and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he

fully appreciated this。  My uneasiness increased as the day grew

late; for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke's

division was en route to Cold Harbor; and Kershaw near at hand;

interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my

position。  In view of this state of affairs; I notified General Meade

that I had taken Cold Harbor; but could not with safety to my command

hold it; and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night。

The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out; however; when I

received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at

every hazard。  General Grant had expected that a severe battle would

have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and

its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated; no preparation had

been made for its permanent occupancy。  No time was to be lost;

therefore; if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us

were to be improved; so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to

hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced

march; by Grant's directions; to aid in that object; and on arrival

to relieve my cavalry。



The moment Meade's order was received; I directed a reoccupation of

Cold Harbor; and although a large portion of Torbert's command was

already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of

the 31st; this force speedily retraced its steps; and re…entered the

place before daylight; both our departure and return having been

effected without the enemy being aware of our movements。  We now

found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the

Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in

furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense; they

being made available by simply reversing them at some points; or at

others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances of the

ground: The troops; without reserves; were then placed behind our

cover dismounted; boxes of ammunition distributed along the line; and

the order passed along that the place must be held。  All this was

done in the darkness; and while we were working away at our cover the

enemy could be distinctly heard from our skirmish…line giving

commands and making preparations to attack。



Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under

General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out; advancing against my

right from the Bethesda Church road。  In his assault he was permitted

to come close up to our works; and when within short range such afire

was opened on him from our horse…artillery and repeating carbines

that he recoiled in confusion after the first onset; still; he seemed

determined to get the place; and after reorganizing; again attacked;

but the lesson of the first repulse was not without effect; and his

feeble effort proved wholly fruitless。  After his second failure we

were left undisturbed; and at 9 A。M。 I sent the following despatch to

army headquarters:



〃HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS;

〃ARMY OF THE POTOMAC。

〃Cold Harbor; Va。; June 1; 18649 A。M。



〃MAJOR…GENERAL HUMPHREYS;

〃Chief…of…Staff。



〃GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor。

I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three

different infantry brigades。  The enemy assaulted the right of my

lines this morning; but were handsomely repulsed。  I have been very

apprehensive; but General Wright is now coming up。  I built slight

works for my men; the enemy came up to them; and were driven back。

General Wright has just arrived。



〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN;

〃Major…General Commanding。〃





About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and

Davies; having marched all night; and these two generals moving out

toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till

Hancock's corps took their place in the afternoon。  By this time

Gregg had joined me with his two brigades; and both Torbert and Gregg

were now marched to Prospect Church; from which point I moved them to

a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge。

Here the enemy's cavalry confronted us; occupying the south bank of

the stream; with artillery in position at the fords prepared to

dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so

Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom's bridge and at Old

Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June。



As before related; Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as

well as W。 H。 F。 Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June; and

although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna; which was

his part of the programme; Wilson found it necessary to return to

Price's Store。  From this point he continued to cover the right of

the Army of the Potomac; on the 2d of June driving the rear…guard of

the enemy from Hawe's Shop; the scene of the battle of May 28。  The

same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek; and passed around the enemy's

left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong

force; and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position

which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps。  This successful

manoeuvre completed; Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop; and on the 4th

went into camp at New Castle ferry; in anticipation of certain

operations of the Cavalry Corps; which were to take place while the

Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James。









CHAPTER XXI。



THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMESTHE SECOND EXPEDITIONBATTLE OF

TREVILLIAN STATIONDEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTONMALLORY'S

CROSSROADSSUFFERING OF THE WOUNDEDSECURING THE TRAINSGENERAL

GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT。



By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the

movement of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James

River; his unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor

having demonstrated that Lee's p

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