USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
This force encountered the pickets of the First Division at Matadequin Creek, but they held fast and fought gallantly until re-enforced by their division on the north side of the creek, which took up the contest. The fight then became general and was stubbornly con- tested. but the enemy finally gave way, and was pursued within one and a half mile of Cold Harbor. In this fight BUTLER's South Carolinians were again put in to receive the brunt, and many of them were killed and captured.
COLD HARBOR.
On the morning of the 31st I visited TORBERT and CUSTER, at CUSTER's headquarters-TOR- BERT's division having the advance-and found that they had already talked over a plan to attack and capture Cold Harbor, which I indorsed; and on the afternoon of the 31st the attack was made, and after a hard-fought battle the town was taken. GREGG was immediately moved to the support of TORBERT, but the place was captured before any of his troops be- came engaged.
į
669
REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN.
Cold Harbor was defended by cavalry and infantry, and on the Old Church side the enemy had thrown up temporary breastworks of logs and rails. The fight on the part of our officers and men was very gallant ; they were now beginning to accept nothing less than victory. After gaining the town I notified army headquarters to that effect, but that the enemy in additional numbers were arriving there ; that I could not hold it with safety to my command, and that I would move out, and did so. Just after we had left, however, a dispatch was re- ceived directing that Cold Harbor be held at all hazards, and I therefore immediately ordered its reoccupation, changed the temporary breastworks thrown up by the enemy so as to make them available for our troops, dismounted the cavalry, placing them behind these works, and distributing the ammunition in boxes along the line, determined to hold the place as directed.
While this was being done the enemy could be heard giving commands and making prep- arations to attack in the morning.
Just after daylight, June 1st, he marched to the attack, and was permitted to come close in to our little works, when he received the fire of our batteries and repeating carbines, which were used with terrible effect, and was driven back in confusion. Still determined to get the place, after reorganizing, he attacked again, but with the same result.
About 10 o'clock the Sixth Corps arrived, and relieved the cavalry, which moved toward the Chickahominy and covered the left of the line, until relieved by HANCOCK's corps during the afternoon.
While the balance of the cavalry were engaged at Cold Harbor, WILSON's division was posted on the right of the army, near the head-waters of the Tolopotomy Creek.
On being relieved by the infantry from the Cold Harbor line the two divisions moved down the Chickahominy, encamping for the night of the 1st of June at Prospect Church and vicinity, and on the 2d we moved down the Chickahominy still farther, taking a position on the north side, at Bottom's Bridge ; the enemy's cavalry occupying the south side, with artil- lery in position at the fords.
No movements took place on the 3d ; the enemy shelled our position at very long range, but did no damage.
On the 4th the First Division marched back to Old Church, and on the 6th the Second Divis- ion was relieved at Bottom's Bridge by one brigade of WILSON's division, and marched back to the same vicinity ; thence both divisions moved to New Castle Ferry, where the trains which had been sent to the White House reached us, with supplies for a marchi, since called the TREVILLIAN Raid.
. While GREGG's and TORBERT's divisions were operating on the left of the army, WILSON, who was on the right, engaged the enemy at Mechump's Creek on the 31st of May ; at Ash- land on the 1st of June, and on the 2d of June at Hawes's Shop-the scene of the battle of May 28th-and at Tolopotomy Creek. The battle at Ashland was brought about by MCINTOSH's brigade, which had been ordered to that vicinity for the purpose of covering a movement made to the South Anna to destroy the railroad bridges over that stream, and which was successful.
On the 6th of June I received instructions from General MEADE and the Lieutenant-Gen- eral to proceed with two divisions of my corps to Charlottesville, for the purpose of cutting the Virginia Central Railroad, to unite if possible with Major-General D. HUNTER, whom I expected to meet at or near Charlottesville, and bring his command over to the Army of the Potomac.
COVERING THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC'S CROSSING OF THE JAMES RIVER.
There also appeared to be another object, viz .. to remove the enemy's cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy, as, in case we attempted to cross to the James River, this large cavalry force could make such resistance at the difficult crossings as to give the enemy time to transfer his force to oppose the movement. Two divisions.being ordered to proceed on this raid, WILSON was detached by the following order, and took the advance of the Army of the Potomac on its march to the James River :
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF POTOMAC, NEWCASTLE FERRY, June 6, 1864.
GENERAL : I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to notify you that he will march from Newcastle Ferry at 5 A. M. to-morrow, taking with him the First and Second
670
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
-
Cavalry Divisions. During his absence you will report, and receive your orders direct from Headquarters Army of the Potomac.
Your Division Quartermaster and Commissary will have to attend to the supplying of your command.
Orders have been issued directing the officers in charge at the White House to send all detachments of cavalry (mounted) belonging to the different cavalry divisions to report tem- porarily for duty with your command.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. W. FORSYTII,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Chief of Staff.
Brigadier-General J. H. WILSON, Commanding Third Cavalry Division.
TREVILLIAN RAID.
On June 7th the command being prepared with three (3) days' rations in haversacks, to last for five days, two days' forage on the pommel of the saddles, one hundred rounds of ammunition, forty on the person and sixty in wagons, one medical wagon, eight ambulances and one wagon each for division and brigade headquarters, we crossed the Pamunkey, at New Castle, and encamped that night between Aylett's and Dunkirk, on the Mattapony River.
On the 8th we encamped two miles west of Polecat Station.
It was my intention to march along the north bank of the North Anna, cross it at Carpen- ter's Ford, strike the railroad at Trevillian Station and destroy it to Louisa Court-House, march past Gordonsville, strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded.
We, therefore, on the 9th of June, resumed the march along the Anna-our advance-guard skirmishing, as it always did, with mounted men of the enemy-and encamped on East-north- east Creek, near Young's Mills.
During this day I learned that BRECKINRIDGE's division of infantry was passing slowly up the railroad to Gordonsville, parallel to me, and that the enemy's cavalry had left their posi- tion on the south side of the Chickahominy and were marching on the old Richmond and Gor- donsville road on Gordonsville. This information was confirmed by a party sent to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad during the night. On the 10th the march was resumed; we passed through Twyman's Store, crossed the North Anna at Carpenter's Ford, and encamped on the road leading to Trevillian Station and along the banks of the North Anna.
During the night of the 10th the boldness of the enemy's scouting parties, which we had encountered more or less every day, indicated the presence of a large force.
On the morning of the 11th we resumed the march on Trevillian, meeting at once and driv- ing the enemy's advance parties in our front. TORBERT had the leading division, and, at a point about three or three and a half miles from Trevillian Station, encountered the enemy in full force behind a line of breastworks constructed in dense timber. CUSTER with his brigade was ordered to take a wood-road found on our left and get to Trevillian Station, or at least in rear of the enemy, and attack his led horses. In following this road he passed be- tween FITZ LEE's and HAMPTON's divisions-the former being on the road leading from Louisa Court-House to where the battle commenced. the latter on the direct road from Trevil- lian to the same point-and on, without opposition, to Trevillian Station, which he took pos- session of.
As soon as I found that CUSTER had gotten to the rear of the enemy, the remaining two brigades of TORBERT's division were dismounted and formed line of battle, assailed the enemy's works and carried them, driving HAMPTON's division pell-mell and at a run back on CUSTER at Trevillian, who commenced fighting in all directions. So panic-stricken was this division (HAMPTON'S), and so rapidly was it pushed, that some of it was driven through CUSTER'S lines, and many captured.
While the First Division was thus engaged. GREGG attacked FITZ LEE on the Louisa Court- House road, and drove him in the direction of Louisa Court-House; the pursuit was continued until about dark.
HAMPTON's division made its way in the direction of Gordonsville and was joined during the night by FITZ LEE, who made a detour westward for that purpose.
At night my command encamped at Trevillian Station, and from prisoners, of whom we had captured about 500, I learned that HUNTER, instead of coming toward Charlottesville as I had reason to suppose, was at or near Lexington, moving apparently on Lynchburg ; that
.
671
REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN.
EWELL's corps was on its way to Lynchburg, on the south side of James River, and that BRECK- INRIDGE was at Gordonsville or Charlottesville, having passed up the railroad as heretofore alluded to. I therefore made up my mind that it was best to give up the attempt to join HUN- TER, as he was going from me instead of coming toward me, and concluded to return.
Directions were at once given to collect our own wounded and those of the eneiny in hos- pitals, and to make provision for their transportation back in ammunition-wagons and in vehicles collected from the country. I was still further influenced in my decision to return by the burden which these wounded threw upon me, there being over 500 cases of our own, and the additional burden of about 500 prisoners, all of whom must have been abandoned by me in case I proceeded farther; besides, one more engagement would have reduced the supply of ammunition to a very small compass.
On the morning of June 12th we commenced destroying the railroad to Louisa Court-House, and in the afternoon I directed TORBERT to make a reconnaissance up the Gordonsville road to secure a by-road leading over Mallory's Ford, on the North Anna, to the Catharpin road, as I proposed taking that route in returning, and proceeding to Spotsylvania Court-House, thence, via Bowling Green and Dunkirk, to the White House.
In the reconnaissance TORBERT became heavily engaged, first one brigade, then another, then the last, the battle continuing until after dark. GREGG, during this time, was breaking up the railroad to Louisa Court-House.
The result of TORBERT's fighting made it impossible to cross at Mallory's Ford without vent- uring a battle the next day, in which case the remainder of our ammunition would have been consumed, leaving none to get back with ; therefore, during the night of the 12th, we moved back on our track, recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's Ford on the following morning, unsaddled our horses and turned them out to graze, as they were nearly famished, having had no food for two days, and in the afternoon proceeded to the vicinity of Twyman's Store, where we encamped.
The enemy, excepting a small party which General DAVIES dispersed with one of his regi- ments, did not follow us.
I left near Trevillian three hospitals containing many rebel wounded, and ninety of ours that were non-transportable, with medicines, liquors, some hard bread, coffee, and sugar ; I regret to say that the surgeons left in charge were not well treated by the enemy, and that the hospitals were robbed of liquors and stores. .
On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpin road-upon which it was originally intended to move after crossing Mallory's Ford, and which would have saved much time and distance-and encamped at Shady Grove Church.
On the 15th we encamped at Edge Hill, on the Ta River, having passed over the battle-field of Spottsylvania ; and on the 16th at Dr. Butler's Farm on the Mattapony, having marched through Bowling Green.
Being as yet unable to ascertain the position of the Army of the Potomnac, and uncertain whether or not the base at the White House had been discontinued, I did not like to venture between the Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers, embarrassed as I was with wounded, prisoners, and about 2,000 negroes that had joined us, and therefore determined to push down the south bank of the Mattapony far enough to enable me to send them with safety to West Point, where I expected to find gunboats and transports.
Following this plan we proceeded on the 17th to Walkerton and encamped ; and on the 18th resumed the march through King and Queen Court-House, encamping in its vicinity.
I here learned that the base at the White House was not entirely broken up, and that sup- plies there awaited me ; therefore, on the morning of the 19th, I sent the wounded, prisoners, and negroes to West Point, escorted by two regiments of cavalry, and turning. marched to Dunkirk on the Mattapony, a point at which the river was narrow enough for my pontoons to reach across.
On my march from Trevillian to this point we halted at intervals during each day to dress the wounded, and refresh them as much as possible. Nothing could exceed the cheerfulness exhibited by them ; hauled as they were in old buggies, carts, ammunition-wagons, etc., no word of coniplaint was heard.
I saw on the line of march men with wounded legs driving, while those with one disabled arm were using the other to whip up the animals.
On the 20th we resumed the march at an early hour, to the sound of artillery, in the direc- tion of the White House, and had proceeded but a short distance when dispatches from Gen- eral ABERCROMBIE notitled me that the place was attacked. I had previously sent an advance
.
1
672
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
party with directions to move swiftly, and to report to me by couriers the condition of affairs ; from these I soon learned that there was no occasion to push our jaded animais, as the crisis, if there had been one, was over, and therefore, moved leisurely to the banks of the Pamunkey opposite White House, and encamped, the enemy holding the bluffs surrounding the White House Farm.
On the morning of the 21st GREGG's division was crossed over dismounted, and TOREERT'S division mounted, and the enemy driven from the bluffs, and also from Tunstall's Station in the evening, after a sharp engagement.
I found here orders to break up the White House depot, and to move the trains over to Petersburg, ria Jones's bridge.
I immediately commenced breaking up as directed and making my arrangements to carry over and protect a train of over nine hundred wagons, knowing full well that I would be · attacked if the enemy had any spirit left in him.
On the morning of the 2'd I sent TORBERT in advance to secure Jones's bridge over the Chickahominy, so that we could make the crossing at that point, and GREGG marched on a road parallel to the one on which the train was moving, and on its right flank, as it was the only flank requiring protection.
The train was not attacked, but was safely parked on the south side of the Chickahominy for the night.
On the morning after TORBERT had secured the crossing, the 22d. the enemy attacked his picket post on the Long Bridge road, with CHAMBLISS's brigade, and drove it in, but on its being re-enforced by six companies of colored troops belonging to GETTY's command. the enemy was repulsed, and the picket post re-established. This brigade, I was told by the pris- oners taken, was the advance of the rebel cavalry corps, and through it HAMPTON had been advised of our having already secured the crossing of the Chickahominy.
General GETTY had relieved General ABERCROMBIE, and was in command of a small in- fantry force, composed mostly of the odds and ends of regiments and batteries.
On the 24th the march was resumed, with directions to cross the trains at Bermuda Hun- dred, where there was a pontoon bridge : to reach this point I was obliged to march through Charles City Court-House, thence by Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill. the latter of which was occupied by the enemy ; in fact, he held everything north of the James, except the tete de pont at the crossing.
TORBERT's division marched out on the Charles City Court-House road as an escort to the trains, and when in the vicinity of the Court-House. the advance-guard encountered the enemy and drove him across Herring Creek, on the road to Westover Church. As soon as this attack was reported to me, orders were immediately given to park the train-the head of which was far beyond Charles City Court-House-at convenient points on the road, and ToR- BERT was directed to push his whole division to the front.to meet the enemy, while GREGG, who had marched on the road leading to St. Mary's Church, for the purpose of protecting the right flank of the train. and who had also been attacked. was instructed to hold fast until all the transportation could pass Charles City Court-House. The train was immediately after put in motion, and safely parked in the vicinity of Wilcox's Landing.
At St. Mary's Church GREGG was attacked by the entire cavalry corps of the enemy, and after a stubborn fight, which lasted until after dark, was forced to retire in some confusion, but without any loss in material.
This very creditable engagement saved the train, which should never have been left for the cavalry to escort.
During the night and next morning, the train was moved back through Charles City Court-House, to Douthard's Landing on the James Piver, where it was ferried over, after which the troops were transported in the same manner.
REAM'S STATION.
Before the crossing was completed. General MEADE notified me to move rapidly to the sup- port of General WILsox, who had been ordered on a raid to break the communication south of Petersburg by destroying the Southside and Danville Railroads.
General WILSON's expedition had been successful until it reached the left of the army on its return, when it encountered, at Ream's Station, a large force of infantry, sent down the Weldon Railroad from Petersburg, and being at the same time attacked on the flank by car- alry, the command was routed, and obliged to fall back across Nottoway River at Poplar
673
REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN.
Hill, whence a wide detour was necessary to reach the main army, in consequence of which, as the heat was intense, the loss in animals was great.
As soon as the orders from General Meade were received, I hastened with TORBERT and GREGG, via Prince George Court-House and Lee's Mills, to Ream's Station-where I found the Sixth Corps-but was too late to render material assistance ; I immediately, however, sent out parties to procure information concerning the expedition, and learned from them that it had crossed the Nottoway and was safe.
The results obtained in the destruction of the Southside and Danville Railroads were con- sidered equivalent to the losses sustained by General WILSON's division. Had an infantry force been sent sooner to Ream's Station, the raid would have been eminently successful.
General WILSON states in his report as follows :
"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 that 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 Gor- donsville, I need not fear any trouble from him." Still no timely relief was sent.
As soon as WILSON was found to be safe, I was ordered back to Light-House Point and vicinity to rest my command, which had marched and fought for fifty-six consecutive days, and remained there from the 2d till the 26th of July, refitting and picketing the left of the army.
While at this camp I received about 1,500 horses. These, together with about 400 obtained at Old Church by dismounting recruits, were all that were issued to me while personally in command of the cavalry corps from April 6 to August 1, 1864.
On the afternoon of July 26th, I moved with the First and Second Divisions of Cavalry, TOR- BERT's and GREGG's, for the north side of the James River, in connection with the Second Corps, and was directed, if an opportunity offered, to make a raid on the Virginia Central Railroad and destroy the bridges over the North and South Anna Rivers and those over Little River.
DARBYTOWN.
We crossed the Appomattox at Broadway Landing, and on arriving at Deep Bottom, where we were joined by General KAUTZ's small cavalry division of the Army of the James, the command was massed to allow the Second Corps to pass and to take the advance across the James.
Soon after the corps had crossed a small portion of it carried the enemy's works in front of the tete de pont, and captured four pieces of artillery.
The cavalry moved to the right of the Second Corps and found the enemy occupying a strong line of works extending across the New Market and Central roads leading to Rich- mond, the right resting on Four-mile Creek.
His cavalry videttes posted in front of Ruffin's house on the New Market road were discov- ered by the Second United States Cavalry, and driven back on their infantry line of battle, composed of two divisions. The high ground in advance of Ruffin's house thus gained was im- mediately occupied by the First Division as a line of battle, and the Second Division placed on its right, covering the road from Malvern Hill to Richmond.
Immediately upon the formation of our line, the enemy advanced to the attack and drove the cavalry back over the ridge, on the face of which it quickly lay down in line of battle at a distance of about fifteen yards from the crest. When the enemy's line reached this crest, a fire from our repeating carbines was opened upon it, whereupon it gave way in disorder, and was followed over the plain beyond by the cavalry, which captured about 250 prisoners and two battle-flags, besides killing and wounding very many.
This counter-attack against infantry was made by the First and Second Cavalry Divisions simultaneously, and our line re-established. During the engagement, which is called the bat- tle of Darbytown, General KAUTZ was in support of GREGG on the right of the line.
The enemy, deceived by the long front presented by the Second Corps and cavalry, was undoubtedly impressed with the idea that nearly all of our forces had been moved to the north side of the James, and at once transferred a large body of his troops from the lines at Petersburg to our front at Newmarket ; as I understood, this transfer by the enemy was the
43
·
.
674
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
object which the Lieutenant-General wished to attain, in order that the mine explosion of Petersburg might, to a greater certainty, result in the capture of the city.
On the afternoon of the 28th the Second Corps withdrew to a line near the head of the bridge, and the cavalry was drawn back to a position on its right. In order to deceive the enemy still more. I sent during the night one of my divisions to the opposite side of the James, first covering the bridge with moss and grass to prevent the tramp of the horses being heard, and at daylight marched it back again in full view of the enemy, creating the impression that a large and continuous movement to the north side was still going on.
On the 20th nothing occurred during the day on either side, except a skirmish by some of General KAUTZ's command, in the vicinity of Malvern Hill ; but, after dark, the Second Corps was hastily and quietly withdrawn to the south side, to take part in the engagement which was expected to follow the mine explosion. I was directed to follow, and withdrew by bri- gades from my right, successively passing them over the bridge. This movement was one involving great anxiety, as, when the Second Corps moved, the space at the mouth of the bridge occupied by me was so circumscribed that an offensive movement in force by the enemy must have resulted in the annihilation of my whole command.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.