Major-General MEADE : HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, GENERAL: I have asked at one house since Captain Pease came here, and they say the way to Burke's Shop is by Madison's Ordinary, then turn to the left about 2 or 3 miles off. But if it is anything like correctly located on the map, we can go in that direction across the open country in the valley of the Ta River. In my vicinity the branches of the Ta head close to the Po, making a very narrow dividing ridge. I have just sent Major Roebling to reconnoiter in the direction to Burke's Shop. Major-General MEADE : G. K. WARREN, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Colonel Bates' brigade has pushed up the south bank of the Po to the Telegraph road. Nothing visible there but cavalry. Mr. Pound says Ewell's and Longstreet's corps marched down the Telegraph road all last night, and are gone south. A wagon train has been seen and heard at two points, moving south. It was visible this morning from Madison's Ordinary. Colonel Bates got there at 8 a. m. COMMANDING OFFICER FIFTH CORPS: G. K. WARREN, MAY 22, 1864-9.30 a. m. The major-general commanding directs me to notify you that General Wright is up to this point, and that you can move forward. Wright's men have been up all night, and want rest. He will halt awhile, and then follow you. The major-general commanding suggests that he halt his corps at Madison's Ordinary, where he will be in supporting distance of you, will look toward Spotsylvania CourtHouse, and keep open communication with Bowling Green. General MEADE : A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. MAY 22, 1864-9.45 a. m. Colonel Bates has sent me word that there is nothing but some cavalry watching the vicinity of the Telegraph road. He is on it about a mile south of Stanard's Mill. Mr. Richard Pound, living there, says the troops began to move south at 11 a. m. yesterday, and were passing all night. He says Longstreet and Ewell's corps went that way, and that he was expecting Hill along the same road. shall now move on, but am afraid General Wright's men will be too tired to keep up. I may have opposition at the crossing of the Mat River. G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. I General HUMPHREYS: MAY 22, 1864-10.20 a. m. Your note by Captain Burke just received. I think your suggestions about General Wright's command are the best arrangement that could be made. I will have my train precede General Wright. My command is already moving. I will have Colonel Bates' command withdrawn from his position on the plank road when my column is all past. G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. P. S.-Major Roebling has just returned from a reconnaissance toward Burke's Shop, and says there is no passable road direct from here there. The map is very erroneous. Downer's Bridge is twice as far from Guiney's as represented, and the Ta joins the Po above this bridge. Burke's Shop is over a mile south of the Ta. The best road to Burke's Shop is by Madison's Ordinary. General MEADE: G. K. WARREN, Major-General. MAY 22, 1864-1 p. m. We have reached Littleton Flippo's, on the Telegraph road, and struck a rear guard that fired one or two guns and some musketry. We have picked up stragglers since crossing the Ta from both Ewell and Longstreet. They began passing here yesterday at 3 p. m., and the rear of the main party an hour after sunrise. I think we shall have trouble in crossing the Mat. A colored man who came up the road says Longstreet is resting about 2 miles ahead of where we are. G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. MAY 22, 1864-2 p. m. COMMANDING OFFICER FIFTH CORPS: General Burnside's head of column has just reached here followed by Wright. The cannonading we heard was an attack upon Wright's rear upon leaving the old position. The resistance to General Burnside at Stanard's was slight. The commanding general directs that you support the cavalry in holding the bridge over the Ta, repair the road, and be ready to move either by way of Madison's Ordinary, or by the Mud Tavern and Thornburg. A. A. HUMPHREYS, Major-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DETACHMENT, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, FIFTH ARMY CORPS: him a request for another squadron to cover his rear, as he had seen a small squad on his left rear. I then sent Lieutenant Barry with orders to move soon to his support. At 10 I sent orders to Captain Southwick to return and not picket the bridge. He has not yet reported. I find supply of corn for horses and meat for men. Very respectfully, E. M. POPE, Lieutenant-Colonel, &c., Commanding. I omitted to report that while moving to the Telegraph road I encountered a small squad of rebels; killed 1 and captured 2; the balance went across and south of the Telegraph_road. Those captured were of the Forty-second North Carolina, Ewell's command. E. M. POPE, Lieutenant-Colonel, &c. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General HUMPHREYS: The only annoyance we had on the march was from some cavalry near L. Flippo's, which, together with the rumors, cost us one hour. We were, however, unable to get in the rear of Ewell and Longstreet. We were so close at Dr. Flippo's that about fifty wagons feeding there left their feed boxes. The troops ceased passing about We have picked up about 50 stragglers. We moved down the Telegraph road; it is much better than the one direct to Harris' Store. Colonel Pope's cavalry is somewhere in the rear coming up. I shall send my escort through to General Hancock. 11 a. m. The cavalry we ran off went toward Chilesburg. Part of the enemy's train turned off the Telegraph road to that place. The road from here to Milford Station is much cut up by the enemy's trains moving to and fro. I have told General Wright he need not come farther than the Ta River to-night. If I am to continue moving south the Telegraph road is the best one. I have just caught a colored man, direct from Hanover Junction, with a carriage, in which he took off a wounded man. He says by this time they are all over the Pamunkey except the stragglers. He says they had "miles of troops and oceans of wagons and artillery." Hill (A. P.) must have taken the route through Chilesburg or one farther west. Respectfully, G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, Major-General WARREN: GENERAL: I am near the place known on the map as Cobbett's Tavern, and propose establishing a division there to-morrow unless orders are received to-night making it unnecessary. No enemy appears within a number of miles of my position in any direction, except a few cavalry vedettes, easily driven off. My position is, say, 1 miles this side of Mattapony. Very respectfully, yours, &c., WINF'D S. HANCOCK, General GRIFFIN: HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS, May 22, 1864. We expect to move very soon to Harris' Store. Information is now quite positive that the enemy fell back last night along the Telegraph road. We shall probably meet with no opposition, unless it is at the crossing of the Mat River. I will give you the advance and send you a guide. Have everything packed up and ready. Take along what wagons you have with you, and the artillery now with you. G. K. WARREN, In compliance with the above instructions the division will be ready to move at once, in the following order: Third Brigade, Second Brigade, First Brigade. By command of Brigadier-General Griffin: C. B. MERVINE, Assistant Adjutant-General. General GRIFFIN: MAY 22, 1864-2 p. m. If any infantry come out against you it will be from your left from the southeast. The troops should form facing southwest and move in that direction. When the cavalry is over on the plain, look out for your left. G. K. WARREN, General CRAWFORD: MAY 22, 1864-3.30 a. m. Since I saw you I have again had countermanding orders to prepare to advance, so that I have additional reasons for wanting that brigade pushed out as soon as possible along the ridge. Let it keep going till it strikes the enemy. G. K. WARREN, HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV., 5TH ARMY CORPS, Lieutenant-Colonel McCoy, May 22, 1864-6.45 a. m. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division: COLONEL: I have advanced full 2 miles, more than a mile from barricade erected by enemy last night. Have found nothing but cavalry, probably scouts. Am still advancing; am in a thick woods, and no prospect of open country. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, JAMES L. BATES, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade. |