him to hold the position he then occupied and observe closely the movements of the enemy's troops. The First Brigade in the mean time had been halted on the north side of Robertson Run, near the junction of the road from Parker's Store with the Catharpin road. Having heard nothing from the main army during the day, and having thrown my own force to the extreme limit mentioned in my instructions, I determined to occupy as strong a position as possible, and govern myself as circumstances might demand. Having observed the menacing dispositions of the enemy in front of Chapman's brigade, I directed him to collect his dismounted men and be prepared to fall back, if the enemy should press him too severely. Soon after this, having received re-enforcements, the enemy advanced and compelled Chapman to retire. It was now apparent that the rebel force was considerably superior to ours, and being short of ammunition, I directed Chapman to fall back rapidly beyond the Meeting House, and reform in rear of the First Brigade. My headquarters having been located at Mrs. Faulkner's house, when the rebels arrived at that place, my escort, composed of about 50 men of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Long, Third Indiana Cavalry, gave them a severe check, and in conjunction with a heavy fire from Pennington's and Fitzhugh's batteries, enabled everything to withdraw from the main road to the position occupied by the First Brigade. I had scarcely arrived there, however, when I was informed by Colonel Bryan that the enemy had made his appearance at an early hour in the forenoon in his rear, on the road to Parker's Store, and that none of my couriers to General Meade had succeeded in getting through. Surprised at this, and fearing for the safety of my command, I immediately determined to withdraw, by a blind road toward Todd's Tavern, to Chancellorsville. I had scarcely taken this resolution when I perceived that the enemy were pushing rapidly down the Catharpin road in the same direction. The march was begun at once, the Second Brigade in advance, followed the batteries and the First Brigade. The Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Lieut. Col. W. P. Brinton commanding, was left to cover the rear. The main column crossed the Po near its head, and struck the Catharpin road just beyond Corbin's Bridge. It had scarcely got upon the road when the rebels made their appearance on the hill west of the bridge. I succeeded in reaching the road with my escort just in time to prevent being cut off. The rear guard found the road occupied by the enemy, but Colonel Brinton made three brilliant and determined charges, breaking the enemy's cavalry, but finding he could not succeed in getting through without heavy loss, he struck off to the left and joined the division late in the evening.

At Todd's Tavern I found Brigadier-General Gregg with his division, and passing behind him formed my command to assist in holding that place. Gregg moved promptly out, attacked the enemy, and, after a sharp fight, repulsed him. The two divisions encamped that night so as to cover the roads meeting at Todd's Tavern. About midnight Chapman moved his brigade a mile out on the Brock road to connect with the infantry, and prevent the enemy from pushing through that interval.

Early the next morning I was directed to move into Chancellorsville for rations and ammunition, but had been there only a short time when I was ordered back to take position-one brigade at the Piney Branch Church, the other at Alrich's on the Fredericksburg

road. Late in the evening was withdrawn again to Chancellorsville, where I arrived with the First Brigade of the division after night and bivouacked.

On the morning of the 7th I was directed by Major-General Sheridan to send a brigade toward the right of the army, with directions to patrol between it and the river, for the purpose of ascertaining if the enemy had made any movement in that direction after breaking the Sixth Corps in the attack on the evening of the 6th. In pursuance of these instructions, I went with McIntosh's brigade to the vicinity of Greenwood Mines, from which position it was soon ascertained that the road to Germanna Ford was still open and no enemy in that direction, notwithstanding the alarming reports sent in by Colonel Crooks, of the Twenty-second New York Cavalry. A reconnaissance at the same time by Chapman's brigade toward Spotsylvania Court-House_discovered no enemy in that direction. The division bivouacked near Alrich's. During the night I received orders to move early the next morning, the 8th, by "the Gate" to Spotsylvania Court-House, and thence to Snell's Bridge, on the Po River. I understood I was to be followed by the Ninth Corps, and, accordingly, moved promptly at 5 a. m., and, after a rapid march, reached the main road running toward the Court-House just north of Ny River, the First Brigade in advance. The enemy's cavalry pickets were encountered at the crossing of the Ny, but were driven rapidly back. At the Court-House Wickham's brigade of cavalry was struck in the flank by a gallant charge and scattered in all directions. About 50 prisoners were captured, most of them from Longstreet's corps. A number of our own men and officers who had been captured by the enemy were released. I soon learned that the rebel forces had moved down the Catharpin road and were covering the roads through Spotsylvania Court-House southward, and that a heavy battle was then in progress between them and our troops, moving by Todd's Tavern and Piney Branch Church. McIntosh, however, had swung to the right and attacked the right of the enemy's line in rear, when it was reported to me that a large force of infantry was moving up the road from Snell's Bridge. Fearing McIntosh would in turn be taken in rear, I directed him to withdraw and form behind the Second Brigade, then at the Court-House. Just at this juncture, an officer of General Sheridan's staff arrived with an order countermanding my movement to Spotsylvania CourtHouse, if I had not already reached it, and in the latter case directing me to withdraw immediately. I learned from this officer that the First and Second Divisions, of the Cavalry Corps, and the Fifth Corps, moving from Todd's Tavern and Piney Branch Church, had encountered the enemy in great force, and that the Ninth Corps had not followed my division, as was intended. I therefore lost no time in withdrawing to a position near Alsop's house. Had the Ninth Corps supported me, as was intended, the bioody battles which followed would at least not have been fought at Spotsylvania CourtHouse. My division occupied the place at least two hours, and in leaving was not followed by any force of the rebels. That night bivouacked near Alsop's, and early next morning, in pursuance of instructions, marched to the Fredericksburg road, striking it at the Tabernacle Church, and joined the cavalry in the march toward Richmond. Camped that night near Anderson's Bridge on the North Anna River, and at daylight on the 10th, after a sharp skirmish, crossed to the south side, covering the crossing for the Second Di

vision from the rebel cavalry in pursuit of our column. Thence marched to the South Anna, crossing it at the Ground Squirrel Bridge, near which place the corps bivouacked for the night.

On the 11th the march was continued toward Richmond, the First Division in advance, and the Second covering the rear. Although both front and rear of the column were annoyed by the enemy, my division was not engaged until the afternoon. The First Division having encountered the enemy's cavalry in force near the Yellow Tavern, I was ordered to support Custer's brigade. With Chapman's brigade I moved to a field near the tavern and took position on the left of Custer, the First Vermont, Colonel Preston, commanding, mounted on the right, and the balance of the brigade dismounted and deployed as skirmishers. The enemy had evidently crossed the South Anna farther to the east than we had, and marched rapidly on the most direct line for Richmond. He had reached a point on the Hanover Court-House road near its junction with the road to Louisa Court-House, and occupied a strong position in the woods and fields with artillery posted in the road, with his line faced toward Richmond. As soon as the enemy opened his guns upon General Custer the latter charged with his brigade, mostly mounted. In pursuance of my instructions, Chapman, with his brigade, charged at the same time. His dismounted men struck the extreme right of the enemy's line, and drove them from their rail breast-works, taking 30 or 40 prisoners, while Colonel Preston, with his regiment mounted, moved so as to strike from 50 to 100 yards to the left of General Custer. The charge was entirely successful. General Custer captured the enemy's guns, and in conjunction with Chapman's brigade drove the rebels completely from the field. It was in this charge and the mêlée which followed that the rebel cavalry leader, J. E. B. Stuart, was killed, and from it may be dated the permanent superiority of the national cavalry over that of the rebels.

In pursuance of verbal instructions from General Sheridan, I took the advance at 11 p. m. with my division, the balance of the corps following for the purpose of crossing the Chickahominy and marching between it and the defenses of Richmond by the way of Fair Oaks Station to Haxall's Landing on the James River. After marching on the Brook turnpike, across the Chickahominy to within 5 miles of the city, I turned the head of the column to the left, and by a country road through the farms crossed the Virginia Central Railroad, and reached the Mechanicsville turnpike without difficulty or unusual delay. A small picket of the enemy was encountered near the latter road, and a torpedo planted in the Brook pike exploded while the column was marching. With these exceptions, there was no indication of any disposition on the part of the enemy to prevent the march of our column to its destination. But just before daybreak, having halted on the Mechanicsville pike for a guide, while the division was massing, the enemy opened a fire of musketry upon the advance guard from the inner line of the Richmond defenses. A few minutes after they opened a battery of large guns from the fortifications not over 300 yards from the main force. Colonel Chapman hastily dismounted his brigade and sent the horses back. Colonel McIntosh brought up his brigade and dismounted. The batteries were put in position and opened upon the enemy's works. By this time it was daylight. I soon learned that it would be exceedingly difficult to push on in the direction of Fair Oaks, and

notified General Sheridan of the same. The defenses of Richmond on the Mechanicsville pike approach so near to the Chickahominy as to enable the rebel guns to sweep all of the ground above the river bottom. A sharp skirmish was maintained for several hours with the enemy, and two sorties from their works repelled by my division and that of General Gregg, while the First Division forced a crossing in the face of the rebel cavalry to the north side of the Chickahominy above the Meadow Bridges. This crossing secured, and the enemy driven back, we withdrew to Mechanicsville and continued the march thence to Gaines' house, where we encamped that night.

On the 13th we recrossed the Chickahominy at the Bottom's Bridge and marched thence by the White Oak bridge and Malvern Hill to Haxall's Landing, where we arrived early in the morning of the 14th. After resting and supplying the command with rations and forage, we returned with the corps by the way of the White House, crossing the Pamunkey River at that place, and rejoined the army on the North Anna River, near Chesterfield Station, the 25th of May.

On the morning of the 26th, while encamped at Coleman's Mill, I was directed by General Sheridan to cross the North Anna at Jericho Mills, and move thence to the south side of Little River for the purpose of making a demonstration upon the enemy's left. Having performed this duty I was directed to recross the North Anna and cover the rear and right flank, and occupy the fords as they were left by the infantry in its march to New Castle Ferry. At 2.30 p. m. I crossed the river and moved to the right flank of the Sixth Corps, then occupying the right of our line. I examined the country for means of crossing Little River, so as to strike well in toward Hanover Junction, but I found the bridges all destroyed and the streams so much swollen that the fords were impracticable. Late in the evening, however, I made a show of crossing at Owen's and Cook's Fords, and after opening with artillery succeeded in throwing a small force of dismounted men across upon a fallen tree, drove in the enemy's pickets, and kept up the appearance of building bridges until late at night. At 11.30 p. m. recrossed to north side of North Anna, at Butler's Bridge, and bivouacked at Canfield's house.

On the 27th, 28th, and 29th conformed to the movement of the infantry, and on the 30th sent Chapman's brigade to the south side of the Pamunkey, at New Castle Ferry, with directions to occupy and hold the line of Crump's Swamp, between the right of the army and the river. The next day, the trains having all joined the army, the First Brigade also crossed. At sunrise I moved with the entire force toward Hanover Court-House, and met the rebel cavalry near Dr. Price's house. After a sharp fight, drove them across Mechump's Creek. Just before dark, having posted pickets on the roads, and opened communication by patrols with the right of the army resting at Phillips' Mill, I received an order from MajorGeneral Humphreys, chief of staff to Major-General Meade, saying "the order for the destruction of the bridges over the South Anna had not been countermanded," and directing me to proceed at once with my division to destroy them and the railroad track, and to continue at the work, moving in the direction of Richmond till I should encounter the enemy in such strength that I could no longer contend with them successfully. This was the first intima

tion received that such orders had been issued. As it was peremptory, I directed Colonel McIntosh to get ready to advance at once. The enemy occupied the brow of a ridge on the farther bank of Mechump's Creek, near the Court-House, and covered the only road by which the bridges could be reached. Colonel McIntosh formed a strong line of dismounted skirmishers, composed of the Eighteenth Pennsylvania, Second Ohio, and First Connecticut Cavalry, at close intervals, and held the Second New York in readiness to charge with the saber. The Second Brigade supporting him, the dismounted men moved out after it had become quite dark, pressed forward in the dark, holding their fire till they descended into the creek valley. The ground was cleared of timber, but quite favorable to the enemy. The creek was swampy and almost impassable, but pressing steadily forward over all obstacles, the rebels, ascertained to be W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry, were driven in confusion from the field. The conduct of Colonel McIntosh and his brigade in this affair was most admirable. The resolution evinced by the officers and men was all that could be desired. The CourtHouse was occupied and pickets posted, but the night having been very dark the pursuit could not be continued farther. The rebel cavalry withdrew in the direction of Ashland, 7 miles distant.

At daylight on the 1st of June the march was resumed, McIntosh on the direct Ashland road for the purpose of engaging the enemy, while Chapman's brigade, with one regiment of McIntosh's brigade, was directed to take advantage of McIntosh's movement and proceed by the road up the south bank of the South Anna and destroy the railroad bridges. McIntosh had not proceeded more than 2 miles when he encountered the rebel cavalry, but attacking them with his usual impetuosity, he compelled them to give way rapidly before him. In doing this they withdrew on the side roads toward Richmond, leaving the direct road to Ashland open. Chapman, after skirmishing with the bridge guards, burned both and destroyed several miles of the Virginia Central road. Having thus fully accomplished the work of destroying the bridges, I determined to unite the division on the Telegraph road near Ashland. But the enemy having been re-enforced by Rosser's brigade of cavalry returned toward Ashland, and while McIntosh was engaged in destroying the railroad, attacked him with great determination. Having ascertained the state of affairs at Ashland, I sent the battery attached to Chapman's brigade to Hanover Court-House, under escort of the Third Indiana Cavalry, with orders to hold that place till the division could reach it, and then with Colonel Chapman and the balance of his brigade marched by the Telegraph road to Ashland, 4 miles distant. This road intersecting the road upon which McIntosh marched, a half mile east of Ashland, enabled Chapman to strike the enemy in rear. Arriving in the vicinity of the village, the First Vermont Cavalry was dismounted, and, deployed as skirmishers in the dense forest, pushed forward in the direction of the firing, only a few hundred yards from us, and attacked the rebels with great spirit. By this diversion McIntosh was enabled to withdraw. He marched along the railroad toward the South Anna and intersected the Telegraph road 2 miles in rear of Chapman. The latter continued to press the attack with vigor till he had diverted the attention of the entire rebel force. It was by that time almost night, and having been engaged in almost constant fighting for two

56 R R-VOL XXXVI, PT I