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have charged them； and drove them through the village； am fighting
now with a considerable force； supposed to be Lee's division。
Everything all right。
〃J。 H。 WILSON；
〃Brigadier…General Commanding。
During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern
and modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt； directing
Gregg simply to hold Corbin's bridge； and Merritt to move out in
front of the infantry column marching on the Spottsylvania road。
Merritt proceeded to obey； but in advancing； our cavalry and infantry
became intermingled in the darkness； and much confusion and delay was
the consequence。 I had not been duly advised of these changes in
Gregg's and Merritt's orders； and for a time I had fears for the
safety of Wilson； but； while he was preparing to move on to form his
junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge； the advance of
Anderson （who was now commanding Longstreet's corps） appeared on the
scene and drove him from Spottsylvania。
Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were
originally instructed； it is doubtful whether the battles fought at
Spottsylvania would have occurred； for these two divisions would have
encountered the enemy at the Pa River； and so delayed his march as to
enable our infantry to reach Spottsylvania first； and thus force Lee
to take up a line behind the Po。 I had directed Wilson to move from
the left by 〃the Gate〃 through Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge； while
Gregg and Merritt were to advance to the same point by Shady Grove
and the Block House。 There was nothing to prevent at least a partial
success of these operations； that is to say； the concentration of the
three divisions in front of Snell's bridge； even if we could not
actually have gained it。 But both that important point and the
bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored； and Lee's
approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed； while three
divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of
disjointed and irregular instructions。
On the morning of the 8th； when I found that such orders had been
given； I made some strong remonstrances against the course that had
been pursued； but it was then too late to carry out the combinations
I had projected the night before； so I proceeded to join Merritt on
the Spottsylvania road。 On reaching Merritt I found General Warren
making complaint that the cavalry were obstructing his infantry
column； so I drew Merritt off the road； and the leading division of
the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front。 It got into line about 11
o'clock； and advanced to take the village； but it did not go very far
before it struck Anderson's corps； and was hurled back with heavy
loss。 This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day。
A little before noon General Meade sent for me； and when I reached
his headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better
of his good judgment； he showing a disposition to be unjust； laying
blame here and there for the blunders that had been committed。 He
was particularly severe on the cavalry； saying； among other things；
that it had impeded the march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the
Spottsylvania road。 I replied that if this were true； he himself had
ordered it there without my knowledge。 I also told him that he had
broken up my combinations； exposed Wilson's division to disaster； and
kept Gregg unnecessarily idle； and further； repelled his insinuations
by saying that such disjointed operations as he had been requiring of
the cavalry for the last four days would render the corps inefficient
and useless before long。 Meade was very much irritated； and I was
none the less so。 One word brought on another； until； finally； I
told him that I could whip Stuart if he （Meade） would only let me；
but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions without
consulting or even notifying me； he could henceforth command the
Cavalry Corps himselfthat I would not give it another order。
The acrimonious interview ended with this remark； and after I left
him he went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the
conversation to him； mentioning that I had said that I could whip
Stuart。 At this General Grant remarked： 〃Did he say so？ Then let him
go out and do it。〃 This intimation was immediately acted upon by
General Meade； and a little later the following order came to me：
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
〃May 8th； 1864 1 P。 M。
〃GENERAL SHERIDAN；
〃Commanding Cavalry Corps。
〃The major…general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate
your available mounted force； and with your ammunition trains and
such supply trains as are filled （exclusive of ambulances） proceed
against the enemy's cavalry； and when your supplies are exhausted；
proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James
River； there communicating with General Butler； procuring supplies
and return to this army。 Your dismounted men will be left with the
train here。
〃A。 A。 HUMPHREYS；
〃Major…General； Chief…of…staff。〃
As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the
concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to
prepare for the contemplated expedition。 Three days' rations for the
men were distributed； and half rations of grain for one day were
doled out for the horses。 I sent for Gregg； Merritt； and Wilson and
communicated the order to them； saying at the same time； 〃We are
going out to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggestion
from me； we will give him a fair； square fight； we are strong； and I
know we can beat him； and in view of my recent representations to
General Meade I shall expect nothing but success。〃 I also indicated
to my division commanders the line of march I should takemoving in
one column around the right flank of Lee's army to get in its rear
and stated at the same time that it was my intention to fight Stuart
wherever he presented himself； and if possible go through to Haxall's
Landing； but that if Stuart should successfully interpose between us
and that point we would swing back to the Army of the Potomac by
passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville。 At
first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders
somewhat； for hitherto even the boldest； mounted expeditions had been
confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country； without
purpose of fighting more than enough to escape in case of
molestation； and here and there to destroy a bridge。 Our move would
be a challenge to Stuart for a cavalry duel behind Lee's lines； in
his own country； but the advantages which it was reasonable to
anticipate from the plan being quickly perceived； each division
commander entered into its support unhesitatingly； and at once set
about preparing for the march next day。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE EXPEDITION STARTSDESTROYING SUPPLIESOPENING OF THE FIGHT AT
YEL