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CHAPTER XIX。
THE EXPEDITION STARTSDESTROYING SUPPLIESOPENING OF THE FIGHT AT
YELLOW TAVERNGENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGEDEATH OF GENERAL
STUARTREMOVING TORPEDOESEXCITEMENT IN RICHMONDA NIGHT MARCH
ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYSTHE EFFECTS OF STUART'S DEFEAT AND DEATHEND
OF THE FIRST EXPEDITIONITS GREAT SUCCESS AND BENEFICIAL RESULTS。
The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the
death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward
Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9； 1864； marching on the
plank…road； Merritt's division leading。 When the column reached
Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road；
and thence down that highway to Thornburg； and from that point
through Childsburg to Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River； it
being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible；
where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight。
The corps moved at a walk； three divisions on the same road； making a
column nearly thirteen miles in length； and marched around the right
flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard ； had passed
Massaponax Church。 Although the column was very long； I preferred to
move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for
carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes。
Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very
prompt in movement； and each fully equal to overcoming at once any
obstacle it may meet； combinations rarely work out as expected；
besides； an engagement was at all times imminent； hence it was
specially necessary to keep the whole force well together。
As soon as the Ny； Po； and Ta rivers were crossed； each ；of which
streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy；
all anxiety as to our passing around Lee's army was removed； and our
ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt。 Meanwhile
General Stuart had discovered what we were about； and he set his
cavalry in motion； sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack
my rear on the Childsburg road； Stuart himself marching by way of
Davenport's bridge； on the North Anna； toward Beaver Dam Station；
near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next
day。
My column having passed the Ta River； Stuart attacked its rear with
considerable vigor； in the hope that he could delay my whole force
long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my
front； but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade； which I
directed to fight as a rear…guard； holding on at one position and
then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the
enemy from a too rapid advance。 Davies performed this responsible
and trying duty with tact and good judgment； following the main
column steadily as it progressed to the south； and never once
permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a
halt of my main body。 About dark Merritt's division crossed the
North Anna at Anderson's ford； while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the
north side； having engaged the enemy； who still hung on my rear up to
a late hour at night。
After Merritt's division passed the river； Custer's brigade proceeded
on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad。
Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy； but
this he speedily drove off； recapturing from it about four hundred
Union prisoners； who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and
were being conducted to Richmond。 Custer also destroyed the station；
two locomotives； three trains of cars； ninety wagons； from eight to
ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines； some two hundred thousand
pounds of bacon and other supplies； amounting in all to about a
million and a half of rations； and nearly all they medical stores of
General Lee's army； which had been moved from Orange Court House
either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or
because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna。
On the morning of the l0th Gregg and Wilson； while crossing the North
Anna； were again attacked； but were covered by the division on the
south side of the stream； the passage was effected without much loss；
notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the
direction of Davenport's bridge。 The possession of Beaver Dam gave
us an important point； as it opened a way toward Richmond by the
Negro…foot road。 It also enabled us to obtain forage for our well…
nigh famished animals； and to prepare for fighting the enemy； who； I
felt sure； would endeavor to interpose between my column and
Richmond。
Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized
that concentrating there was a mistake； so he began making
dispositions for remedying his error； and while we leisurely took the
Negro…foot toad toward Richmond； he changed his tactics and hauled
off from my rear； urging his horses to the death in order to get in
between Richmond and my column。 This he effected about 10 o'clock on
the morning of the 11th； concentrating at Yellow Tavern； six miles
from the city； on the Brook turnpike。 His change of tactics left my
march on the l0th practically unmolested； and we quietly encamped
that night on the south bank of the South Anna； near Ground Squirrel
Bridge。 Here we procured an abundance of forage； and as the distance
traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles； men and
horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night。
At 2 o'clock in the morning； May 11； Davies's brigade of Gregg's
division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad。
Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column； which had to
pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern； Davies drove out
a small force occupying the town； burnt a train of cars and a
locomotive； destroyed the railroad for some distance； and rejoined
the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond
railroad。 From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow
Tavern； Merritt in the lead； Wilson following； and Gregg in the rear。
The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had
the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions； and
while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond；
yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the
same fault that he did the first day； when he divided his force and
sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road。 He now divided his
command again； sending a portion to hang upon my rear； while he
proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern。 This separation not only
materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my
line of march； but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire
corps； while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard。
By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in re