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By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern
ahead of me on May 11； and the presence of； his troops； on the
Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was
approaching the Brook turnpike； this general pressed forward at once
to the attack。 Pushing his division to the front； he soon got
possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred
yards to the east of it。 This success had the effect of throwing the
head of my column to the east of the pike； and I quickly brought up
Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation
by forming a line of battle on that side or the road。 Meanwhile the
enemy； desperate but still confident； poured in a heavy fire from his
line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road； and made
Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place。 Gibbs's and Devin's
brigades； however； held fast there； while Custer； supported by
Chapman's brigade； attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted
charge。
Custer's charge； with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's
division sustaining him； was brilliantly executed。 Beginning at a
walk； he increased his gait to a trot； and then at full speed rushed
at the enemy。 At the same moment the dismounted troops along my
whole front moved forward； and as Custer went through the battery；
capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the
enemy's left； Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the
field。 Gregg meanwhile； with equal success； charged the force in his
rear…Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete
control of the road to Richmond。 We captured a number of prisoners；
and the casualties on both sides were quite severe； General Stuart
himself falling mortally wounded； and General James B。 Gordon； one of
his brigade commanders； being killed。
After Custer's charge； the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up；
the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a
small part in the direction of Richmond； which latter force finally
rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville。 A reconnoitring party
being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city； dashed across
the South Fork of the Chickahominy； drove a small force from the
enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them。 I followed this
party； and after a little exploration found between the two lines of
works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from
Mechanicsville to Richmond。 I thought we could go around within the
outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville
pike on the south side of the Chickahominy； and encamp the next night
at Fair Oaks； so I determined to make the movement after dark； being
influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the
afternoon from colored people； to the effect that General B。 F。
Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the
James； about four miles south of Richmond。 If I could succeed in
getting through by this road； not only would I have a shorter line of
march to Haxall's landing； but there was also a possibility that I
could help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond。
Therefore； after making the wounded as comfortable as possible； we
commenced the march about 11 o'clock on the night of the 1lth； and
massed the command on the plateau south of the Meadow bridge near
daylight on the 12th。
The enemy； anticipating that I would march by this route； had planted
torpedoes along it； and many of these exploded as the column passed
over them； killing several horses and wounding a few men； but beyond
this we met with no molestation。 The torpedoes were loaded shells
planted on each side of the road； and so connected by wires attached
to friction…tubes in the shells； that when a horse's hoof struck a
wire the shell was exploded by the jerk on the improvised lanyard。
After the loss of several horses and the wounding of some of the men
by these torpedoes； I gave directions to have them removed； if
practicable； so about twenty…five of the prisoners were brought up
and made to get down on their knees； feel for the wires in the
darkness； follow them up and unearth the shells。 The prisoners
reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the
principal person who had engaged in planting these shells； and I
therefore directed that some of them be carried and placed in the
cellar of his house； arranged to explode if the enemy's column came
that way； while he and his family were brought off as prisoners and
held till after daylight。
Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond。 The
Confederates； supposing that their capital was my objective point；
were straining every effort to put it in a state of defense； and had
collected between four and five thousand irregular troops； under
General Bragg； besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from
the force confronting General Butler south of the James River； the
alarm being intensified by the retreat； after the defeat at Yellow
Tavern； of Stuart's cavalry； now under General Fitzhugh Lee； by way
of Ashland to Mechanicsville； on the north side of the Chickahominy；
for falling back in that direction； left me between them and
Richmond。
Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious； on account
of the extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain； but at daylight
on the 12th the head of my column； under Wilson； reached the
Mechanicsville pike。 Here Wilson； encountering the enemy's works and
batteries manned by General Bragg's troops； endeavored to pass。 In
this he failed； and as soon as I was notified that it was
impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing between the works and the
Chickahominy； Custer's brigade was directed to make the crossing to
the north side of the Chickahominy； at the Meadow bridge。 Custer
moved rapidly for the bridge； but found it destroyed； and that the
enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side； in front of
Mechanicsville。 When this information came back； I ordered Merritt
to take his whole division and repair the bridge； instructing him
that the crossing must be made at all hazards； for； in view of an
impending attack by the enemy's infantry in Richmond； it was
necessary that I should have the bridge as a means of egress in case
of serious disaster。
All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty； the
enemy gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the
bridge with a section of artillery and a fire from the supporting
troops； so a small force was thrown across to drive them away。 When
Merritt had passed two regiments over； they attacked； but were
repulsed。 The work on the； bridge continued； however； not…
withstanding this discomfiture； and when it was finished； Merritt
crossed nearly all his division； dismounted； and again attacked the
enemy； this time carrying the line； of temporary breastwork