按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
crossed nearly all his division； dismounted； and again attacked the
enemy； this time carrying the line； of temporary breastworks； built
with logs and rails； and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's
Mills。
While Merritt was engaged in this affair； the Confederates advanced
from behind their works at Richmond； and attacked Wilson and Gregg。
Wilson's troops were driven back in some confusion at first； but
Gregg； in anticipation of attack； had hidden a heavy line of
dismounted men in a bushy ravine on his front； and when the enemy
marched upon it； with much display and under the eye of the President
of the Confederacy； this concealed line opened a destructive fire
with repeating carbines； and at the same time the batteries of horse…
artillery； under Captain Robinson； joining in the contest； belched
forth shot and shell with fatal effect。 The galling fire caused the
enemy to falter； and while still wavering Wilson rallied his men； and
turning some of them against the right flank of the Confederates；
broke their line； and compelled them to withdraw for security behind
the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city in 1862。
By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the
Mechanicsville； pike； the enemy thought to corner us completely； for
he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the
day before； but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of
doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the
defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy。 He felt certain that on
account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy
except by the Meadow bridge； and it also seemed clear to him that we
could not pass between the river and his intrenchments； therefore he
hoped to ruin us； or at least compel us to return by the same route
we had taken in coming； in which case we would run into Gordon's
brigade； but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these
illusions。
Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him； we could have
crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were
discovered by scouting parties which； while the engagement was going
on； I had sent out to look up fords。 This means of getting out from
the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use； however； unless
there was no alternative； for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry
Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so
large a body of mounted troops。
The chances of seriously injuring； us were more favorable to the
enemy this time than ever they were afterward； for with the troops
from Richmond； comprising three brigades of veterans and about five
thousand irregulars on my front and right flank； with Gordon's
cavalry in the rear； and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank；
holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge； I was apparently hemmed
in on every side； but relying on the celerity with which mounted
troops could be moved； I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly
perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse
than those then surrounding us。 Therefore； instead of endeavoring to
get away without a fight； I concluded that there would be little
difficulty in withdrawing； even should I be beaten； and none whatever
if I defeated the enemy。
In accordance with this view I accepted battle； and the complete
repulse of the enemy's infantry； which assailed us from his
intrenchments； and of Gordon's cavalry； which pressed Gregg on the
Brook road； ended the contest in our favor。 The rest of the day we
remained on the battle…field undisturbed； and our time was spent in
collecting the wounded； burying the dead； grazing the horses； and
reading the Richmond journals； two small newsboys with commendable
enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital
to sell their papers。 They were sharp youngsters； and having come
well supplied； they did a thrifty business。 When their stock in
trade was all disposed of they wished to return； but they were so
intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other
purposes than the mere sale of newspapers； so they were held till we
crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose。
After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached
Mechanicsville； I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills。 Near
the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again； and
sending me word； about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the
Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg； but when we overtook Merritt he
had already brushed the Confederates away； and my whole command went
into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills。
The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed。 They were
〃to break up General Lee's railroad communications； destroy such
depots of supplies as could be found in his rear； and to defeat
General Stuart's cavalry。〃 Many miles of the Virginia Central and of
the； Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up； and
several of the bridges on each burnt。 At Beaver Dam； Ashland； and
other places； about two millions of rations had been captured and
destroyed。 The most important of all； however； was the defeat of
Stuart。 Since the beginning of the war this general had
distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted
force。 Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured； and
had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well…nigh
invincible； indeed； in the early years of the war it had proved to be
so。 This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in
Lee's rear； and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had
inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible。
In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most
disheartening； but his death was even a greater calamity； as is
evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer （Cooke）； who says：
〃Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment； and General Lee
was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his
death。 When it reached him he retired from those around him； and
remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory。 When
one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart； General Lee said： 'I
can scarcely think of him without weeping。'〃
》From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's
Landing； the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions
where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler。 We got to the
James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of
prisoners； and camped between Haxall's and Shirley。 The prisoners；
as well as the captured guns； were turned over to General Butler's
provost…marshal； and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by
his surgeons。 Ample supplies； also； in the way of forage and
rations； were furnished us by General Butler； and the work of
refitting for our return to the Army