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rations； were furnished us by General Butler； and the work of
refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously
pushed。 By the 17th all was ready； and having learned by scouting
parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket
that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that
evening on my return march； crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's
bridge； and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads。
My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our
absence； and as to where I should find it； made our getting back a
problem somewhat difficult of solution； particularly as I knew that
reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond； and
that most likely some of these troops were being held at different
points on the route to intercept my column。 Therefore I determined
to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House； and sent to Fort
Monroe for a pontoon…bridge on which to make the crossing。 While
waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade
to Hanover Station； to destroy the railroad bridge over the South
Anna； a little beyond that place； at the same time I sent Gregg and
Wilson to Cold Harbor； to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as
far as Mechanicsville； so as to cover Custer's movements。 Merritt；
with the remaining brigades of his division； holding fast at
Baltimore crossroads to await events。
After Gregg and Custer had gone； it was discovered that the railroad
bridge over the Pamunkey； near the White House； had been destroyed
but partiallythe cross…ties and stringers being burned in places
onlyand that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry
us over。 In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades
were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge。 By
sending mounted parties through the surrounding country； each man of
which would bring in a board or a plank； Merritt soon accumulated
enough lumber for the flooring； and in one day the bridge was made
practicable。 On the 22d Gregg； Wilson； and Custer returned。 The
latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station；
destroyed some commissary stores there； and burned two trestle
bridges over Hanover Creek。 This done； he deemed it prudent to
retire to Hanovertown。 The next morning he again marched to Hanover
Station； and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy；
consisting of infantry； cavalry； and artillery； was posted at the
South Anna bridges。 These troops had gone there from Richmond en
route to reinforce Lee。 In the face of this impediment Custer's
mission could not be executed fully； so he returned to Baltimore
crossroads。
The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d； and that day it
crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge； marching to
Ayletts； on the Mattapony River； the same night。 Here I learned from
citizens； and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties
sent toward Hanover Court House； that Lee had been； forced from his
position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to
the line of the North Anna。 I then determined to rejoin the Army of
the Potomac at the earliest moment； which I did by making for
Chesterfield Station； where I reported to General Meade on the 24th
of May。
Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the
Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command； and our
success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade； both
realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and
alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his
retrograde march； and both acknowledged that； by drawing off the
enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight； we had enabled them to
move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without
molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna。
Then； too； great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had
been destroyedstores that the enemy had accumulated at sub…depots
from strained resources and by difficult means； the railroads that
connected Lee with Richmond broken； the most successful cavalry
leader of the South killed； and in addition to all this there had
been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough
defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia。
When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond
were impressed； and indeed convinced； that my designs contemplated
the capture of that city； and notwithstanding the loss they sustained
in the defeat and death of Stuart； and their repulse the succeeding
day； they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered
their capital。 Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this
theory and conviction since the war。 In this view they were and are
in error。 When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my
instructions had been carried out； and my thoughts then turned to
joining General Butler to get supplies。 I believed that I could do
this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on
the south side of the Chickahominy； but the failure of Wilson's
column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike
necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge； and then moving by
Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route。
Moreover； my information regarding General Butler's position was
incorrect； so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks
by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby； for I
should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to
Haxall's。
CHAPTER XX。
GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSECROSSING THE
PAMUNKEYENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOPFIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK
CAPTURE OF COLD HARBORTHE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACEMOVEMENTS OF
GENERAL WILSON。
When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac； near Chesterfield Station；
the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought； and the
complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung
across the North Anna were in process of execution。 In conjunction
with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank
of the army； where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna
as far as Little River； crossing the former stream near Jericho
Mills。 Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it
swung to the south； covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the
infantry and the fords left behind on the march。 From the 26th to
the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied； and also
necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force； but by the 31st
he was enabled to get all his division together again； and crossing
to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry； he advanced
toward Hanover Court House。 Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a
division of the enemy's cavalry under General W。