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portion of your force； especially your cavalry； is needed back in
your department； you are authorized to send it back。 If on receipt
of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to
reach that point； you will exercise your judgment about going there。
If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and
Lynchburg； it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy
the canal。 Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal。
〃U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。〃
Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many
horses； so the number of dismounted men was large； and my strength
had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same
period of activity。 The effective mounted force of my two divisions
was therefore much diminished； they mustering only about six thousand
officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry。
Here they were provided with three days' rations； intended to last
five days； and with two days' grain for the horses。 The rations and
forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons
of the troopers； the grain on the pommel of the saddle； and the
reserve ammunition in wagons。 One medical wagon and eight ambulances
were also furnished； and one wagon was authorized for each division
and brigade headquarters； enough canvas…covered boats for a small
pontoon…bridge were also provided。
My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take； I
decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River； cross
that stream at Carpenter's ford； strike the Virginia Central railroad
at Trevillian Station； destroy it toward Louisa Court House； march
past Gordonsville； strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station； and
destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west。 The
success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on
the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region
where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other。
》From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey； marched
between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River； and on the 8th
of June encamped at Polecat Station。 The next day we resumed the
march along the North Annaour advance guard skirmishing with a few
mounted men of the enemy； who proved to be irregularsand bivouacked
on Northeast Creek； near Young's Mills。 This day I learned from some
of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's
division of infantry； en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of
Gordonsville； was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me； and
that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of
the Chickahominy； and was marching on the old Richmond and
Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville； under command of General Wade
Hampton； the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out
to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night。
Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as
soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton； but now that my
expedition had been discovered； the movement of Breckenridge's troops
on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my
command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me。
On the 10th we resumed the march； passing by Twyman's store； crossing
the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading
along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station。 During
the evening and night of the Loth the boldness of the enemy's
scouting parties； with which we had been coming into collision more
or less every day； perceptibly increased； thus indicating the
presence of a large force； and evidencing that his shorter line of
march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry；
although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did
from Grant's。 The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge
to pass on to Gordonsville； and from there to interpose between
General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as
circumstances might determine。
On the night of the Loth General Hampton's division camped about
three miles northwest of Trevillian； at a place called Green Spring
Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House；
some six miles east of Trevillian。 Learning that I was at
Carpenter's ford； Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian
Station toward Clayton's store； on the road from Trevillian to
Carpenter's ford； intending to attack me at Clayton's。 Fitzhugh
Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa
Court House； but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were
separated by several miles。
At daylight of the 11th my march； to Trevillian Station was resumed
on the direct road to that point； and engaging the enemy's pickets
and advanced parties soon after setting out； we began to drive them
in。 Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades； and as
he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a
line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian。
Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked； by
a wood road found on our left； to destroy Trevillian Station。 In
following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division；
having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division；
which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court
House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton。
Custer； the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear； charged the
led horses； wagons； and caissons found there； getting hold of a vast
number of each； and also of the station itself。 The stampede and
havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn
Rosser's brigade in that direction； and while it attacked Custer on
one side； Fitzhugh Lee's division； which had followed Custer toward
Trevillian； attacked him on the other。 There then ensued a desperate
struggle for the possession of the captured property； resulting
finally in its being retaken by the enemy。 Indeed； the great number
of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within
Custer's line； which now formed almost a complete circle； and while
he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they； together
with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons； fell into
the hands of their original owners。
As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear； I
directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin；
aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left； Gregg's other
brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court
House road。 The effect of this was to force Hampton back； and his
division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell…mell
into Custer's lines； leaving there about five hundred prisoners。