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into Custer's lines； leaving there about five hundred prisoners。 The
rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west
of Trevillian； while； in the meantime； Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee
toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened
between the two Confederate divisions； precluding their union until
about noon the next day； when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction
after a circuitous march in the night。 The defeat of Hampton at the
point where he had determined to resist my further advance； and his
retreat westward； gave me undisturbed possession of the station； and
after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville； I
went into camp。
》From prisoners taken during the day； I gathered that General Hunter；
instead of coming toward Charlottesville； as I had reason to expect；
both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by
General Grant； was in the neighborhood of Lexingtonapparently
moving on Lynchburgand that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and
Charlottesville。 I also heard； from the same source； that Ewell's
corps was on its way to Lynchburg； but this intelligence proved
afterward to be incorrect； for these troops； commanded by General
Early； did not leave Richmond till two days later。
There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general
location； however。 He was marching toward Lynchburg； away from
instead of toward me； thus making the junction of our commands beyond
all reasonable probability。 So in view of this； I made up my mind to
abandon that part of the scheme； and to return by leisurely marches；
which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was
crossing the James River。 I was still further influenced to this
course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of
woundedthere being about five hundred cases of my ownand the five
hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon； should
I proceed farther。 Besides； the recent battle had reduced my supply
of ammunition to a very small amountnot more than enough for one
more respectable engagement； and as the chances were that I would
have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter； now that the
enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us； the
risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it。
The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the
railroad to Louisa Court House； and continued the work during the
day； breaking it pretty effectually。 While Gregg was thus occupied；
I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road；
to secure a by…road leading over Mallory's ford； on the North Anna；
to the Catharpen road； as I purposed following that route to
Spottsylvania Court House on my return； and thence via Bowling Green
and Dunkirk to the White House。 About a mile beyond Trevillian the
Gordonsville road forkthe left fork leading to Charlottesvilleand
about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly
intrenched a line across both roads； being reinforced by Fitzhugh
Lee； who； as before related； had joined him about noon by a
roundabout march。 Torbert soon hotly engaged this line； and by the
impetuosity of his first attack； gained some advantage； but the
appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right； and Hampton's
strong resistance in front； rendered futile all efforts to carry the
position； and； although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to
Torbert's assistance； yet the by…road I coveted was still held by the
enemy when night closed in。
This engagement； like that off the day before around Trevillian； was
mostly fought dismounted by both sides； as had also been the earlier
fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness； at Todd's
Tavern； Hawe's Shop； and Matadequin Creek。 Indeed； they could hardly
have been fought otherwise than on foot； as there was little chance
for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia； the dense woods； the
armament of both parties； and the practice of barricading making it
impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force； and
so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method
prevailed in almost every engagement。
The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides。
The character of the fighting； together with the day's results；
demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North
Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day。
This would consume the little ammunition left； and though we might
gain the road； yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever
to get back with was too great a hazard； so I gave orders to withdraw
during the night of the 12th。 We retired along the same road by
which we had come； taking with us the prisoners； and all of our
wounded who could be moved。 Those who could not be transported； some
ninety in number； and all the Confederate wounded in my hands； were
left at Trevillian in hospitals； under charge of one of our surgeons；
with plenty of medical and other stores。
We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following
morning； and halting there； unsaddled and turned the horses out to
graze； for they were nearly famished； having had neither food nor
water during the preceding forty…eight hours。 Late in the afternoon
we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store； while General
Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna； with
the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac； in
the hope of preventing my return to it； but his movements took no
definite shape beyond watching me； however； till several days later；
near St。 Mary's Church； when I was crossing the peninsula to the
James River。
On the 14th the march was continued； and we reached the Catharpen
road； upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been
able to cross at Mallory's ford； and this conducted me to Shady Grove
Church。 The next day we passed over the battle…field of
Spottsylvania Court House。 The marks of the recent conflicts about
there were visible on every hand； and in the neighboring houses were
found many Union and Confederate wounded； who had been too severely
hurt to be removed from the field…hospitals at the time of the
battles。 Such of our wounded as were able to travel were brought
away。
On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling
Green to Dr。 Butler's； on the north side of the Mattapony。 When I
arrived here I was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of
the Potomac； and was uncertain whether or not the base at the White
House had been discontinued。 I had heard nothing from the army for
nine days except rumors through Southern sources； and under these
circumstances did not like to venture between the Mattapony and
Pamunkey rivers； embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded；
five hundred prisoners； and about two thousan