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Pamunkey rivers； embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded；
five hundred prisoners； and about two thousand negroes that had
joined my column in the hope of obtaining their freedom。 I therefore
determined to push down the north bank of the Mattapony far enough to
enable me to send these impediments directly to West Point； where I
anticipated finding some of our gunboats and transports； that could
carry all to the North。 Following this plan； we proceeded through
Walkerton to King and Queen Court House； and bivouacked in its
vicinity the night of the 18th。 Next day I learned that the depot at
the White House had not yet been broken up entirely； and that
supplies were in store for me there； so after sending the wounded；
prisoners； and negroes to West Point under an escort of two
regiments； I turned back to Dunkirk； on the Mattapony； and crossed to
the south side at a place where the stream was narrow enough to
bridge with my pontoon…boats。
In returning from Trevillian； as the most of our wounded were hauled
in old buggies； carts； and such other vehicles as could be made
available in the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances； the
suffering was intense； the heat of the season and dusty roads adding
much to the discomfort。 Each day we halted many times to dress the
wounds of the injured and to refresh them as much as possible； but
our means for mitigating their distress were limited。 The fortitude
and cheerfulness of the poor fellows under such conditions were
remarkable； for no word of complaint was heard。 The Confederate
prisoners and colored people being on foot； our marches were
necessarily made short； and with frequent halts also； but they too
suffered considerably from the heat and dust； though at times the
prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some of our
regiments； the owners meantime marching on foot。 Where all the
colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable； but
they began joining us just before we reached Trevillianmen； women；
and children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly
goods； and the number increased from day to day until they arrived at
West Point。 Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest
idea； when he set out； as to where he would finally land； but to a
man they followed the Yankees in full faith that they would lead to
freedom； no matter what road they took。
On the morning of the 20th； at an early hour； we resumed our march；
and as the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the
direction of the White House； which fact caused us to quicken the
pace。 We had not gone far when despatches from General Abercrombie；
commanding some fragmentary organizations at the White House；
notified me that the place was about to be attacked。 I had
previously sent an advance party with orders to move swiftly toward
the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual condition of
affairs。 From this party I soon learned that there was no occasion
to push our jaded animals； since the crisis； if there had been one；
was over and the enemy repulsed； so the increased gait was reduced to
a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north
bank of the Pamunkey； opposite Abercrombie's camp。 When I got to the
river the enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House
farm； having made no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line
or do him other hurt than to throw a few shells among the teamsters
there congregated。
Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted； and
Torbert's crossed mounted。 As soon as the troops were over； Gregg；
supported by Merritt's brigade； moved out on the road to Tunstall's
Station to attack Hampton； posted an the west side of Black Creek；
Custer's brigade meanwhile moving； mounted； on the road to
Cumberland； and Devin's in like manner on the one to Baltimore
crossroads。 This offer of battle was not accepted； however； and
Hampton withdrew from my front； retiring behind the Chickahominy；
where his communications with Lee would be more secure。
While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot
wholly； and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of
the Potomac had left there across the peninsula to the pontoon…bridge
at Deep Bottom on the James River。 These trains amounted to hundreds
of wagons and other vehicles； and knowing full well the dangers which
would attend the difficult problem of getting them over to
Petersburg； I decided to start them with as little delay as
circumstances would permit； and the morning of the 22d sent Torbert's
division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the Chickahominy； so that
the wagons could be crossed at that point。 The trains followed
Torbert； while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel to the one
on which the wagons were moving； and on their right flank； as they
needed to be covered and protected in that direction only。
The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains
that day； and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the
south side of the Chickahominy； guarded by General Getty； who had
relieved Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we
started off from the White House。
To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge； Torbert had pushed Devin's
brigade out on the Long Bridge road； on the side of the Chickahominy
where； on the morning of the 23d； he was attacked by Chambliss's
brigade of W。 H。 F。 Lee's division。 Devin was driven in some little
distance； but being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored
troops； he quickly turned the tables on Chambliss and re…established
his picketposts。 From this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade
was the advance of the Confederate cavalry corps； while Hampton
discovered from it that we were already in possession of the Jones's
bridge crossing of the Chickahominy； and as he was too late to
challenge our passage of the stream at this point he contented
himself with taking up a position that night so as to cover the roads
leading from Long Bridge to Westover； with the purpose of preventing
the trains from following the river road to the pontoon…bridge at
Deep Bottom。
My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River
on this pontoon…bridge if practicable； and to reach it I should be
obliged to march through Charles City Court House； and then by
Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill； the latter point being held by
the enemy。 In fact； he held all the ground between Long Bridge on
the Chickahominy and the pontoon…bridge except the Tete de pont at
the crossing。 Notwithstanding this I concluded to make the attempt；
for all the delays of ferrying the command and trains would be
avoided if we got through to the bridge； and with this object in view
I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles City road to conduct
the wagons。 Just beyond Charles City Court Hous