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along the Danville road to Staunton River； completely wrecking about
thirty miles of that line also。 At Staunton River he found the
railroad bridge strongly guarded； and seeing that he could not burn
it； he began his return march that night； and reached Nottoway River；
some thirty miles south of Petersburg； at noon of the next daythe
28th。
In this expedition Wilson was closely followcd from the start by
Barringer's brigade of W。 H。 F。 Lee's cavalry； but the operations
were not interfered with materially； his success being signal till he
reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return。 At this
point General Hampton； with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry； got
between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac； there being behind them
at Ream's Station； at the same time； two brigades of infantry under
General Mahone。 A severe battle ensued； resulting in Wilson's
defeat； with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons。 In
consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across
the Nottoway River with his own division； and rejoined the army by
way of Peter's bridge on that stream； while Kautz's division； unable
to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in
the fight； made a circuit of the enemy's left； and reached the lines
of our army in the night of the 28th。
Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot； nor
the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry； seems
to have been anticipated by Wilson； for in the report of the
expedition he states：
〃Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward； I wrote to
General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no
serious difficulty in executing his orders； but unless General
Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged； and our
infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments； we should probably
experience great difficulty in rejoining the army。 In reply to this
note； General Humphreys； chief…of…staff； informed me it was intended
the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day；
the Southside road the day after； and that Hampton having followed
Sheridan toward Gordonsville； I need not fear any trouble from him。〃
I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note
of the same evening； warrant what General Wilson here says。 It is
true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by
our infantry； as General Humphreys informed him it would be； but
Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would
look after Hampton。 I do not think General Meade's instructions are
susceptible of this interpretation。 I received no orders requiring
me to detain Hampton。 On the contrary； when I arrived at the White
House my instructions required me to break up the depot there； and
then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable； nor
were these instructions ever modified。 I began the duty imposed on
me on the morning of the 23d； totally in the dark as to what was
expected of Wilson； though it seems； from some correspondence between
Generals Grant and Meade； which I never saw till after the war； that
Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field
of operations throughout the expedition。
〃HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC；
〃June 21； 1864。 9：20 A。 M。
〃BRIGADIER…GENERAL WILSON；
〃Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps。
〃The major…general commanding directs that you move your command at
2 A。 M。 to…morrow； the 22d instant； in execution of the duty assigned
you of destroying certain railroads。 Despatches received from the
White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place
yesterday evening； and that General Sheridan had also reached there；
hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment。
In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of
the enemy； and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection
of the Petersburg and Lynchburg； and the Richmond and Danville
railroads； and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent
possible； continuing their destruction until driven from it by such
attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist。 The destruction of
those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy
in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is
an important part of the plan of campaign。 The latest information
from Major…General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of
Lynchburg。 He may endeavor to form a junction with this army； you
will communicate with him if practicable； and have delivered to him
verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from
Lieutenant…General Grant to the major…general commanding this army。
Lieutenant Brooks； who will accompany your expedition part of the
way； should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found。
〃The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with
which it is commenced； and the celerity with which its movements are
conducted； your command will； therefore； have with it the lightest
supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough
execution of the duty； the supplies of the section of country you
will operate in being taken into account。 Upon the completion of the
work assigned you； you will rejoin this army。
〃The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with
the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained
for General Sheridan。
＇Signed＇ 〃A。 A。 HUMPHREYS；
〃Major…General； Chief…of…Staff。〃
〃HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES；
Mount Sinai Church； June 21； 18646 P。M。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL HUMPHREYS；〃
〃Chief…of…Staff。
〃The instructions of the major…general commanding； of this date； are
received。 I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A。 M。 to…morrow。
Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the
Weldon road。
〃I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station；
or some point in that vicinity； tearing up the track sufficiently to
delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours。 At this place I
shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road； by a
rapid march； at the nearest point； tearing up the track at every
practicable point between there and Burkeville。
〃From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the
Great road （breaking the railroad at every convenient point） directly
to Burkeville； which； if we succeed in capturing； will afford us the
opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage。 As soon as
I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all
the damage possible； I shall move with all possible rapidity for
Danville and Grenboro'。
〃Circumstances must； however； is a great degree control our movements
after leaving Burkeville。
〃If Sheridan will look after Hampton； I apprehend no