toward Hanover Court House。 Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a
division of the enemy's cavalry under General W。 H。 F。 Lee； and drove
it back across Mechamp's Creek； thus opening communication with the
right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills。 Just as this
had been done； a little before dark； Wilson received an order from
General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he
encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer
successfully contend against them； and in compliance with this order
occupied Hanover Court House that same day。 Resuming his march at
daylight on June 1； he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending
Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the
bridges on that stream。 Chapman having succeeded in this work；
Wilson re…united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland；
but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong
force； he was obliged to withdraw to Dr。 Price's house。 Here he
learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor； so on
the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop。
While Wilson was operating thus on the right； I had to cover with
Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the
Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown。 Torbert having recovered
from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness； had now
returned to duty。 The march to turn the enemy's right began on the
26th。 Torbert and Gregg in advance； to secure the crossings of the
Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as
much as possible in the movement； the two cavalry divisions being
supported by General D。 A。 Russell's division of the Sixth Corps。
To attain this end in the presence of an ever…watchful foe who had
just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond
and further southalmost enough to make up the losses he had
sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvaniarequired the most
vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been
allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres。 Torbert
started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to
demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark； as if the crossing
was to be made there； and having thus impressed the enemy； he was to
leave a small guard； withdraw quietly； and march to Hanovertown ford；
where the real crossing was to be effected。 Meanwhile Gregg marched
to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey； with instructions to make
feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark； when he was to
retire discreetly； leaving a small force to keep up the
demonstration； and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing； taking
with him the pontoon…bridge。
At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the
cavalry。 The troops were in motion all night； undergoing the usual
delays incident to night marches； and； early on the morning of the
27th the crossing was made； Custer's brigade of Torbert's division
driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry； and
capturing between thirty and forty prisoners。 The remainder of
Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown；
where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met。
Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade； while he sent
Custer to Hawe's Shop； from which point a road leading to the right
was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry； when the
Confederates discovered this manoeuvre； they retired in the direction
of Hanover Court House。 Pursuit continued as far as a little stream
called Crump's Creek； and here Torbert was halted； Gregg moving up on
his line meanwhile； and Russell encamping near the crossing of the
river。 This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the
Pamunkey； and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took
up a position behind my line； extending south from the river； with
the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at
Crump's Creek； the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth； and the
Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown； its left
extending to the Tolopotomy。
There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the
enemy's whereabouts； and there were received daily the most
conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements。 It
became necessary； therefore； to find out by an actual demonstration
what Lee was doing； and I was required to reconnoitre in the
direction of Mechanicsville。 For this purpose I moved Gregg's
division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop； and when it had
gone about three…fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's
cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary
breastwork of rails and logs。
This was the first occasion on which； since the battle of Yellow
Tavern； the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers；
their mounted operations； like ours； having been dependent more or
less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's
infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May。
On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his
cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing
an order himself； now that Stuart was dead； directing that the 〃three
divisions of cavalry serving with the army ＇Lee's＇ will constitute
separate commands； and will report directly to and receive orders
from the headquarters of the army。〃 The order indicates that since
Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re…organized into
three divisions； that were commanded respectively by General Wade
Hampton； General Fitzhugh Lee； and General W。 H。 F。 Lee； the
additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact；
that General M。 C。 Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had
joined recently from South Carolina。
When this force developed in Gregg's front； he attacked the moment
his troops could be dismounted； and the contest became one of
exceeding stubborness； for he found confronting him Hampton's and
Fitzhugh Lee's divisions； supported by what we then supposed to be a
brigade of infantry； but which； it has since been ascertained； was
Butler's brigade of mounted troops； part of them armed with long…
range rifles。 The contest between the opposing forces was of the
severest character and continued till late in the evening。 The
varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as
possible； so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him； sending；
meanwhile； for the other two brigades of Torbert； but these were not
available at the timeon account of delays which occurred in
relieving them from the line at Crump's Creekand did not get up
till the fight was over。 As soon as Custer joined him； Gregg
vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front；
and notwithstanding the long…range rifles of the South Carolinians；
who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears； and fought
most desperately； he penetrated their barricades at several points。
The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made
on both sides； as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very
great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant。
Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the
line of the Tolopotomy； where he could cover the roads to Richmond；
while Grant； though first sending me out merely to discover by a
strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy； saw the value of
the place to cover his new base at the White House； and also to give
us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor。 Hawe's Shop remained
in our possession finally； for late in the evening Custer's brigade
was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg； and while
it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line； the
other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works。 The
enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands； also a
considerable number of prisoners； from whom we learned that
Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear。
The battle was a decidedly severe one； the loss on each side being
heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged。 This fight took
place almost immediately in front of our infantry； which； during the
latter part of the contest； was busily occupied in throwing up
intrenchments。 Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the
presence of the enemy's infantry； and likewise that Hampton's and
Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also； and asked； at the
same time； that some of our infantry； which was near at hand； be sent
to my assistance。 I could not convince Meade that anything but the
enemy's horse was fighting us； however； and he declined to push out
the foot…troops； who were much wearied by night marches。 It has been
ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as
they related to the enemy's infantry； but the five cavalry brigades
far outnumbered my three； and it is to be regretted that so much was
risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and
Meadow bridge； when there was at hand a preponderating number of
Union troops which might have been put into action。 However； Gregg's
division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation； all
unaided as they were till dark； when Torbert and Merritt came on the
ground。 The contest not only gave us the crossroads； but also
removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements； clearly
demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank； so that
it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River； as
well as cover the direct route to Richmond。
General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate
victory； but his despatch was sent early in the day； long