HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Hanovertown, Va., May 27, 1864–9 a. m. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that I now occupy Hanovertown. The crossing was taken with but little opposition, a small picket of cavalry being the only force found at this point. The two pontoon bridges are down and in use. The First Cavalry Division has crossed the river, the Second Division moving out to cross. General Russell's division has not yet arrived. I think it is but a short distance in our rear. Very respectfully &c., P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff. HEADQAURTERS CAVALRY CORPS, May 27, 1864—5.20 p. m. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that General Torbert, whose division had the advance, found a detachment of about 100 men of Gordon's brigade holding the ford at Hanovertown. This party was easily dislodged, and the division crossed. After passing through Hanovertown, on the road to Hanover Court-House, Gordon's brigade of cavalry (rebel) was encountered, charged, and driven pellmell toward Hanover Court-House. We captured 6 commissioned officers and 70 men. If General Torbert's command had not been so much fatigued he would have captured the whole brigade, it was so much demoralized. It is reported that Wickham's and Lomax's brigades are both at Hanover Court-House. I am also informed that Breckinridge was there last night with 10,000 men. I have not pushed my advance beyond Crump's Swamp, as we have a good line from there to Totopotomoy Creek. General Russell's division has crossed, and is now all on this side of the river. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, The enemy's cavalry collected in my front on the Cold Harbor road, not far from Old Church. I directed General Torbert, with his division, to attack them about 1 o'clock to-day. Had a sharp engagement of nearly two hours. We defeated them and drove them down to Cold Harbor. It was a very handsome affair, and very creditable to General Torbert and his division. The enemy had a very strong position. They were driven from it, leaving a number of killed and wounded, 60 or 70 prisoners captured. I have had troops on the left of General Warren's corps all day, and connected with him. I have now ordered a strong force down the Mechanicsville road to go down as far as General Warren and connect with his command. I inclose extracts from Richmond paper of this date. My headquarters will be at Sayers' house to-night. Very respectfully, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, GENERAL: All the indications to-day lead to the belief that the enemy meditated an attack on the First Division of cavalry posted 14 miles from Cold Harbor, so I gave permission to General Torbert to attack them. He did so, encountering Fitz. Lee's division of cavalry and one brigade of Hoke's division of infantry (Clingman's), driving them from their barricades in Cold Harbor, and capturing about half a regiment and 15 of Clingman's infantry. Since then the second brigade, of Hoke's division, has arrived. I do not feel able to hold this place, and have directed General Torbert to resume his position of this morning. Lee's line of battle is in front of Mechanicsville, and, with the heavy odds against me here, I do not. think it prudent to hold on. The enemy is now extending toward Gaines' Hill, to cover the bridges across the Chickahominy. The First Division behaved very gallantly. The wounded are all being sent to the rear. We will have 70 or 80. Very respectfully, Major-General HUMPHREYS, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864-9 a. m. GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three different infantry brigades. The enemy assaulted the right of my lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed. I have been very apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up. I built slight works for my men. The enemy came up to them and were driven back. General Wright has just arrived. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, GENERAL: I am in receipt of your dispatch to hold on to Cold Harbor, and will do so if possible. I have ordered General Davies' brigade to Cold Harbor. It is not a full brigade, as some of it is at Bethesda Church. I have been very much weakened by the brigade sent to White House. Clingman's brigade was routed with Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry yesterday, and 61 of his men captured instead of 15 as heretofore reported. Butler's brigade of South Carolinians was with Fitz. Lee's division, and is well represented in prisoners. The fight on the day before yesterday was with Hampton's division and Butler's brigade. Hampton's division was relieved early yesterday morning by, Fitz. Lee, who came from Atlee's Station. P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Camp near Guiney's Bridge, Va., June 16, 1864-2 a. m. GENERAL: I have the honor to report to you the arrival of my command at this point, and also to report its operations since leaving New Castle Ferry: I crossed the Pamunkey River on the 7th instant, marching via Aylett's, and encamped on Herring Creek. On the morning of the 8th resumed the march via Pole Cat Station, and encamped 3 miles west of the station. On the 9th marched through Chilesburg and New Market, encamping on East Northeast Creek, near Young's Bridge. On the 10th marched via Andrews' Tavern and Twyman's Store, crossing both branches of the North Anna, and encamped at Buck Childs', about 3 miles northeast of Trevilian Station. My intention was to break the railroad at this station, march through Mechanicsville, cut the Gordonsville and Charlottesville Railroad near Lyndsay's house, and then to march on Charlottesville, but on arrival at Buck Childs' house I found the enemy's cavalry in my immediate front. On the morning of the 11th, General Torbert, with his division, and Colonel Gregg's brigade, of General Gregg's division, attacked the enemy. After an obstinate contest, drove him from successive lines of breast-works, through an almost impenetrable forest, back on Trevilian Station. In the mean time General Custer was ordered with his brigade to proceed by a country road so as to reach the station in rear of the enemy's cavalry. On his arrival at this point the enemy broke into a complete rout, leaving his dead and nearly all of his wounded in our hands; also 20 officers, 500 men, and 300 horses. These operations occupied the whole of the day. At night I encamped at Trevilian Station, and on the morning of the 12th commenced destroying the railroad from this point to Louisa CourtHouse. This was thoroughly done-ties burned and rails rendered unserviceable. The destruction of the railroad occupied until 3 o'clock of this day. I directed General Torbert to advance with his division and General Davies' brigade, of General Gregg's division, in the direction of Gordonsville, and attack the enemy, who had concentrated and been re-enforced by infantry during the night, and had also constructed rifle-pits at a point about 5 miles from Gordonsville. The advance was made, but as the enemy's position was found too strong to assault, no general attack was made. On the extreme right of our lines a portion of the Reserve Brigade carried the enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by infantry. Night closed the contest. I found on examination of the command that there was not a sufficiency of ammunition left to continue the engagement. The next day trains of cars also came down to where we were engaged with the enemy. The reports of prisoners and citizens were that Pickett's old division, or a portion of it, was coming to prevent the taking of Gordonsville. I, therefore, during the night and next morning, withdrew my command over the North Anna, via Carpenter's Ford, near Minor's Bridge. In addition, the animals were, for the two entire days in which we were engaged, without forage, the surrounding country affording nothing but grazing of a very inferior quality, and generally at such points as were inaccessible to us. Up to this time I could get no definite in formation as to the position of General Hunter. Report placed him and his command at Staunton, destroying the railroad. I had, therefore, the choice of attempting to join him there, via Orange Court-House and Stanardsville, or retiring, and I resolved on the latter. I had at that time only one day's rations for my men, but very little forage for my animals, and not sufficient ammunition on hand to risk a severe engagement. Living off the country was a failure; very little forage could be obtained for the animals, and to attempt under such circumstances to join General Hunter would have jeopardized my command. I regret my inability to carry out your instructions. The cavalry engagement of the 12th was by far the most brilliant one of the present campaign. The enemy's loss was very heavy. They lost the following-named officers in killed and wounded: Colonel McAllister, commanding regiment, killed; Brigadier-General Rosser, commanding brigade, wounded; Colonel Aiken, commanding regiment, wounded; Colonel Custer [?], commanding regiment, wounded. My loss in killed and wounded will be about 575.* Of this number 490 were wounded. I brought off in my ambulances 377, all that could be transported. The remainder were (with a number of rebel wounded that fell into my hands) left behind. Surgeons and attendants were detailed and remained in charge of them. I captured and have now with me 370 prisoners of war, including 20 commissioned officers. My loss in captured will not exceed 160. These were principally in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. This regiment gallantly charged down the Gordonsville road, capturing 1,500 horses, and about 800 men, but was finally surrounded, and had to give them up. When the enemy broke they hurried between General Custer's command and Colonel Gregg's brigade, capturing 5 caissons of Pennington's battery, 3 of which were afterward recaptured, *For revised return of casualties during Sheridan's second expedition, see p. 186. + Commanded by Col. Russell A. Alger. See Sheridan to Adjutant-General's Office, March 18, 1886. 50 RR-VOL XXXVI, PT I leaving in their hands 2 caissons. A more detailed report will be made hereafter. I have sent staff officers forward to send to me as far as Dunkirk subsistence and forage. It is very essential that it should reach me at that point. I will march down the north bank of the Mattapony in the expectation that I may be able to obtain some supplies through the country in that vicinity. None can be obtained south of the Mattapony, between this point and the White House. The following troops were sent from Lee's army and Richmond to re-enforce Jones' command in the valley: Breckinridge's corps, 4,000; 2,000 dismounted cavalry to Gordonsville; the rebel cavalry under Hampton and Fitz. Lee, and Pickett's old division, or a part of it. Pickett's troops went either by the canal to Columbia, or by railroad via Lynchburg to Charlottesville. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General HUMPHREYS, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, I found on my arrival here yesterday two divisions of the enemy's cavalry in front of this place. This morning I crossed the bridge. The enemy fell back behind Black Creek at a point near Tunstall's Station. This place is all right. The enemy shelled the trains yesterday before I arrived. They were yesterday evening all crossed over to the north side of the Pamunkey. Major-General HUMPHREYS, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff. WHITE HOUSE, June 22, 1864—4 p. m. I moved against the enemy's forces at this place yesterday; they all fell back over Black Creek, taking a strong position near Tunstall's Station. During the night the enemy retreated, and crossed Bottom's Bridge. I sent General Torbert's division to Jones' Bridge this morning. Have not yet learned whether or no General Torbert has secured the crossing at that place. I shall start the trains to-night for Jones' Bridge, and hope to get everything off by to-morrow morning. I have in the trains here 800 wagons. Maj. Gen. A. A. HUMPHREYS, P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General, Commanding. Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac. |