CHAPTER LVIII.

CONTINUATION OF GRANT'S CAMPAIGN-BATTLES NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA-REINFORCEMENTSTHE BATTLE OF THE 18TH OF MAY-THE REPULSE-ANOTHER FLANK MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH ANNA, AND BEYOND-EWELL'S RAID UPON THE UNIon rear-he IS REPULSED WITH LOSS FIGHTING NEAR THE NORTH ANNA-STRENGTH OF THE REBEL POSITION-ANOTHER FLANK MOVEMENT-RECROSSING THE NORTH ANNA-MARCH TO HANOVERTOWN-CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT ON TOLOPATOMOY CREEK-BATTLE OF TOLOPATOMOY CREEK, OR SHADY GROVE CHURCH-TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY NORTH OF THE CHICKAHOMINY-POSITION OF LEE'S ARMY-CAVALRY BATTLE FOR THE POSSESSION OF COLD HARBOR-THE BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR-DESPERATE FIGHTING OF THE SIXTH AND EIGHTEENTH CORPS-FIGHTING ON OTHER PARTS OF THE LINE-THE BATTLE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY-INDECISIVE RESULTS OF THE GALLANT AND DESPERATE FIGHTING THE OPPOSING LINES VERY NEAR EACH OTHER -LOSSES OF BOTH SIDES SINCE THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS-SKETCH OF GENERAL HANCOCK-SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID-RICHMOND THREATENED-HIS FORCE SURROUNDED AT THE CHICKAHOMINY-REBUILDING MEADOW BRIDGE-GALLANT CHARGE ON THE ENEMYHIS ESCAPE HIS SECOND RAID-THE BATTLES OF TREVILIAN STATION-SHERIDAN WITHDRAWS, AFTER PUNISHING THE ENEMY SEVERELY, AND REJOINS THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC SOUTH OF THE JAMES RIVER.

THE temporary cessation, or rather relaxation, of hostilities which took place from the 12th to the 18th of May, and which was only broken seriously by the fighting on Saturday, the 14th, (the result of the capture by the Union troops of a house near the Ny river, which had been occu pied by the enemy, and was dangerously near the Union lines, the desperate efforts of the Rebels to recapture it, and of the Union troops to recover it after losing it again,) was an absolute necessity for both armies. The heavy rains made extended locomotion, except on railroads, impossi ble; and both contestants were so much exhausted as to require rest The burial of their dead, the removal of their wounded, the bringing up of reinforcements, and the intrenching and fortifying their position, fully occupied the time of those who were able to move. The rest improved very greatly the health and spirits of the Union troops, and when the order came again, with the return of fair weather, for the renewal of the conflict, they were eager for the fight. In all, during this and the succeeding week, about fifty thousand new troops were brought up, making Grant's army larger by twenty thousand than at the beginning of the campaign.

On Tuesday, the 17th of May, extensive reconnoissances were made, and all the previous attacks having been made on the enemy's right flank, and having led him to concentrate his forces on his right, it was now deter mined to strike the left flank, in the hope of effecting a surprise there. A change of position was effected in some of the corps, and on Wednesday morning, when the new line was formed, Wright's-sixth-corps, occa

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pied the right, Hancock joined him on the right-centre, Burnside was on the left-centre, and Warren on the extreme left. Wright, Hancock, and Burnside were to attack. The battle commenced by a heavy cannonade from the Union right, to which the enemy responded promptly, and between half-past four and five A. M., a general assault was made by the three corps, who dashed forward, drove back the enemy's skirmish line, and carried two lines of rifle-pits promptly, and with comparatively slight loss. These carried, a formidable, and, as it proved, insuperable barrier interposed, preventing farther advance. In front of the whole Rebel line stretched a broad, dense and almost absolutely impenetrable abatis, behind which, in strong earthworks, lay a large body of riflemen and sharpshooters, too secure to be dislodged, and behind them batteries of heavy artillery. It was impossible to penetrate this triple defence without terrible slaughter, and it was equally impossible to stand longer under the murderous sweep of artillery, and the troops were therefore withdrawn in good order, and as promptly as possible. The assault was abandoned about eleven o'clock, A. M., and all the troops recalled to their original positions, but it had cost, in killed and wounded, about twelve hundred men. There was no further fighting during the day, but with that promptness which characterized all his movements, General Grant sent Torbert's cavalry on Wednesday night to Guinney's station, on the Fredericksburg and Richmond railroad, ten miles southeasterly from Spottsylvania, and north of the Po, which receives the Ny, some distance above.. This station was to the right and rear of Lee's position, and threatened his communications with Richmond. The cavalry destroyed the depot and warehouses, which contained large amounts of supplies, cut the telegraph wires, and broke up the railroad track. General Grant next ordered the preliminary changes of position for a new flanking movement, and on Thursday, a part of the sixth corps began to move from the right, and march across to the left. Lee at once comprehended this movement, and Ewell's corps was despatched to check it by a bold dash upon the rear of the Union army. A little after .noon of Thursday, Ewell crossed the Ny, passed the Union right wing without discovery, owing to the withdrawal of the troops on the right, and about five o'clock, struck the Fredericksburg wagon road in rear of the Union right flank. Here he attacked the wagons laden with commissary and ordnance supplies, and the ambulances with wounded, which were constantly passing on that road. The number of these passing that point at that time was fortunately small, heavier trains having passed just before toward the camp, and others being nearer Belle Plain than the secondary base of supplies, but the Rebels took possession of such as were within reach, and fired after the others. The distance of this point from the front was such that Ewell might well have hoped to plunder at will before the Union troops could be upon him; but Union troops were nearer by far than he supposed. Tyler's division of heavy artillery, but armed as

infantry, had been sent down from the Washington defences a day or two previous, and were now approaching from Belle Plain, when the stampeded teamsters and ambulance drivers, rushing back, apprized them of the coming of the enemy. Forming his troops as soon as possible in line, General Tyler moved upon the enemy, who were already fighting Tannatt's brigade, which was in the advance, and after a short, but severe battle, they drove the Rebels from the road into and through the woods, repulsing them thoroughly, and in admirable style. Late in the evening, three divisions (one each from the second, fifth, and sixth corps) hurried up to support Tyler, but the enemy were already defeated. The enemy effected no capture of stores or animals. They killed a few horses, but destroyed nothing else of importance. In this sharp but brief battle the Union loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was about twelve hundred, and that of the enemy fully as great. While this attack was in progress, the Rebels advanced against the Union left, opening a very heavy cannonade against it at the same time, but after a brief engagement were driven back, and the cannonading ceased. The object of this advance was probably to cover Ewell's movement. About three o'clock on Friday morning, the three divisions from the second, fifth, and sixth corps, entered the wood silently and swiftly, and sweeping through them, attacked the rear of the enemy's column, and cut off about four hundred prisoners. Ewell immediately recrossed the Ny, and retreated to his

camp.

On Friday night, the new flanking movement commenced in earnest. At midnight, Torbert's cavalry left Massaponax church, and advancing through Guinney's station, proceeded to Guinney's bridge, over the Po, just below its junction with the Ny, some two miles farther. At Downer's bridge, a mile or two farther down the Po, they found a body of Rebel cavalry threatening their further progress, but a sharp charge of the Union cavalry drove them back, and pushing them from the road, the cavalry column went on to Bowling Green, a village fifteen miles southeast from Spottsylvania, and six miles below Guinney's; and thence, still pushing the enemy before them, to Milford station, from which they drove out the Rebel garrison, a part of Pickett's division of Ewell's corps, capturing about seventy men.

The second corps followed on Friday night, and reached and crossed the Mattaponay, at Milford's bridge, on Saturday evening, forming line in a commanding position, about a mile from the bridge. Warren's-fifthcorps moved at ten o'clock Saturday morning, and reached Guinney's station Saturday evening. The sixth and ninth corps followed, and before night of Saturday the entire army had left Spottsylvania. On Sunday, the Union army lay along and near the line of the Fredericksburg railroad, facing westward; its right at Guinney's station, its centre at Bowling Green, and its left at Milford station. Each corps had encountered some

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opposition from the enemy's cavalry, but had easily driven it back. The enemy were evidently fully aware of the movement, and had anticipated it by removing their stores from every point on the route; and General Grant had already become convinced that Lee was moving also, and had preceded him, in the direction of Hanover Court House. On Monday, the Union army were pushed on at a rapid rate, and by nightfall reached the North Anna river, in the neighborhood of Jericho bridge. The second and fifth corps were in the advance-the fifth at the right of the second. Here the enemy were formed in a very strong position, but the second corps, under their gallant leader, Hancock, rushed upon their works, and by a desperate charge, carried the position, losing about three hundred men in so doing. The fifth corps crossed higher up the river, without difficulty, but were soon attacked with great vehemence. General Grant stated, in his despatch to Secretary Stanton, that he had never heard more rapid or massive firing, either of artillery or musketry. It resulted, however, in a most destructive repulse of the enemy.

At night, the second and fifth corps were on the south side of the North Anna, and the sixth and ninth, on the north side, and by Wednesday, the 25th of May, the whole army were across, though this had not been accomplished without some severe fighting, the passage of the river at Taylor's, or Chesterfield bridge, and between that point and Jericho bridge and ford, being stoutly contested by the Rebels. After crossing, the position of the enemy was found to be one of great strength, their right resting on the deep and impassable Bull swamp, and their left on Little river, while their front was thrown forward toward Ox ford, of the North Anna, so as to extend their line in the shape of a V, the apex being thrust forward almost to the North Anna, and partially separating the Union right and left wings, and its own right and left wings protecting the Virginia Central and Fredericksburg railroads, and especially the important position of Sexton's Junction, where they united. Port Royal, on the Rappahannock, was temporarily made the Union base of supplies and a depot for the wounded, but foreseeing that another flank movement would soon be required, General Grant ordered supplies shipped to White House, on the Pamunkey, the whilom base of General McClellan, in May and June, 1862. This precaution was wisely taken.

The position of the enemy, which we have already described, near Sexton's Junction, proving too strong to be carried without incurring too heavy losses, General Grant again moved on the enemy's right flank. Two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry (Torbert's and Gregg's), were sent, on the 26th of May, to recross the North Anna, march southeastward, and take possession of Hanover ferry and Hanovertown, about twenty-five miles below the position the army were occupying on the Pamunkey river, while Wilson's division was employed in destroying the Virginia Central railroad, from the vicinity of Sexton's Junction westward. Still

better to cover the movement on which he had determined, a vigorous demonstration was made on the enemy's left on Thursday, the 26th, sev eral divisions of infantry attacking the enemy in position. Meanwhile, the two divisions of cavalry had arrived at their destination, where they found only a Rebel vidette, of which they captured seventy-five. The sixth corps had left its camp on Thursday night, and crossing the North Anna, followed the cavalry, marching rapidly but silently.

On Saturday morning, May 28th, the infantry had possession of Hanovertown and the crossing of the Pamunkey. The cavalry now pushed on southward, the whole of Sheridan's cavalry corps co-operating, and the infantry followed as fast as they could. Near Howe's store, which is not far from Tolopatomoy creek, an affluent of the Pamunkey, Gregg's cavalry, which was in the advance, encountered Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's Rebel cavalry, and a severe cavalry engagement ensued. Gregg, being greatly outnumbered, but fighting gallantly, was on the point of being forced back, when Custer's brigade of Torbert's division came up, and being armed with the Spencer repeating rifle, soon compelled the Rebels to retire before their concentrated and deadly fire, leaving their dead and wounded in the hands of the Union troops. The loss on each side was about four hundred. Aside from this battle, there was no fighting until Monday, May 30th. The Union troops continued to press forward on the Shady Grove church and Mechanicsville roads. The Rebels were posted on the south side of Tolopatomoy creek, their right resting on the Mechanicsville road, near Shady Grove church, and their left extending toward Atlee's station, on the Virginia Central road. On Monday, May 30th, about noon, the enemy attacked and drove in the Union skirmishers on the road leading from Cold Harbor to Old Church tavern, making a desperate effort to effect a raid upon the rear of the Union army. Devens', Merritt's, and Custer's cavalry brigades came up successively, and after a brisk engagement, beat off the enemy and drove them back with a loss of eighty or ninety men. About five P. M., Warren's corps, which was moving out along the Mechanicsville road, was suddenly and fiercely attacked by a Rebel force, consisting of one division of Ewell's corps and two cavalry brigades; and Crawford's division, which was a little detached from the rest, and near Shady Grove church, was forced back so far as to endanger the turning of Warren's flank. The other divisions of the corps hastening up, prevented this disaster, and a severe engagement followed, in which General Meade, in order to relieve Warren's corps from the heavy pressure upon it, ordered an attack along the whole line. Only the second corps, however, received the order in time to attack before dark, and Hancock, without delay, dashed upon the enemy's skirmish line, captured their rifle-pits, and held them all night. At nightfall, the enemy had been driven at every point, and left his dead and wounded upon the field, but moved down a large force to prevent any further con