The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-01
SHERIDAN.
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OPERATIONS Of the Cavalry from
White House 10 James River.
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Desperate Fight Of Gregg's Division
at st. Mary's Church.
Unprecedented Gallantry Of
Our Horse Batteries.
e A S u A L TIE S,
&c.. -. -.
Mr.. N. Davldson's Despatch.

Mr.. N. Davidson's Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS, CAVALRY CoRrs, June 70, 1864
Ny last despatch left General sherdan's command al
White House. It had jast returned from tedious expe
diion the vicinity OF Gordonsvile through section
country exhausted Of supplies OF subsistence and forage
By the march OF two large hostile armies. As conse
quence the animals wore badly aded Grazing was very
rare, and when found parched by drought No rain
had fallen for elk eight weeks, and the roads were
purzed clay and sand Of the consistency Of the finest
Scotch snuff, nearly suGocatiug both man and beast
sneezng ana coughing were the musical accsmpanmens
of the campaign.
CORPS TRAINS, ETC,
had been left at White House, awaiting the return Of the
command under the charge OF Captains Talman Corson
and Luddington, division gu arermasters protected by
the infantry command Of General Abercrombis and some
disnounted cavalry. under Lieutenant Colonel Could
Major Crom, Captain Armstrong and Others Lieu
tenant Colonel Kingsbury, Adjutant General Of the
corps, and Captain W. spanger werc also there, en-
gagged in remountng the Of the corps rapidly as
possible These remounted men were sent to join VIII
sons command soon ready, and are now absent
upon some expedition.
ATTACK UPON WHITE HousaL
The day before General Shordans return to White
House, he having been delayed by sending his prisoners
and wounded nearly thousand In number, to West
Point by another route, Wade Hampton, who had
marched upon his right flank at respectful distance oil
the way from GordonsvAe, crossed the Mattapouy aud
Pamunkey at the westward Of him. aud made attempt
TO capture his trains at White House. He frustrated
in this by the combined efforts OF General Abercrom
bic. Major Robinson a the horse artillery, and the gun
boats Hampton forces shelled OUT bat his rear
guard had gotten Of the vicinity before It
ovcrhaued Tunstalls station, by Col. Greggs and
Colonel Devns brgades Of General Sheridans ADVANCE
who charged upon and greatly hasened It's movements
York. who behaved very gallauty. wounded IN the
leg, causing ampataton The operation successfully
performed by DR.. Rasoo, surgeonin Of Torbets
division, and the Major is now doing well
eKIRMsH y,Nss' BRIDGE.
Having received supplies and recruited somewhat Al
White He 1sc, without farther moeetion General Sheri
dan moved his corps with his trans toward The James
river Dcvns and Merritt's brigades being in the ad
When Jones' bridge, across the Chcka
homny, on the 23d inst they came upon body Of the
enemy's cavalry, which they cleared out, with
trnng losses the Frs Fourth, Sixth and Tenth Now
York, and First United States.
BATTLE xARY's CHURCH.
In protecting the TANKS and Of the corps trains Gen.
Gregg moved his division toward Charles City Court House,
finding and skrmshug with small bodies Of the enemy.
When st. Marys church. the 24h he ascertained
that largo force Of Infantry and cavalry posted
and inrenched short distance in his front and his
gress. From the formidable preparations made It
evident they had expected Sherdans whole force to at
tack them. In this they,were disappointed and
finding that Gregg aankng their position with his
two brgades they lot their works aud nercey attacked
his flank and with CALLING fire. dismouned This
attack being expected did not in the least confuse
gallant troops, who returned the e, and having
dsmounted. gave them battle Gregg placed his led
horses safest position he could select and finding
has utnur nhoyc IA bnck 0uhlgn
inch Of the way. ti he reached opening whore his
tery could be made 10 tell upon bis enemys ranks but
st keeping them In such position that they could not
reply effectively with the OF the service.
RAsDo1 DENNisoN CANISTER.
Captain Randos and Lieut. Denniscns batteries were
ordered position and such short range TO pour
canister directly into the robel ranks Right gaantly
did these officers and their ASSISTANTS perform their
The effect momcntary conuscn and great mortality.
In this way from position another did Gregg con.
tinue fight this vastly superior force for four Ave
hours from NJ till nght. His last position was
admirably chosen near Hopcwel church. where bis bat
teros made the fearful havoc In the enemys
Randol and Denniscn hero remained their posts ill
their last round Of canister expended and when Den
nison with Lcutenants Calef Cameron and LtleHed
bered up TO withdraw the rebels charging upon
pieces only seven to eight rods distant. The brave
Of Davies brigade, however, threw themselves upon
them, and. holding them at bay protected their guns.
The foe, dispirited and chopfaen their lack Of
CESS now gave the pursuit. and Gregg reoned sher
dan on the banks Of tho James, after lighting march or
twelve miles through the on ono Of the hottest
days OF the eeason.
Lossn AT 81. hAay's CHURCH.
This was uDsuestionably OF the most nerccy
tested little battles which cavalry has ever fougei
and cur losses comparatively large Only Davicr
and Colonel Crerge brigadcs engaged our side,
while Hampton had portion or Ewels infantry to
sst him. All OF Gregs's communications to Sheridan
were intercepted, and he could get reinforcemons.
Colonel Covode, Of the Fourth Pennsylvania and OF
ExCopgressman covode mortalIy wounded, and lon
on the Geld. He was shot through the body. Colonel
Smith, First Maine, shot through the thigh, flesh
wound, which he insisted did not hurt him 30 that he
could not remain In command. His surgeon, however,
ordered him TO desist Colonel Huey, Eighth Pennsyi.
vania, is missug Captain ". Phillips First Maine serv.
Ing the stan OF General Gregg, killed. Captain
Montgomery was shot In tho thigh Captain fuckers
First Maine, In the shoulders Captain sce Second Penn
sylvania in the hand; Captain Ellis died OF suus,roke;
Captain Page, Tenth New York, killed; Major Devices
Thirteenth Pennsylvania. missing; also Adluant Reed
Second Pennsylvania, and Captain Adams signal officer
Adjutant n. ~ Baldwin. Sixth Ohio, killed. also Leucn
ant Reed, First Pennsylvania. MAJOR CIey, First Mane
shot In tho leg.
All behaved with the greatest bravery and their con-
duct exclled In tho highest terms by General Gregg
Randols battery lost eighteen men and twenty .nye
hor ws. Dsnnson's, three mon and six horses
LIST o. cAsCALrEs NEAR SoSns RIDGE ON ruR
ctacxABorINy, JUNE n, 1894.
ecrgt Sho Chattcrdon, 9th Y, abdomen: Scrgt
May, l, osa Y, hip; Fred whitticcr, ID, eth NJ X,
chest ca vs Abner, D. 9th Y neck John Aaustibaucr
?, 9th y, arm George vandermike. &, 9th N Y thigh
Edwin Finc, 9. eth Y, arm, Louis smith, 10th Y
leg Richard Regan, q, lat w drag, hand; Corp II N
whitney, F, NtU foot; Corp Bi0rah, k, Sih Pa,
root cem Ws, 2sth Ind icolorcd) LETT Jung Henry
Clark, 2ssh In nnssr Paul collins = 2sth Ind, head
2sth Ind, hip; Hen, Malone, B, 2sxh Ind, arm.
Isr ov cAsuAiSvs wcovp CAVALRY psvnor ~ renr NEAR