Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-05-14
RsOsnt Rpgaeements Near the City


Some nights ago snen vas tell that three divisions
o. the ensmys cavalry pressing hard toward the
CITY. the gseassr number Of Que citizens would have
been delighted to hear ha, the Yankees would not be
able to take Redmond by q coup De main Nov thai
these sane divisions have gone on their way rejoicing
there seems to be disposition to blame both our cav
airy and infantry for not Furnishing them severely
soms, indeed are dissatisfied because the whole party
we're not captured.
We must make alO~anoes. Our cavalry, faigued
By hard sgb ing at spOtVInil Court House Aod Woir
down By the rapid pursuit Of the foe we're IL no con-
ditiOn 70 6ght Horses and meu we're tlke Jaded--
Thew had Sad neither food nor sleep for several days
On the other hand the horses add men OF the enemy
were fresh They had helped themselves bountolly
to the stores which they found at Beaver DAM and they
had continued their journey at easy pace in ordei
to preserve their strength Tor any emergeno-. Thei
object was TO interrupt Lees lines Of communication
and destroy bis supplies not 70 hsht unless o'ced to
t. They had no thosght Of capturing Richmond. Th,
most they could reasonably hops TO perform, was q
dash into the osy and the destruction Of public build
inRs and workshops Prisoners say they intended 10
PISS quietly along the Peninsula without mOlesilng
the ci v AID would have done five had not taOklsd
them"
Ending themselves confronted BY SuArtS 500 iaded
mn, they gave batt, and made good their deenee.-
The odds in numbers we're five TO against rs, t.
say nOthig of tie vast difference IN their force and c
the fighting trim Of their men ard horses. Our met
desstsd, bu. not until they bad fought SI lOog hOu
in the vain hops Of beiog reinforced By brigade Of
infantry which was at hand Such, At least, is the re
port Of those who are disposed to give our cavalry their
proper due.
With regard to the infantry sighting on Tbursday'
We are not prepared to decide between the conflicting
rumors ard opinions II the eneDys force CONSISTED o
10000 dsmounted infantry and is pieces Of artillery, ii
was rot to be expected a single brigade advancing
through an open field could drive them from the GOV,
Of thick woods Concentration Of all the infantry a.
one command would have exposed the 6efereep, 70,
the enemy being mounted eOuli have assaulted ds,sn
points before infantry cCud have overtaken them
The mistake was Als in supPOsng that the foe intend
cd 10 storm the deence9 and, second in not posting
artillery well supported, the south side Of the burn
bridges on the Chiekabominy But, if that stream b.
forbade At many points, as some contend, artillery ou
the other side would have been exposed to capture.
An unfrieadly critic might say that In the recent
gagsmen:s on the south well as in those the nOr
OF the CITY, not much generasaip and very little
southern met.ls has been displysd; but this is rot
time for unreDdy criticism. Nevertheless, Will pro
per allowance should DO made for shortcomings, the
time il too serious admit Of undue leniency ether
men or officers. Both should be held TO the most GID
accountability DsreictiOn Of duty at a moment 80
critical might prove fatal to the Capital Of the COnfede
raey, and endangeF the ITSELF This Is no hOdt
occasion when iusoms ard uOdeserVed praise can be
n,1v
VAOr sl0ne deserve notice, and they alone will receive