Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-15
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
SECOND ONO BTvoUAc,
HANOVER CoURr Court HOUSE, Va,
lima d 1854

the Pamunkey on the 30th ult. On re-
porting, the regiment was assigned to the
LIST brigade, Sd ~division-the brigade I'M
der command of Col. Mcintosh of the Sd
Pa, Cavalry, and the division under com
mand of Brig. Gen. Wilson, late of the
Cavalry Bureau.
Our introduction to the cavalry corps,
Army of the Potomac, has been a bloody
baptism.
On the morning of May 3lst, Wilson's
division moved toward Hanover C.. H..
then in rebel occupation. We came up
the Court House. The I'd Ohio being in
front was deployed on foot and began dri-
wing the enemy, supported by the remaln-
der of the brigade. From l p. m. till af-
ter dark the fighting continued. At a
late hour, under cover of our artillery, our
line charged and drove the enemy in con-
fusion, capturing a number of prisoners
and getting possession OF Hanover Court
House.
The enemy's force was two brigades un-
der command of Fitz Hugh Lee. They
fought obstinately and loss heavily. The
Union loss was nearly all borne by our
regiment. A list of this days fighting is
given below. The Second fought magnif-
icently and fixed its reputation among its
new and SCARED associates.
The night of the 3lst the regiment re-
manned in line of battle. Early on yes
terday morning, June lst, Gen. Wilson
received an order from Gen. Grant to de-
stroy the railroad bridges over the North
and South Anna rivers. In order to ac-
complish this, our brigade was sent to
Ashland Station, five miles West of Han
over Court House and on the Fredericks-
burgh and Richmond railroad-to destroy
the railroad there and hold the enemy's
cavalry in check while the I'd Brigade,
Col Chapman, burned the bridges men
toned.
Our brigade reached Ashland Station
about noon without encountering heavy
opposition-one or two regiments of cav
airy falling back before orr advance. In
stantly on reaching Ashland the enemy
in strong force (Fitz Hugh Lees division
and some mounted Infantry attacked our
rear-having moved in on the Richmond
telegraph road as o as ouI column
had passed. Our brigade formed in the
village of Ashland. and the main portion
dismounted and took possession of the
timber which lines the town on three
sides. The I'd Ohio was deployed across
the east front, and as usual. the hottest
of the storm came there. After feeling
of our position lightly, the enemy attack,
ed heavily on three sides-East, North
and South. They soo abandoned the
North and South and massed on the East
Here for three hours and a half the fight
ing was constant and heavy. The mettle
of the Second was never tested as it wa.
here. The enemy, knowing that he out
numbered us greatly, and having posses
| sion of all the roads that could serve u
for retreat, fought frantically to break oul
lines. Three times they charged witt
heavy lines, well directed fire, and deaf
ening wells, but were as often turned bacl
broken and discouraged under the fire o
our unfinching boys Having held then
at bay till nearly shutdown, and fndin:
that no support was coming TO US, Col
Mcintosh decided to withdraw by movin:
up the railroad track-the only possible
outlet-and that a very doubtful one 70
artillery and ambulances, with an out
numbering enemy charging on the rear
The retreat was, however. effected with
out the loss of anYthing-the Second
/ DTlgdQt COfcEluS US dllCI VIC wi nix ron
road track. Last night at 10 we reached
this point and camped, after the hardes
and bloodiest day of our service. TIL
expedition accomplished its object per
fectly. and retired with perfect quiet AM
order, after infiicting upon the enemy al
injury in killed and wounded at less
three times as great as that We received
Our men we're generally well protecte,
behind heavy timber, and as the enem,
did the attacking he was forced to un
cover himself to our fire. In front of tn
I'd Ohio's line the grey jackets lay thicl
as in many an infantry battle OF large
pretensions. At least one hundred ant
fifty gentlemen in grey went to H-ade
or the hospital from the muzzle of GU
carbines. The fighting of the brigsd
was stubborn and plucky beyond any
thing | have seen. For four hours, wher
the slightest break in the line would hav
been the loss of the brigade, every ma
held his place, unless shot down, an,
even then, when living, cheerfuly offere'
his remaining ammunition to a conrad
Most of the losses in Co.'S D. and c.. OF
Cured while those companies were chsrg
ing the enemy's left, mounted.
The following is a list of casualties a
Hanover C. H., May 81:
KILLED.