The National tribune., 1891-10-15
SPOTTSYLVANIA.

The Part Taken by the Cavalry in this Rattle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In an article
headed "Who Is Right" in THE NATIONAL
TRITUNE OF July 2 The Canuouccr" takes
exceptions TO Col. Whitaker's statement that
the cavalry occupied Spo;tsylvauia Court
house for some time during the morning Of
May Z, 1864, holding it until driven out by tho
advance of Longstreets Corps. The Can
noneer" suggests that Col. Whitaker means
Todd's Tavern when he says Spottsylyania
Courthouse. and says:
Il never heard that any Of our troops cav
airy or otherwise, occupied the Courthouse
itself at any stage OF the game"
Further on he says:
If tho cavalry occupied SpOttsylvania
Courthouse at any time, I did not know IT, and
never heard Of it,"
This latter statement is probably true, for
he was not with the cavalry. and there were
many things during that campaign that an in
dividual soldier could not possibly know Of;
but the writer has a very distinct recollection
Of being az SpDttsyIyaum Courthouse on May
B; aud, although he did not again revisit the
spot until tho dedication Of the Sedgewick
monument, had no difficulty in locating the
place where his regiment was in line support
ing battery 0n that morning. That " Tho
CanH0necT" never heard Of this incident Of
the campaign would indicate that nc has not
given much study 10 the cavalry part Of il. for
cavalry occupation Of Sp0ttsylyauia rs an ac-
cepted fact, aud there are many still living
who can bear personal witness to il.
When Grant decided 10 shift his army by the
left faux 10 Sppttsylyanil. the cavalry was or
dered 10 occupy the approaches 10 that posi-
ton. Sheridan instructed Gregg and Merritt
10 move 20 SHELLS Bridge over the PD 10 day
light on the morning Of the Sth, while VIII
sous Division was % move 1t the same time
from f=trftr
During the night Of the 1.h Gen. Mead ar
rived at IOid'5 Tavern aud changed the orders
given by Sheridan 10 the First aud Second Di-
visions, directing them 70 move i'm front Of the
infantry column marching toward SpOttsyl-
vaIia. Wilson, whose orders had not been
changed, reached Sp0tisylyania Courthouse on
the morning Of the sth, charged through the
town aud drove the eaemy's cavalry about a
mile; but not being supported by the other
two divisions, as contemplated by Sheridan's
orders, was forced 20 retire on the approach Of
Anderson, who now commanded LOugstrect's
Corps. The other two divisions became mixed
up with the infantry during the night march,
and the result vas that the leading division of
the Fifth Corps only reached AlsOp's Farm in
season 10 meet L0ngstrect's Corps by which it
was driven back with heavy loss and the OPP
portunity for gaining possession Of SpOttsyl-
vania without severe fighting had fallen TO the
enemy.
An attempt was made to shift the response
bility for this failure TO tho cavalry. Warren
complained 10 Meade that the cavalry had de-
layed the march Of his corps. and when Shcri-
dan went over to Headquarters somewhat ruff
fed because his orders had been interfered
with, he found the Commanding General in an
equally puguaciOus mood. He was particu-
larry severe on the cavalry, saying, among
other things. .hat it had impcded the march of
the Fifth Corps by occupying the SpOttsylvania
road. Sheridan replied that it was his own
fault, as he had ordered it there himself lie
also told Meade that he had broken up his
combinations, twice exposed Wilson's Division
10 disaster, and had kept Gregg unnecessarily
idle, and wound up by saying that such dis
jointed operations as lac had been requiring Of
the cavalry since the beginning Of the cam
paign would soon render IL inefficient aud use
less. aud that since no Insisted on giving the
cavalry orders without consulting or even
notifying him. he could hencciorth command
tho Cavalry Corps himself, Gs he would not
give il another order
Ii will hardly be necessary for Col. Whit
aker 10 refer this subject to Gen. Wilson. IA
suggested by Tho CanuOucer," the General
having already put himself on record in the
following dispatch:
HEADQ'R4 THIRD DIVISION CAVALRY ConPsN
ARMY OF TIE foIouAC
| SP0TTsYLvASGA COURTHOUSE Alay >, 1854; Q A. m
Lieut.. Col. FOEsYTH Chief Of staff G. G.
lihNe run TIE enemy ctNhlry "A mile from SpOtt
| sylvauia Courthouse; have charged them aud
drove them through the village; now fsshtiug
with considerable force supposed To be Lees Di-
vision. Every thing all right.
j. III. Wilson,
Brigadier-Generul Commanding.
While "The Cannoneer" Is doubtless ex-
ceedingly well posted on tho marches and
battles of the Army Of the Potomac and his
articles pertaining 10 them very interest
1 ing reading. IL will be difficult for him 10 mako
| the members Of Wilson's Division believe that
because they had sharp fight at Todd's
| Tavern during the afternoon of May IL was
not possible for them 10 have been at SpOtt-
| sylvana on the morning of the Sth. lie should
| remember that the time had gone by when
dead cavalrynan" was a curiosity, aud that
| the time had come when fight every day, or
two fights in one day, was not n remarkable
experience for them, with Phil. Sheridan in
command.-W. l.. GREENLEAF, LIST VI. Cav,
| Burlington, VT.
| Nervous Debility, poor memory, din
dennv, sexual weakness pimplcs, opium habit
cn,ed by DT. Miles Neryine. Samples free at drug
gists, by mail loo. MILES MED. Co. ELKHAET, ISD.