The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-01-02
BATTLE OF TREVILLIAN'S.
One of the Hardest Cavalry Con-
tests of the Confederate War.

| b,
| which Gen Hampton was yictorious:l
After the death of Gen. j. f.. B
Stuart, at Yellow Tavern, Gen. Wad
Hampton was placed III command o
the Confederate cavalry in Virglni,
and he was worthy successor to tha
most illustrlous cavalry leader. In
deed, there are many Confedcrat,
cavalry officers still living who believ,
Hampton possessed many qualilica
tions rs a leader that Stuart lacked, ant
lacked few that he possessed. During
his career at the head of this arm ol
the service he was eminently success
full, especially when plttcd against
Sheridan, who was regarded in the
North AS without peer in either
army.
After Gen. Grant had established
himself securely on the York ant
James rivers, finding the country un.
suited for the operations of cavalry, on
June Z, 1864, he dispatched Sheridan
In the direction Of Gordonsvllle with
TWO divisions of cavalry, along with
artillery, to co operate with Hunter
who was moving on Lynchburg.
Hampton was Immediately informed
by his scouts of Shcridan's departure,
and he at once started with his own
division and that of Fitz Lee to in
tercept him. On the evening of the
10th he found himself several miles
ahead of Sheridan, who had gone into
camp east of Trevillian Station, on the
old Virginia Central Railroad.
Finding he had outstrippcd Sheridan
in his march to cooperate with
Hunter, Hampton rested and deter
mined to await his further advance.
llampton's division was composed
of the brigadcs of Butler, Rosser and
Dung, while Fltz Lees division was
made up of the brigades of Wickham
and l.omaX, making in all five brlgades,
or thirteen regiments and six battalions.
Sheridan had under his command Tor
belts and Gregg's divisions, composed
of six brigades or twenty four regi-
ments, which 1t is PLAIN to sec greatly
outnumbered that under Hampton.
Early on the morning of the llth
Hampton took the brgadcs of Young
and Butler and moved to the attack.
AT the same time Fitz Lee was ordered
to move in the direction of Clayton's
Store TO join in the engagement, while,
to prevent Sheridan from turning off
in the direction of Gordonsville before
reaching Trcvillian's, Rosscr was sent
around TO guard that flank.
The country being very heavily
wooded the two attacking brgades
were dismounted, under command of
Gen. Butler, and the horses sent back
to Trevlllian's for safety. Sheridan
turned Gregg off to meet FitZ Lee,
kept Custer in the saddle for cmcr-
gencies, and dismountcd Merritt and
Devin 70 oppose Butler.
a terrific battle cnsucd, which more
nearly resemblcd an infantry engage
ment than one between cavalry, for
the men on both sides fought on foot.
Merritt and Dcvin were at length
driven back by Butler, and Fitz Lee
was compelled to retire to LOUISA
Court House before Gregg.
Custer now saw his opportunity and
slipping in between Hampton and FitZ
Lee, but for an accident would have
inflicted upon Hampton crushing de
feat. AS soon as Custer reached the
riderless horses of Buffers command
he set to work to secure them, together
with all the ambulances and wagons :
but wounded Georgia cavalryman sue
ceeded ia reaching Rosser and made
him acquainted with the state of
affairs. Rosser at once put his troops
in rapid motion and, coming upon
Caster unexpectedly, charged him
with the fury of whlrlwind, routed
HIM with heavy loss, recaptured all
that had been lost, and pursued him
to his wagon train, which he captured
along with Gen. Custcr's headquarters
wagon containing his private papers,
ano cifectually broke up his brigade
and thus gave Hampton an opportunity
to withdraw Butler from his exposed
position, although this movement was
attended by hard fighting.
Late IN the afternoon Hampton or.
dered an advance on Sheridan's lines
near Trevillian's, but in the meantime
that general had gained possession of
the railroad cut and could not be dis
lodged. That night both commands,
exhausted from day of continuous
bloody fighting, rested on their arms
but IN the morning Sheridan concen.
tratsd his force and assumed the often.
sive, attacking Hampton with grca,
fury, but Notwithstanding superior
numbers he was unable to drive IIamp.
ton from the strong position he had
taken during the night.
A HARDLY CONTESTED BATTLE.
The contest was renewed several
times during the day without material
results to either side, when, on the
night of the 18th, Sheridan, fearino
further disaster, quietly withdrew and
crossing the Mattapony, rs well rs the
Pamunky, he finally reached Grants
army, after long ami tedious march
having been completely foilcd in his
efforts to cooperate with Hunter.
The battle OF Trcvillian's, which
lasted The greater part of two davs
was one of the most desperately con
tested cavalry engagements of the war
and yet much less seems to be know
of it than of any of the other grca
cavalry battles.
Gen. Sheridan had come from III,
battleields of the West with q splf ndi,
record ahd much was expected of him
but as yet he had done nothing to sus
tain his great reputation. In his at
tempt upon Richmond he had beer
folled by Stuart with a great by lnferlo
force and here again at Trevllllan's h,
was driven back upon Grant by anothe
infe.lor force. In each enganemen