The National tribune., 1904-06-23
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Continnod from f1rst ID


ment secretly. and this purpose was sue
cessfuily accomplished Not a picket shot
was fired, and no sound broke on the mid
night air save the low rumble Of the artil-
lery and wagons, and the tread of armed
men as they moved across the bridges. 1t
was near daylight before the rear of the
long columns had filed across. The army
then headed eastward and southwark TO
cross the Pamunkey. The Sixth Corps led
the van. followed by the Fifth and Ninth
Corps. The Second Corps held position
till the morning of the 9th, when it COW
cred the rear.
From the North Anna the line of march
OF the army made a wide circuit eastward
and then southwark TO pass the Pamunkey
his river is formed by the confluence of
the North and South Anna and the Pa
munkey in turn uniting with the Malta
pony, forms the York River. emptying into
Chesapeake Bay. Thus the successful pas
sage of the Pamunkey would not only dis
lodge Lee from the lines of the North and
South Anna. but would bring the army in
communication with a new and excellent
water-base. While the army was at Spot
syivania Courthouse it had used Fred
ericksburg as a depot; when il moved to
the North Anna, the base was shifted TO
Port Royal on the Rappehannock Cut
ting loose from this. il had White House
as a depot.
The Sixth Corps. preceded by two divi-
sions of cavalry under Sheridan. had the
advance on the night of the Goth; and on
the morning of the 9th, after a beauti-
fuliy-executed march of % miles, the head
OF the column struck the Pamunkey at
iianovertown. Nothing was present but
small mounted force in observation: this
WAS readily dispersed or captured. The
Sixth Corps thereupon made the passage.
uncovered the fords. and took position to
await the arrival of the remaining corps
OF the army. These continued their march
during the day, and on the morning of the
18th the Fifth and Ninth Corps had joined
the van on the south side of the Pamunkey.
The Second Corps bringing up the rear,
retired from the North Anna on the morn
ing of the 9th, and on the same afternoon
made the passage at "a ford four miles
above Han0vertown. The whole srmy
was thus across the Pamunkey; and the
routes TO White House, at the head of York
River, being opened up, the army was put
in communication with the ample supplies
hoated by the waters of Chesapeake Bay.
LEE WAS MET AT THE CHIcKAHoMINY.
Grants new turning movement was met
by a corresponding retrograde movement on
the part of Lee. and as he fell back on
direct line less than half the distance Of
the great detour made by the Army of
the Potomac. it was not remarkable that,
on crossing the Pamunkey. the Confederate
force was again encountered, ready to ac-
cept the gage of battle. Lee assumed a
position in advance of the Chickahominy,
covering the Virginia Central and Fred
ericksburg & Richmond Railroads His
line of battle, as thus formed, faced north
eastward This front of opposition COM
PEELED dispositions to dislodge the Confed-
crate force before essaying the passage of
the Chickahominy. The cavalry was inf
mediately pushed out on the Hanover road
and at a point known as Hawes's Shop
the brigades of Davies, Gregg and Custer
became warmly engaged, on the afternoon
OF the 18th. with the Confederate cavalry
under FitZhugh Lee and Hampton. The
troopers, as usual. dismounted, and for sew
eraI hours fought with great obstinacy,
and unusually large loss-Sheridan losing
upward of 400 and the Confederates near
ly double that number. The combat ended,
however. in Sheridan's retaining posses
sion of this important junction of roads,
which enabled the entire line of the army
TO be thrown forward in advance of
Hawes's Shop The Confederates retired
behind the Tolopotomy.
The region in which the army was now
operating revived many "reminiscences iE
the minds of those who had made the Pen
insular Campaign under Mcclellan; for ii
was at Hawes's Shop that the extreme
right of the army then rested, and here
that Stuart. in moving from Hanover
Courthouse TO make bis famous raid, first
struck McClellan's outposts. Gaines's
Mill and Mechanicsville were within an
hours ride: Fair Oaks could be reached
in a two hours trot; Richmond was 10
miles off, and TO those within that city the
morning air daily waited the booming cf
hostile guns.
HANCOCK AND WARREN CHECKED.
Meantime, where Lee had taken up HE
real vantage ground was uncertain. and,
with the view of developing his position,
strong reeonnoissances by all the corps
were next day thrown forward: the Sixth
house; the Second Corps on the road from
Hawes's Shop toward the same point: the
Fifth Corps toward Shady Grove Church,
and the Ninth Corps to be in position to
support either the Second or Fifth. (37)
Wright. with the Sixth Corps. passed
around the Confederate left. and succeeded
in reaching Hanover Courthouse; but it
was not long before Hancock and Warren
were brought TO n halt. Hancock, advanc-
ing toward Hanover Courthouse, was sud-
denly arrested at Tolopotomy Greek, an
atiiuent of the Pamunkey, on the south
bank of which the enemy was found
strongly iHtrenched The stubborn resist
bring-up the rest of his corps. and next
day the Ninth Corps was formed on his
left: and the Sixth closing in 10 the left,
was placed on his right, with the design
of forcing the position. Heavy skirmish
ing took place: but. though Hancock sue
eee6ed in carrying an advanced line. the
main position, strongly intrenched and COW
cred by marshy ground. was found to be
entirely too formidable to assail. (3SD
Warren, on the left. experienced like
check in his advance toward Shady Grove
Church, on the road to which, and at the
point where the main branch Of the Too-
p0tomy crosses that road. the enemy was
found i'm line of battle. IT was ascerta ined
that the whole OF Ewell's Corps held posi-
tion at Shady Grove Church. and as the
enemy soon afterward appeared to be
threatening to move round by the Mechan-
icsyille pike and turn Warren's left. Craw-
ford directed one Of his brgades to the left
to cover that read. This brigade of the
Reserves, under Col Hardin, had hardly
reached the vicinity of Bethesda Church,
on the MechanicsvilIe pike. when Rodes's
Division of EwelPs Corps, moving by that
road assailed it furiously on the flank.
After maintaining the unequal contest for
a few minutes. the brigade fell back TO the
Shady Grove road with the enemy i'm pur-
suit. Here. however. the Confederates
were held in check by the excellent prac-
tise of battery, and at this moment Gen
Crawford brought up the remainder of the
Reserves. With these. and the brigade of
Col. kitching, Crawford took up a good
position. and gave an effectual repulse to a
very impetuous assault by Rodes. The
laft uraS than ayfaplad 90 &c - acyo. tt,o