The National tribune., 1910-06-30
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the road to HanoyertoWn. With them
went a division of the Sixth Corps,
which was so carefully withdrawn that
the Confederates were not aware of
the fact. The cavalry was sent to
seize Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's
Ford and at dark the divisions of the
Fifth and Sixth Corps fell back, one
after another, across the river quietly
and orderly, keeping within close sup
porting distance in case the enemy
should come out and attack. The two
divisions of the Ninth Corps on the
north side of the river moved down and
to assist Hancock should the enemy
appear on that side. AS the troops
from the right moved out and secured
the way Hancock followed with the
same promptness, celerity and secrecy.
While this was going on Wilson's Divi-
sion of Cavalry, on the extreme right
made dash to occupy the attention of
the enemy, and Sheridan's troopers,
which, as before mentioned, had re-
Joined the Army of the Potomac, made
a demonstration toward Hanovertown.
The movements were embarrassed by
downpour of rain, which rendered the
roads heavy and slippery. The crossing
of the Pamunkey was effected on two
pontoon bridges. and at a. m, May
27, Gen. Sheridan was in possession of
Hanovertown.
The losses on each side at the North
in killed, wounded and missing for both
Union and Confederate. This seems a
shocking number to-day, considering
the little fighting that took place. but
in comparison with the frightful losses
before and after the casualties on the
North Anna are reported briefly, as of
little consequence.
Behind the TotopotomOy.
Taa dgd M. dienoyar ,ba dapartur
of the Army of the Potomac until the
morning of May q, when he at once
OWNED that the indomitable Grant had
not retreated, but was again Siding
off, as the Confederates expressed it,
to the left in order to get nearer Rich
mond and turn his Lee's) flank. The
Confederate leader knew just where
Grant would have TO cross the Pamun-
key TO do this, and he lost no time in
putting his army in motion to inter-
pose between his opponent and Rich
mond. In that country, where all
streams flow down to the sea thru deep
gorges cut in the granite plain, there
was little difficulty in selecting another
line of defense. This was found on the
line of the Totopotomoy Creek. Like all
the other streams which the Army of
the Potomac had to cross in its ad-
vance, the Totopotomoy swept around in
a curve before it entered the Pamun-
KEY. WIN tne COHVeSlty III 'front.' OF
the Army of the Potomac this gave the
Confederates. standing on the other
bank, an opportunity for a flank fire
upon the columns advancing from the
plain in front.
The Totopotomoy rises near Atlee's
Station, on the Virginia Central Rail-
road, about 10 miles north of Rich
mond, and sweeps around in a long
curve to the eastward for q miles be-
fore it reaches the Pamunkey, passing
about two miles south of Hanovertown.
Three or four miles south of the Toto
potomoyis Matadequin Creek, which also
empties into the Pamunkey. Both these
streams are hidden in swamps and their
tributaries bordered by swamps. The
Confederates had now, as formerly, the
same advantage of interior lines, Grant
having to march "a miles, while Lee
only had to go 2S miles to place him
self behind the TotOpctomy.
Lee arrived with his forces behind
this stream just as the Army of the
Potomac was seen advancing from
Hanoyertown with Sheridan's Cavalry
at it's head. He put his main columns
IN position, and set them to work to
make II impregnable. Lee had men
enough to occupy the whole plain
which he had selected, with swamps
covering his flanks, and had no reason
to fear a direct attack. The great i'm
portance of the position was also its
weakness, in covering a number of
leading roads from the Pamunkey TO
Richmond From HanovertOwn, II
miles from Richmond, there was a di-
rect road TO that city passing thru
Hawes's Shop, four miles from Han
overtown, Pole Green Church. on the
Totopotomoy, HuntleyS Corners and
Shady Grove Church. From Huntley S
Corners ran another road to Richmond
py the way of Mechanicsville. There
were number of other important
roads, each of which il was desirable
to secure and hold.
Longstreets Corps, under the COM
mand of Anderson, with all its artillery.
took a position covering the right be-
hind Huntley's Corners and Walnut
Grove Church This highway was i'm
portant to Grant, since ii led to the
White House, which had been selected
as a new base Of supplies. Breckin-
ridges command from the Shenandoah
Valley and Hills Corps formed along