The Washington herald., 1914-07-02
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
July 1s64-Gen James Wilson Reached the Vicinity Of City Point Va,
with the Portion His Command Of $500 Men that Had Been Cut of
from the Army of the Potomac by the Enemy When Returning from
Raid Against Railroads South of Petersburg-An Escape
Tight Place.

Fifty years ago today Gen. James II.
Wilson. a division commander in Sh"Ti-
dams cavalry corps, reached Lighthouse
Point, in the viCinitCy of City Point, Va,
with the portion of his command or 800
men that had been cut on from the
Army Of the Potomac by the enemy. al
Reams Station. on June -. when return
ing from a raid against the railroads
south OF Petersburg
Gen. Wilson brought in with him more
than 5000 men. A portion OF his COM
mand that became separated from him
at Reams Station had previously reached
the army's lines, under Gen. A. V.
KautL, having found a way around the
position OF the enemy a few hours after
the engagement Of June p
The whole command Of 5.-H0 men with
which Gen. Wilson had set out was thus
accounted for. less 20 killed and wound
ed ana l.26l reported missing. A majority
OF the latter afterward came in. reducing <
the actual losses Of the command TO
something more than so men.
In bringing OF a majority Of his men
after the engagement at Reams Station.
in which his force was divided. and the
portion under his personal command vir-
tualIy surrounded. Gen. Wilson had per
formed notable work. Federal cavalry had
rarely been in tighter place than his
command and effected its escape.
The command had been placed in peril
through no fault of Gen. Wilson's. He
had followed his orders 10 the letter:
had wrecked thirty miles Of the Lynch
burg and Petersburg Railroad. as far
west as RuTkeville Junction tnfty miles
west OF PetersburEhb. and thirty miles
of the Danville road. from Burkevlle
southwark to the Staunton River. and
baH ha Weldon Rail
road. ten miles from the Federal lines.
in the belief that he would find the Fed
erals in possession of that railroad. He
had been assured before setting out that
the railroad would he held hy the Fed
erals before his return and had shaped
his homeward journey acCOrdiuGly.
At Reams' Station he had ridden with
out warning upon Confederate infantry
in position. and at the same time had
been attacked from the rear ny the
enemy's cavalry. After burning his
wagons. parking his ambulances laden
with wounded and leaving them in
charge Of the surgeons. and spiking the
majority OF his sixteen guns, which had
become mired in swamps or stuck in
thick woods he had cut his way out OF
the trap, the enemy following. and had
started on a rapid retreat, to make a
wide detour southwark and eastward. in
the hope Of shaking of his pursuers and
reaching the army.
Enemy Close Behind.
A harder country through which TO
make a hurried retreat with cavalry
can scarcely be conceived. II was
desolate. densely wooded region. with
few and poor roads, many swamps and
innumerable watercourses.
Taking the only road leading south.
ward, with three regiments-the Second
and Fifth New York and First ConnecTi-
cut-acting as a rear guard and holding
of the enemy, wilson's disordered coll
umn had reached a considerable water
course, Stony Creek. before dark on
June %.
Here they enemy attacked with artn-
lery. The situation was critical. for the
stream was unfordabIe and the highway
bridge spanning II so shaky as to be
dangerous.
The column was hampered with more
than 1.OOO negro refugees, who Clung ter
to its rear. 1t was neces-
sary to abandon them here. As they
were herded under guard, the tOopers
slowly led their horses across the bridge.
The enemy made a charge while a mar
row deile leading to the bridge was
filled with troopers. but the rear guard.
under Gen. ]. r. Mcintosh, beat them on.
When all had crossed the bridge was
fired and the command moved briskly
on to the next river in its path. the Not
taway. This was crossed az Double
Bridges, thirty miles south OF Peters
burg Here the last of the guns were
thrown into the river, the horses draw
ing them being exhausted.
At = a. m. on June 30 the column
the Weldon Railroad again. at
Jarretts Station. Here halt of two
hours was made. while a guide was pro-
cured. There was no time TO unsaddIe
and make camp. The enemy was close
behind.
Bridging the BIackwntcr.
Mounting again al daylight. the column
headed east The Nottaway. a river of
many turns, was again ahead OF them.
The second crossing was made at Peters
Ford. near Littleton. Here a rest OF
few hours was taken, as the enemy ap-