The Washington herald., 1914-05-22
Halt on the Mattapony.

As the column advanced Gen. Sheridan
had sent a courier to Fortress Monroe
to request that a pontoon bridge be sent
TO the White House for the use OF his
command in crossing the Pamunkey.
On reaching White House, however,
he found that the York River Railroad
bridge was standing. although badly dam
aged by fire. Troopers were at once
sent in every direction to search for ma
terials with which to rebuild the bridge.
Every sort of building that had escaped
complete destruction was torn down to
supply planks and boards, and in two
days the bridge. a high one. 20 yards
long. was ready for the passage Of the
command.
Meanwhile. Clusters brigade had been
sent on northward to destroy the bridges
of the Fredericksburg road at Hanover
Creek. and Merritt's and o. Mem.
Gresg's divisions had been thrown back
toward Richmond as far as Cold Harbor
to cover Custer.
Custer mad destroyed two bridges but
had met with such firm resistance from
troops that had been sent up from Rich
mond that he turned back without any
further advantage. Custer learned. how
ever. that the Confederates were massing
infantry along the North Anna River
to protect the bridges there and insure
the crossing of Gen. Lees army, which
was now marching to forestall Grant
at that point.
With the return Of Custer to the
command, Sheridan gave the order for
an advance. The next day the Malta
pony River was crossed at Ayletts.
near Dunkirk. and the column biv-
ouaced near the river. The men were
hot and dusty. The cool stream look
ed inviting. and there being no signs
of the enemy, whole regiments and
brigades were permitted to go swim
ming. Soon the river was filled from
shore to shore with splashing, shout
ing young men. who for the time for
got the cares, fatigues and dangers of
war.
Back to the Army.
During the halt at the Mattapony
Sheridan learned that Grant had
marched southwark from Spottsy1vania
toward the North Anna. This informa-
tion determined his route for the re-
mainder of the raid. and on May "A
Sheridan rejoined the army in the vi
cinity of Chesterfield Station on the
Fredericksburg Railroad.
The cavalry had been absent six
teen days, during which time Grants
command had been entirely free from
attacks by Confederate cavalry and
Lee had been deprived of this very i'm
portant arm.
This and the death of Gen. Stuart
had been the main achievements of the
raid. The breaking of the railroads in
Lees rear had not been sufficiently ef-
fective to interrupt traffic for more
than week, but the moral effect of
this Interruption at that particular
time was very marked in Richmond.
The Confederate government. in fact.
had been cut of from all communica-
tion with its forces in the field, except
by couriers.
Sheridan brought his command back
to the army in better condition than
when II set out. The service had not
been arduous. In its sixteen days alb
sence, the column had marched 1is
miles, resting four days on the James
and two on the York rivers, and riding
ten days, averaging fourteen miles
day. Its losses were sixty-four killed.
So wounded and 22i missing, a total
Of 625.
Immediately on its return. the cavlry
was assigned to duties that were to
eliminate in some of the bloodiest
cavalry fighting in the war. at Cold
Harbor. the first week in June.
Tsnorrows Grants Army at the