In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says:  “Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his death.  When it reached him he retired from those around him, and remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory.  When one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said:  ’I can scarcely think of him without weeping.’”

From the camp near Gaines’s Mills I resumed the march to Haxall’s Landing, the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler.  We got to the James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of prisoners, and camped between Haxall’s and Shirley.  The prisoners, as well as the captured guns, were turned over to General Butler’s provost-marshal, and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by his surgeons.  Ample supplies, also, in the way of forage and rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the work of refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously pushed.  By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket that the enemy’s cavalry was returning to Lee’s army I started that evening on my return march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones’s bridge, and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads.

My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a problem somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and that most likely some of these troops were being held at different points on the route to intercept my column.  Therefore I determined to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House, and sent to Fort Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to make the crossing.  While waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad bridge over the South Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I sent Gregg and Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer’s movements.  Merritt, with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at Baltimore crossroads to await events.

After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed but partially—­the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places only—­and that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry us over.  In view of this information General Merritt’s two brigades were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge.  By sending