“General:  In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor.  I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three different infantry brigades.  The enemy assaulted the right of my lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed.  I have been very apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up.  I built slight works for my men; the enemy came up to them, and were driven back.  General Wright has just arrived.

“P.  H. Sheridan,
“Major-General Commanding.”

About 10 o’clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till Hancock’s corps took their place in the afternoon.  By this time Gregg had joined me with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg were now marched to Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom’s bridge.  Here the enemy’s cavalry confronted us, occupying the south bank of the stream, with artillery in position at the fords prepared to dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom’s bridge and at Old Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June.

As before related, Wilson’s division struck the enemy’s infantry as well as W. H. F. Lee’s cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was his part of the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to Price’s Store.  From this point he continued to cover the right of the Army of the Potomac, on the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of the enemy from Hawe’s Shop, the scene of the battle of May 28.  The same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, and passed around the enemy’s left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps.  This successful manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe’s Shop, and on the 4th went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James.

CHAPTER XXI.

The movement to the James—­the second expedition—­battle of
Trevillian station—­defeat of general Wade Hampton—­Mallory’s
crossroads—­suffering of the wounded—­securing the trains—­general
Gregg’s stubborn fight.