There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter’s general location, however.  He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from instead of toward me, thus making the junction of our commands beyond all reasonable probability.  So in view of this, I made up my mind to abandon that part of the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, which would keep Hampton’s cavalry away from Lee while Grant was crossing the James River.  I was still further influenced to this course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of wounded—­there being about five hundred cases of my own—­and the five hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon, should I proceed farther.  Besides, the recent battle had reduced my supply of ammunition to a very small amount—­not more than enough for one more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now that the enemy’s cavalry and Breckenridge’s infantry were between us, the risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it.

The morning of June 12 Gregg’s division commenced destroying the railroad to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the day, breaking it pretty effectually.  While Gregg was thus occupied, I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, to secure a by-road leading over Mallory’s ford, on the North Anna, to the Catharpen road, as I purposed following that route to Spottsylvania Court House on my return, and thence via Bowling Green and Dunkirk to the White House.  About a mile beyond Trevillian the Gordonsville road fork—­the left fork leading to Charlottesville—­and about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly intrenched a line across both roads, being reinforced by Fitzhugh Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about noon by a roundabout march.  Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by the impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the appearance of Fitzhugh Lee’s troops on the right, and Hampton’s strong resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the position; and, although I brought up one of Gregg’s brigades to Torbert’s assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the enemy when night closed in.

This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd’s Tavern, Hawe’s Shop, and Matadequin Creek.  Indeed, they could hardly have been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the armament of both parties, and the practice of barricading making it impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method prevailed in almost every engagement.