The expedition starts—­destroying supplies—­opening of the fight at
Yellow Tavern—­general Custer’s Brilliant charge—­death of general
Stuart—­removing torpedoes—­excitement in Richmond—­A night march
—­enterprising newsboys—­the effects of Stuart’s defeat and death
—­end of the first expedition—­its great success and beneficial
results.

The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich’s toward Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the plank-road, Merritt’s division leading.  When the column reached Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, and thence down that highway to Thornburg, and from that point through Childsburg to Anderson’s crossing of the North Anna River, it being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible, where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight.  The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard had passed Massaponax Church.  Although the column was very long, I preferred to move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes.  Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; besides, an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was specially necessary to keep the whole force well together.

As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, all anxiety as to our passing around Lee’s army was removed, and our ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt.  Meanwhile General Stuart had discovered what we were about, and he set his cavalry in motion, sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack my rear on the Childsburg road, Stuart himself marching by way of Davenport’s bridge, on the North Anna, toward Beaver Dam Station, near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next day.