continued to attack, but made little impression on Gregg—­gain at one point being counterbalanced by failure at another.  Because of the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all his troops in line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the enemy’s superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait his division was in.

Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the unequal contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass Charles City Court House in safety.  When he had got all his led horses fairly on the way, and such of the wounded as could be transported, he retired by his right flank-in some confusion, it is true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church, where Hampton ceased to press him.

Gregg’s losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and most seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the safety of the train, the last wagon of which was now parked at Wilcox’s Landing.  His steady, unflinching determination to gain time for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic of the man, and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my command.  The firmness and coolness with which he always met the responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points in Gregg’s make-up, and he possessed so much professional though unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a few months later to quit the service before the close of the war.

Gregg’s fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up to the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his cavalry in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up by Lee’s infantry.  Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of the same thing, and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of Wilson’s division—­which, during my absence, had been sent out to break the enemy’s communications south of Petersburg, by destroying the Southside and Danville railroads—­he sent ferryboats to cross me over the James.  During the night of the 24th, and next morning, the immense train—­which ought never to have been left for the cavalry to escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three weeks—­was moved back through Charles City Court House to Douthard’s landing, and there ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like manner.  When General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury’s Bluff, and there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the Confederate pontoon-bridge.

CHAPTER XXII.

General Wilson’s raid—­destroying railroads—­his discomfiture
—­results of his raid—­REMOUNTS—­movement to the north side of the
James—­deceiving Lee—­my isolated position—­estimate of Hancock
—­success of the cavalry—­their constant duties.