ARMY OPERATIONS. 



115 



This attack was renewed during the night. 

 About dark Gen. Burnside's corps came up and 

 took position between Gens. Hancock and 

 Warren, and made preparations to cross, while 

 the 6th corps took the right of the 5th. On 

 the next day, the 24th, the army crossed the 

 river, and considerable skirmishing took place 

 along the whole line with a loss of about five 

 hundred. During the day a portion of the cav- 

 alry force under Gen. Sheridan reached the 

 army, returning from James River. On the 

 25th, contrary to general expectation, the enemy 

 were found strongly posted in force within two 

 miles of Gen. Grant's lines. They lay in the 

 form of a triangle, with the apex reaching 

 nearly to the Xorth Anna River, between the 

 points where Gens. Warren and Hancock 

 crossed with their corps. Their ground was 

 found to be admirably chosen and extensively 

 fortified. The formation of their line gave 

 them every facilky for a quick movement of 

 troops from one flank to the other. A success- 

 ful assault would have involved immense 

 slaughter. As the apex of the enemy's position 

 stretched toward the Xorth Anna, his right 

 wing resting on a formidable marsh and ex- 

 tending across the railroad, protected it and 

 covered the junction. His left wing ran along 

 Little River. Xew movements were therefore 

 made by Gen. Grant. His plan was to recross 

 the Xorth Anna and march by the left flank. 

 The swelling of the streams by the recent rains 

 made it prudent to commence it as soon as pos- 

 sible. To cover the movement a strong demon- 

 stration was made during Thursday on the left 

 of the enemy.. Some divisions of cavalry at- 

 tacked his left, whilst the 3d division of Gen. 

 Sheridan's cavalry moved up the Virginia Cen- 

 tral Railroad and began to burn the track. 

 Under cover of this attack, on Thursday even- 

 ing the 27th, the 6th corps quietly and swiftly 

 withdrew to the north bank of the river, fol- 

 lowed by the other corps in quick succession, 

 and moved out easterly for the Pamunkey. 

 The rear was protected by Gen. Hancock. At 

 the same time a strong skirmish line was left in 

 front to engage the enemy's attention a'nd dis- 

 arm suspicion. 



At 9 o'clock on the next morning, Friday the 

 28th, Hanover Ferry and Hanovertown were 

 occupied by a portion of Gen. Sheridan's cav- 

 alry, who captured seventy-five of the enemy. 

 At 10 A. M. the 1st division of the 2d corps 

 arrived, followed closely by the remainder of 

 the corps. Hanovertown is on the Pamunkey 

 River, fifteen miles from Richmond, and sixteen 

 miles from the White House, on the same river. 

 Thirteen miles east of the White House is West 

 Point, where the Mattapony and the Pamunkey 

 join and form the York River. Transports 

 with supplies for the army were already on the 

 vray to the White House, to which the base of 

 the army was now changed. On Saturday the 

 28th the troops continued to arrive all day, and 

 the crossing of the Pamunkey was secured. 

 The enemy had previously occupied Hanover 



Court House, and in the mean time extended 

 his lines southerly. The despatch of the War 

 Department relative to these movements was 

 as follows: 



WASHINGTON, May 289:50 p. M. 

 To Ifajor-General Dix : 



An official despatch from the headquarters of the 

 Army of the Potomac, at Magahick Church, ten miles 

 from Hanovertown, dated yesterday afternoon at five 

 o'clock, has just been received. 



It states that our army was withdrawn to the north 

 side of the Xorth Anna on Thursday night, and moved 

 toward Hanovertown, the place designated for cross- 

 ing the Pamunkey. 



At 9 o'clock yesterday ^Friday) morning Sheridan, 

 with the 1st and 2d divisions of cavalry, took pos- 

 session of Hanover Ferry and Hanovertown, finding 

 there only a rebel vidette. The 1st division of the 

 6th corps arrived at 10 A. M., and now hold the place, 

 with sufficient force of cavalrv and infantry and ar- 

 tillery to resist any attack likely to be made upon 

 them. The remainder of the corps is pressing for- 

 ward with rapidity. Weather fine and perfect. 



A later despatch dated at 7 o'clock this morning 

 (28th), from Headquarters, Magahick Church, has 

 also been received. It reports that every thing goes 

 on finely ; weather clear and cool ; the troops came 

 up rapidly and in great spirits, and that the army 

 will be beyond the Pamunkey by noon. 



Breckinridge is at Hanover Court House with a 

 force variously reported from three thousand to ten 

 thousand. Wickham's and Lomax's brigades of cav- 

 alrv are also there. 



The despatch further states that, after seking Han- 

 over Ferry yesterday, General Torbert captured 

 seventy -five cavalry, including six officers ; that the 

 rebel cavalry is exceedingly demoralized, and flees 

 before ours on every occasion. 



Xo despatches from any other field of operations 

 have been received to-day. 



EDWIN M. BXANTON, Secretary of War. 



On Saturday two divisions of cavalry, under 

 Gens. Torbert and Gregg, were pushed toward 

 Mechanicsville as a reconnoissance of the ene- 

 my's line. Xear the Tolopatomy Creek, a trib- 

 utary of the Pamunkey, a sharp engagement 

 took place with a cavalry force of the enemy, 

 which resulted in forcing them back some dis- 

 tance, leaving a part of their dead and wounded. 

 The loss of the Union force was about four 

 hundred, and that of the enemy was supposed 

 to be not less. 



On Sunday, the 29th, the whole army was 

 across the Pamunkey, and fronted southwest 

 about three miles from the river. Reconnois- 

 sances were made from each corps, followed 

 up by a gradual advance. The enemy appeared 

 to be in force, distant about six miles, and be- 

 yond the Tolopatomy Creek, holding Shady 

 Grove and Mechanicsville with his extreme 

 right, and his centre in front of Atlee's station 

 on the Virginia Central Railroad, and his left 

 covering Hanover Court House. 



On Monday, the 30th, the forces of Gen. 

 Lee were reported to be on the Mechanicsville 

 road south of the Tolopatomy Creek, with his 

 right resting on Shady Grove. The right of 

 Gen. Grant's army, consisting of the 6th corps 

 under Gen. Wright, extended in the direction 

 of Hanover Court House. The right centre 

 was held by Gen. Hancock on the Shady Grove 

 road, and the left centre by Gen. Warren o 



