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him of my condition and intention； asking him to send forage and
rations to meet me at the White House； and also a pontoon…bridge to
carry me over the Pamunkey； for in view of the fact that hitherto it
had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches around Petersburg；
I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank of the
Pamunkey； where the enemy； by sending troops out from Richmond； might
fall upon my flank and rear。 It was of the utmost importance that
General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of
failure； in order that I might； depend absolutely on securing
supplies at the White House； therefore I sent the message in
duplicate； one copy overland direct to City Point by two scouts；
Campbell and Rowan； and the other by Fannin and Moore； who were to go
down the James River in a small boat to Richmond； join the troops in
the trenches in front of Petersburg； and； deserting to the Union
lines； deliver their tidings into General Grant's hands。 Each set of
messengers got through； but the copy confided to Campbell and Rowan
was first at Grant's headquarters。
I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up； for it
was still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams； fatiguing
and wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been
forced to abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help
given by some two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the
column： they literally lifted the wagons out of the mud。 From
Columbia Merritt； with Devin's division； marched to Louisa Court
House and destroyed the Virginia Central to Frederick's Hall。
Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work from Frederick's Hall to
Beaver Dam Station； and also pursued for a time General Early； who；
it was learned from despatches captured in the telegraph office at
Frederick's Hall； was in the neighborhood with a couple of hundred
men。 Custer captured some of these men and two of Early's staff…
officers； but the commander of the Valley District； accompanied by a
single orderly； escaped across the South Anna and next day made his
way to Richmond； the last man of the Confederate army that had so
long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley。
At Frederick's Hall； Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond
that General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my
junction with Grant； and that Pickett's division； which had been sent
toward Lynchburg to oppose my march； and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry； were
moving east on the Southside railroad； with the object of
circumventing me。 Reasoning that Longstreet could interpose
effectually only by getting to the White House ahead of me； I pushed
one column under Custer across the South Anna； by way of Ground
Squirrel bridge； to Ashland； where it united with Merritt； who had
meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction。 Our appearance at
Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction； as was hoped；
so； leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them； the
united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the
North Anna。 After dark Pennington came away； and all the troops
reached the church by midnight of the 15th。
Resuming the march at an early hour next morning； we took the road by
way of King William Court House to the White House； where； arriving
on the 18th； we found； greatly to our relief； the supplies which I
had requested to be sent there。 In the meanwhile the enemy had
marched to Hanover Court House； but being unable either to cross the
Pamunkey there or forestall me at the White House on the south side
of the river； he withdrew to Richmond without further effort to
impede my column。
The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous
campaigns by the cavalry。 Almost incessant rains had drenched us for
sixteen days and nights； and the swollen streams and well…nigh
bottomless roads east of Staunton presented grave difficulties on
every hand； but surmounting them all； we destroyed the enemy's means
of subsistence； in quantities beyond computation； and permanently
crippled the Virginia Central railroad； as well as the James River
canal； and as each day brought us nearer the Army of the Potomac； all
were filled with the comforting reflection that our work in the
Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done； and every one was buoyed
up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the final
struggle of the war。
CHAPTER V。
TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURGGENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOMEGENERAL
GRANT's ORDERS AND PLANSA TRIP WITH MR。 LINCOLN AND GENERAL GRANT
MEETING GENERAL SHERMANOPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE
OPENING OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGNGENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL
RAWLINS。
The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of
operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General
Grant； indeed； the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts；
asking that supplies be sent me at the White House； was the first
word that reached him concerning the move。 In view of my message the
general…in…chief decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring
operations with the investing troops south of the James River； for he
felt the importance of having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which
he was convinced would wind up the war。 We remained a few days at
the White House resting and refitting the cavalry； a large amount of
shoeing being necessary； but nothing like enough horses were at hand
to replace those that had died or been disabled on the mud march from
Staunton to the Pamunkey River； so a good many of the men were still
without mounts； and all such were sent by boat to the dismounted camp
near City Point。 When all was ready the column set out for Hancock
Station； a point on the military railroad in front of Petersburg； and
arriving there on the 27th of March； was in orders reunited with its
comrades of the Second Division； who had been serving with the Army
of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous August。
General Crook； who had been exchanged within a few days； was now in
command of this Second Division。 The reunited corps was to enter
upon the campaign as a separate army； I reporting directly to General
Grant； the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing； of my own
choice； my position as a department commander by joining the armies
at Petersburg。
Taking the road across the Peninsula； I started from the White House
with Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at
Harrison's Landing。 Very early next morning； in conformity with a
request from General Grant； I left by boat for City Point； Merritt
meanwhile conducting the column across the James River to the point
of rendezvous； The trip to City Point did not take long； and on
arrival at army headquarters the first person I met was General John
A。 Rawlins； General Grant's chief…of…staff。 Rawlins was a man of
strong likes and dislikes； and positive always both in speech and
action； exhibiting marked feelings when greeting any one； and on this
occasion met me with much warmth。 His demonstrations of welcome
over； we held a few minutes' conversation about the coming campaign；
he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of operations
adopted； namely； that which contemplated my joining General Sherman's
army。 His language was unequivocal and vehement； and when he was
through talking； he conducted me to General Grant's quarters； but he
himself did not enter。
General Grant was never impulsive； and always met his officers in an
unceremonious way； with a quiet 〃How are you〃 soon putting one at his
ease； since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of
welcome； although his manner was otherwise impassive。 When the
ordinary greeting was over； he usually waited for his visitor to open
the conversation； so on this occasion I began by giving him the
details of my march from Winchester； my reasons for not joining
Sherman； as contemplated in my instructions； and the motives which
had influenced me to march to the White House。 The other provision
of my orders on setting out from Winchesterthe alternative return
to that placewas not touched upon； for the wisdom of having ignored
that was fully apparent。 Commenting on this recital of my doings；
the General referred only to the tortuous course of my march from
Waynesboro' down； our sore trials； and the valuable services of the
scouts who had brought him tidings of me； closing with the remark
that it was； rare a department commander voluntarily deprived himself
of independence； and added that I should not suffer for it。 Then
turning to the business for which he had called rne to City Point； he
outlined what he expected me to do； saying that I was to cut loose
from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the
southward along the line of the Danville railroad； and