RICHMOND (Va.), Sheridan's Raid on the Communications with, a movement which included the battle of Yellow Tavern. At day break 9 May 1864, General Sheridan, with 10,000 cavalry and six batteries, started from near Todd's Tavern to cut the railroads entering Richmond from the north and northwest. He moved on the Telegraph road; Merritt's division crossed the North Anna at Anderson's Ford at dark and encamped; the rest of the column, har assed by a brigade of Stuart's cavalry, halted for the night on the north side of the river. The march was resumed early on the 10th, several miles of the Virginia Central Railroad de stroyed, with rolling-stock and supplies, and at night Sheridan crossed the South Anna, halting at daylight of the 11th on the south bank. Early in the day Davies' brigade encountered Mun ford's cavalry at Ashland, on the Fredericks burg Railroad, drove it from the place, de stroyed the depot and several miles of railroad, and joined Sheridan's main body at Allen's Station. Meanwhile General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry division had been rapidly marching by a circuitous route to interpose between Sheri dan and Richmond, and had reached Yellow Tavern, on the Brook road, six miles from Richmond. Lee had barely 4,500 men. Sheri dan's whole force advanced, Merritt's division leading, followed by Wilson's and Gregg's. Merritt attacked and gained the Brook road at Yellow Tavern, but General Stuart, in com mand of the Confederates, seized a position on his flank and enfiladed his line with artillery. Then Custer's brigade, supported by Wilson's division, charged the flanking force, breaking it and capturing two guns. In this encounter Stuart was mortally wounded. Stuart's de tached brigade, under Gen. James B. Gordon, fell upon Sheridan's rear, but Gregg drove it back toward Ashland. Fitzhugh Lee's divi sion retreated toward Richmond. The losses on both sides were severe. Sheridan followed Lee's division and entered the most advanced line of works covering Richmond. Sheridan had in tended to keep south of the Chickahominy and march by way of Fair Oaks, to make a demon stration on Richmond. Marching during the night, at daylight of the 12th he massed his force at Meadow Bridge, overlooking the line Of the Virginia Central Railroad and the Me chanicsville pike. After demonstrating on the
Confederate works, which were found too strong to be attacked, he determined to recross the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge. The bridge, which had been partially destroyed, was held by some of Gordon's cavalry and a battery on the north side. Merritt's division crossed after a severe engagement, in which Gen. James B. 'Gordon, commanding the Confederate cavalry, was killed. Meanwhile, Wilson's divi sion could not pass the second line of the Rich mond defenses, on the Mechanicsville road, and was attacked by Barton's and Gracie's infantry brigades and some dismounted cavalry, who, ad venting from the works, attacked both Wilson and Gregg, at first with success, driving Wilson in, some disorder. After a severe contest the Confederates were driven back to their works, and between 3 and 4 P.M. Wilson and Gregg crossed the Chickahominy above Mechanicsville bridge, and Sheridan encamped his corps near Gaines' MilL Next day he crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy by Bottom's bridge, marched through White Oak Swamp and, on the 14th, encamped in the vicinity of Haxall's Landing, on James River. He made several demonstrations on the New Market road, in the direction of Richmond, and having drawn sup plies from General Butler's army, started on the 17th to rejoin the Army of the Potomac, march. ing by way of White House, on the Paminikey. Detachments were sent to destroy the railroad bridges over the South Anna and to demon strate on Richmond, and 24 May Sheridan re joined Grant's army near Chesterfield bridge on the North Anna. The Union loss in the move ment from 9 May was 64 killed, 337 wounded, and 224 missing. There are no resorts of Con federate losses. Consult 'Offiaal (Vol. XXXVI); Humphr, 'The Virginia Campaign of Sheridan, 'Personal Memoirs' (Vol. II) • McClella_ 'Life and Campaigns of General Stuart'; The Century Company's 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War) (Vol. IV).
E. A. Gums*