Reports
Report of Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U.S. Army, commanding Second Army Corps.
Baltimore, Md., September 21, 1865.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Second Corps from May 21 to 27, inclusive, constituting what is designated as the third epoch of the campaign of 1864, in the division adopted by the major-general commanding. My report has been unavoidably delayed by the absence of subordinate reports.
On the afternoon of the 19th, the corps being near Anderson's Mill, on the Ny River, I received orders to move my command at 2 a.m. of the 20th to Bowling Green and Milford, and take position on the right bank of the Mattapony. Brigadier-General Torbert, with a detachment of cavalry, was ordered to report to me.
The movement of Ewell on our right flank on the evening of the 19th, as described in my report of operations of the second epoch, prevented the march toward Milford until the night of the 20th; meanwhile Colonel Morgan, my chief of staff, had reconnoitered the route as far as Guiney's Station, and at my request the hour of starting was changed to dark, that we might pass the enemy's signal stations as far as practicable before daylight. We were delayed somewhat by the failure of the cavalry to get off at the designated hour, but this proved to be of no material importance. The cavalry was afterward pushed forward energetically by General Torbert.
A little opposition was experienced at Guiney's Station, where we arrived about daylight. The enemy was not encountered again until the cavalry reached Milford Station, when he was found in some force, being a part of Kemper's brigade on its way to Spotsylvania to join Lee. Before our infantry could get up, Torbert had driven this force out of their rifle-pits and across the river, capturing 66 prisoners and securing the bridge.
The infantry crossed as soon as it came up, and a strong position was taken at once, and so strengthened during the night that we were willing to undertake its defense against any force of the enemy. The enemy were undoubtedly surprised when we came up, as the position on the right bank at Milford is exceedingly strong against an attempt to cross the Mattapony in force.
We remained in this position until the morning of the 23d, when the corps moved to the North Anna, developing along the heights about 1 mile back of the river, the left (Gibbon's division) crossing the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. Birney's division (the right) took position on the right of the Telegraph road, which leads to the wooden bridge across the North Anna. Barlow's division was in the center.
The enemy were seen in large force marching in column on the opposite bank, evidently en route from Spotsylvania. Torbert's cavalry having driven them as far as practicable, I relieved his skirmishers with infantry. The enemy were found to be in force in rifle-pits on the north bank of the North Anna on the tongue of land between the river and Long Creek. General Birney, having reconnoitered the position, was of the opinion that it could be taken, and was instructed to make the attempt to carry it.
In the absence of any report from General Birney, I can only describe what I saw. Egan's and Pierce's brigades, led gallantly by their commanders, charged from different points over an open field several hundred yards in breadth, which ascended sharply toward the enemy's position, carrying the intrenchments and driving the enemy pell-mell across the stream with considerable loss to them.
Our casualties were about 150 men. This affair was very spirited and brilliant. During the assault the artillery of the corps, under direction of Colonel Tidball, vigorously engaged the opposing batteries. The enemy made several attempts to burn the bridge, but were frustrated by the vigilance and good conduct of our troops. On the left the enemy held the railroad bridge successfully during the night.
On the morning of the 24th, it was found that he had withdrawn from his advanced works on the south bank of the river in our front. We crossed the river and occupied them. General Potter's division, of the Ninth Corps, reported to me, and was assigned to the right of my line.
This day was spent in reconnoitering. It was found that the enemy occupied a line of a V shape, the vortex strongly intrenched on the river; one face opposite us, the other opposed to the Fifth and Sixth Corps, which had crossed the river above the point where the enemy's line met the stream.
About 6 p.m. General Gibbon's division, occupying my extreme left in front of the Doswell house, became briskly engaged, the brunt of the affair falling on Smyth's brigade. The enemy pressed Gibbon's advanced posts heavily, but gained no material advantage. To relieve him it was proposed to attack with Barlow's division on his right, and the arrangements were made accordingly, but the enemy's line was found on examination to be so strong and carefully protected by heavy works and abatis that the projected assault was abandoned and quiet was restored along the line by dark.
There were no movements of any importance by the troops under my command on the 25th. On the evening of the 26th, in obedience to instructions, I withdrew my command to the heights on the north bank of the river, destroying the railroad and county bridges. The corps remained massed in this position until about 10 a.m. on the 27th, waiting for the troops preceding to clear the road, when we marched over the county and old stage roads to the vicinity of the Pamunkey, going into camp about 10 p.m. This day concluded the operations of my command during the third epoch of the campaign.
The march from Anderson's Mill, on the Ny River, to Milford, and thence to the North Anna, was made with great rapidity, and was very severe upon the officers and men of my command. Their conduct throughout was good, and was marked by distinguished bravery in the contests which occurred at the North Anna. I have seldom witnessed such gallantry and spirit as the brigades of Egan and Pierce displayed in the assault upon the enemy's works, which commanded the wooden bridge over the North Anna. Barlow's and Gibbon's divisions had a sharp affair with the enemy, who were in intrenchments on the south side of the river on the evening of the 24th of May, in which they lost quite heavily.
The following is a partial list of casualties occurring in the corps during this epoch:
Artillery Brigade
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
TOTAL
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
34
11
55
4
95
241
203
543
0
1
5
2
8
1
20
40
31
92
0
3
4
8
15
3
61
158
151
373
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers.
Battle
Second
Corps
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