第 59 节
作者:冥王      更新:2021-02-20 16:48      字数:9322
  to pass on to Gordonsville; and from there to interpose between
  General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as
  circumstances might determine。
  On the night of the Loth General Hampton's division camped about
  three miles northwest of Trevillian; at a place called Green Spring
  Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House;
  some six miles east of Trevillian。  Learning that I was at
  Carpenter's ford; Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian
  Station toward Clayton's store; on the road from Trevillian to
  Carpenter's ford; intending to attack me at Clayton's。  Fitzhugh
  Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa
  Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were
  separated by several miles。
  At daylight of the 11th my march; to Trevillian Station was resumed
  on the direct road to that point; and engaging the enemy's pickets
  and advanced parties soon after setting out; we began to drive them
  in。  Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades; and as
  he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a
  line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian。
  Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked; by
  a wood road found on our left; to destroy Trevillian Station。  In
  following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division;
  having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division;
  which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court
  House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton。
  Custer; the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear; charged the
  led horses; wagons; and caissons found there; getting hold of a vast
  number of each; and also of the station itself。  The stampede and
  havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn
  Rosser's brigade in that direction; and while it attacked Custer on
  one side; Fitzhugh Lee's division; which had followed Custer toward
  Trevillian; attacked him on the other。  There then ensued a desperate
  struggle for the possession of the captured property; resulting
  finally in its being retaken by the enemy。  Indeed; the great number
  of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within
  Custer's line; which now formed almost a complete circle; and while
  he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they; together
  with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons; fell into
  the hands of their original owners。
  As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear; I
  directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin;
  aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left; Gregg's other
  brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court
  House road。  The effect of this was to force Hampton back; and his
  division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell…mell
  into Custer's lines; leaving there about five hundred prisoners。  The
  rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west
  of Trevillian; while; in the meantime; Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee
  toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened
  between the two Confederate divisions; precluding their union until
  about noon the next day; when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction
  after a circuitous march in the night。  The defeat of Hampton at the
  point where he had determined to resist my further advance; and his
  retreat westward; gave me undisturbed possession of the station; and
  after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville; I
  went into camp。
  》From prisoners taken during the day; I gathered that General Hunter;
  instead of coming toward Charlottesville; as I had reason to expect;
  both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by
  General Grant; was in the neighborhood of Lexingtonapparently
  moving on Lynchburgand that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and
  Charlottesville。  I also heard; from the same source; that Ewell's
  corps was on its way to Lynchburg; but this intelligence proved
  afterward to be incorrect; for these troops; commanded by General
  Early; did not leave Richmond till two days later。
  There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general
  location; however。  He was marching toward Lynchburg; away from
  instead of toward me; thus making the junction of our commands beyond
  all reasonable probability。  So in view of this; I made up my mind to
  abandon that part of the scheme; and to return by leisurely marches;
  which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was
  crossing the James River。  I was still further influenced to this
  course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of
  woundedthere being about five hundred cases of my ownand the five
  hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon; should
  I proceed farther。  Besides; the recent battle had reduced my supply
  of ammunition to a very small amountnot more than enough for one
  more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would
  have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter; now that the
  enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us; the
  risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it。
  The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the
  railroad to Louisa Court House; and continued the work during the
  day; breaking it pretty effectually。  While Gregg was thus occupied;
  I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road;
  to secure a by…road leading over Mallory's ford; on the North Anna;
  to the Catharpen road; as I purposed following that route to
  Spottsylvania Court House on my return; and thence via Bowling Green
  and Dunkirk to the White House。  About a mile beyond Trevillian the
  Gordonsville road forkthe left fork leading to Charlottesvilleand
  about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly
  intrenched a line across both roads; being reinforced by Fitzhugh
  Lee; who; as before related; had joined him about noon by a
  roundabout march。  Torbert soon hotly engaged this line; and by the
  impetuosity of his first attack; gained some advantage; but the
  appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right; and Hampton's
  strong resistance in front; rendered futile all efforts to carry the
  position; and; although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to
  Torbert's assistance; yet the by…road I coveted was still held by the
  enemy when night closed in。
  This engagement; like that off the day before around Trevillian; was
  mostly fought dismounted by both sides; as had also been the earlier
  fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness; at Todd's
  Tavern; Hawe's Shop; and Matadequin Creek。  Indeed; they could hardly
  have been fought otherwise than on foot; as there was little chance
  for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia; the dense woods; the
  armament of both parties; and the practice of barricading making it
  impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and
  so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method
  prevailed in almost every engagement。
  The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides。
  The character of the fighting; together with the day's results;
  demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North
  Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day。
  This would consume the little ammunition left; and though we might
  gain the road; yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever
  to get back with was too great a hazard; so I gave orders to withdraw
  during the night of the 12th。  We retired along the same road by
  which we had come; taking with us the prisoners; and all of our
  wounded who could be moved。  Those who could not be transported; some
  ninety in number; and all the Confederate wounded in my hands; were
  left at Trevillian in hospitals; under charge of one of our surgeons;
  with plenty of medical and other stores。
  We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following
  morning; and halting there; unsaddled and turned the horses out to
  graze; for they were nearly famished; having had neither food nor
  water during the preceding forty…eight hours。  Late in the afternoon
  we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store; while General
  Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna; with
  the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac; in
  the hope of preventing my return to it; but his movements took no
  definite shape beyond watching me; however; till several days later;
  near St。 Mary's Church; when I was crossing the peninsula to the
  James River。
  On the 14th the march was continued; and we reached the Catharpen
  road; upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been
  able to cross at Mallory's ford; and this conducted me to Shady Grove
  Church。  The next day we passe