Cavalry at the Crossroads- 1863

      The Crump's Crossroads mentioned in this article is the crossroad of Route 249, Airport Road and Tunstall Road i.e. our most recent traffic circle.

                                               THE SENTINEL. 

                               SATURDAY MORNING. JULY 4, 1863. 

FROM THE PENINSULA.

 At 2 o’clock yesterday; morning we received the following: 

 “Dispatches were received last night by Maj. Gen. Elzey, commanding department of Richmond, stating that our troops under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill, attacked the enemy yesterday evening, at Crump’s Farm, four miles below Bottoms’ Bridge, and drove him within five miles of the White House.

 “We lost one man killed, none wounded. We took six prisoners, who state that the enemy has not less than twenty thousand men.”

 Since the above was written we have received the following:

 We are informed, by an officer from the Peninsula, that our forces, under the command* of Major Gen. D. H. Hill, advanced to the attack of the enemy, on Thursday afternoon, about o’clock. Gen. Jenkins’ (S.C.) brigade, and Gen. Ransom’s (N.C.) brigade, formed in line of battle one-fourth of a mile this side of Crump’s cross roads, with Col. Shingler’s (Holcombe Legion) cavalry on both our right and left wings. Six pieces of Major Branch’s artillery were near the centre of our line. The enemy’s force consisted of four pieces of artillery, three regiments of infantry, and portions of two regiments of cavalry, under Colonel West, commanding U.S. forces. Skirmishing immediately commenced by sharpshooters on both sides. Several of the enemy were wounded and a few taken prisoners.

 Major Branch’s Virginia artillery commenced a terrific shelling, firing with accuracy and telling effect. Our infantry made a splendid advance at the double-quick, and though the enemy, under cover of his artillery, offered Home resistance, he soon commenced a hasty retreat, at which point General Hill ordered Colonel Shingler to charge with his cavalry. The latter taking his force of some 200 well mounted troops, made a most impetuous and daring charge. Three times the enemy ambushed him, firing volley after volley, but onward he dashed, calling to his men to “forward; never mind the fire—forward!” He drove them three and and a half miles, near the White House, and reined up long after nightfall. One officer and three of the enemy were killed and four wounded. Our loss, one killed, one wounded, and two missing.

 Too much praise cannot be accorded to the gallant behavior of the brigades of Jenkins and Ransom, and to Shingler’s cavalry and Branch’s artillery. General Hill’s brilliant advance has thus scattered the forces of the enemy once again menacing our cherished capital. 

 It was rumored yesterday, that the enemy has abandoned the idea of another “On to Richmond” movement at the present time, and pressing forward in a more Northward direction with a supposed intention of attempting to cut our communications at Hanover Junction or Milford depot, or, possibly at some point farther West on the Central road.