Judson Knight: A Chase along the Pamunkey 1864 - Conclusion

Serg't Knight's Adventures In the Swamps of the Pamunkey.

(Continued from last week.)

THE tension on my nerves, which had been considerably strained for the last 24 hours, had become relaxed, and I felt more like having fun than anything else. When the Lieutenant said he would have to keep me until morning, it put a stop to all funny business, as far as I was concerned, and I told him it was his duty to either send or take me to Gen. Smith at once, and I also said that he would be very apt to get blamed for not doing it. A Sergeant in the party settled it when he said: "Yes, Lieutenant, you will get into trouble if you don't take him to Gen. Smith at once." 

A guard was detailed, who surrounded me, and we set off across the fields. I don't know how often we were tripped up by the running blackberry or dowberry(dewberry) vines, but as near as I remember every one of the party were down more than once before we made the mile that separated us from the "White House." On our arrival Smith's tent had been pitched, and he had just lain down, when the Lieutenant went in, mid told him who I said I was, and he ordered him to bring me in immediately. When I came in he said: "Who are you?" After rolling him, his next question was: "When did you leave Gen. Grant?" Upon answering this his next was: "When did you leave his Headquarters?"

"At noon yesterday." 

"What have you been doing since " 

I gave him an outline of my experience, and said I came out of the swamp since dark.

"I heard the first whistle about four miles up the river. Here are three dispatches for you; the remainder go to Yorktown; please to look at this," handing him Col. Ingalls's order on Quartermasters.

"Capt., roared he. Capt. come into the tent. Give this man the fastest boat you have got, and don't wait to unload anything." 

Then to me: "I trust the remainder of your trip will be much pleasanter then the first part. Good-night."

In a few minutes not to exceed 20, I think I was sound asleep on the steamer, and remained so until we reached Yorktown. The steamer landed me and went back immediately. Going first to the telegraph office I delivered the dispatches that had to be telegraphed; then to the post office and got rid of the remainder, together with the letters. The next thing in order was to find an eating house, where I ordered a breakfast regardless of expense. After breakfast I concluded to replenish my wardrobe. Socks, drawers, and shirt had suffered in the swamp, and they were replaced by new ones. The shirt was gorgeous, French cashmere. I could not burden myself with anything except what I could wear, consequently only one article of a kind was purchased, with the exception of paper collars.They were something that one had to make some sacrifice for, and I laid in a supply of at least a dozen of "Gray's patent molded collar." After going to a barbershop and getting my hair cut and a shave, I made my appearance in the streets of Yorktown. My wide-brimmed straw hat and purple coat made me a conspicuous object, even without the extra adornments. I had mounted, and I was immediately surrounded by a crowd of both soldiers and officers, all eager for news, Somehow they had learned from the telegraph office that one of Grant's Headquarters scouts was in town, and they picked me out immediately as the man. No certain news for some time had they heard, and I was literally besieged. It happened that I had seen most of the fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse; had seen Johnson's Division when they were taken out of the works, and could give a pretty good description of the operations in that neighborhood for several days which culminated in the fight of the 12th of May, 1864. I entertained them to the best of my ability for over an hour. I never saw men in my life so eager for news. I was really glad about 2 p.m. when the Quartermaster came and told me he had signaled a steamer going up the river to run in. She came and I went aboard the steamer Wyoming, Capt. Lyttleton S. Cropper, of Havre De Grace, Md. Capt. Cropper was as whole-souled, genial a man as I ever met, and his boat, which had double engines, was fitted up as a hospital boat. When Capt. Cropper learned who I was, there was nothing on board too good for me. My name, as well as all of the scouts at Headquarters, was entered on his log-book, and a signal was agreed upon by which he would know any of the boys who might signal him from the shore, and he requested me to inform them that he would always be pleased to have any of them come on board and make themselves known to him at any time. 

Some of them did go aboard of the Wyoming later, but who they were I have forgotten now, but I can remember they were loud in their praise of Capt. Cropper. There was a number of soldiers on board who were detailed as guards and nurses, under the charge of a Surgeon, whose name has escaped my memory. I met the Surgeon afterward, several months subsequent to the close of the war, and one of the men who was detailed, and serving on board on that trip. His name was Jones, and he belonged in the town of Marcy, N. Y. 

The next day, early in the morning, I found the Wyoming fast to the wharf at the White House, and found that the Eighteenth Corps had gone forward the day before. Leaving the boat, I started on foot up toward Tunstall's Station. By the time I had gone three or four miles I came upon one of our cavalrymen, and from him learned that Gen. Gregg was not far away. Gen. Gregg was a man I was very anxious to see, and I took a good many steps in various directions, as I was told by several cavalrymen where they thought he could be seen. At last I found him. Showing him my pass, to let him know who I was, I asked him to loan me a horse, and to tell me where Army Headquarters were to be found.

"See here," said he, "I have loaned you scouts horses before, and never saw them again."

"Well, General, you never loaned me one, did you?" 

"No. I never did, and don't think I ever will. You people got a horse, and that is the last of him."I could see by a twinkle in his eyes that he intended to let me have one, and pressed the request, saying: "You acknowledge you never let me have one. How is it possible for you to say you will never see him again. I will promise that he shall he returned as soon as it is possible to do be in four or five days at the farthest."

"Well, I suppose I will have to try you. Now, if I don't get this horse back, it is the last time a scout over gets one from me." 

Calling a man he ordered him to furnish me with a certain horse that I thought to myself would be a small loss if he should never see again. On asking him where I would be apt to find Army Headquarters, he replied that he had no idea, but the night before they were at Old Church Tavern, which was several miles off. I saw no one that could give me the desired information until I arrived at the tavern. The landlord was very surly, and would scarcely give me a civil answer, until my patience became exhausted, when I asked him which of two roads both in sight (I had come in on a third one) they took when they left his place that morning, at the same time intimating that a civil and quick reply would be conducive to his well being. Ho very graciously pointed to the road that he said they had taken. I followed that road into the woods probably four miles, when shell began tearing through the tree-tops, and the farther I went the worse it got, until I became satisfied that the landlord had lied.

I remembered seeing a road about two miles back, leading to the left, and concluded to go back and try it. I had not gone far before I saw an infantry regiment come out of the woods and take the same direction on the same road that I was on. My horse soon overtook them, and turned out of the road of his own accord, and commenced passing them. We had passed over half the regiment before anyone bestowed more than a casual glance at us. At last a young fellow took a good look at the whole outfit, left the ranks, and ran toward the head of the regiment. Just before I came up I saw him speak to the Colonel. When I attempted to pass, the Colonel stopped me, and wanted to know who and what I was. I rode along by his side, and showed him my pass, which was written on a printed form; explained to him that I had just got back to the army, and was looking for Headquarters. The young soldier meanwhile was on the other side of the Colonel, and as soon as he discovered that his Colonel was satisfied with my explanation, he attempted to sneak back to his company. I saw the move and stopped him, and said: "I want to have a few words with you, young man." A half-sullen look name to his face as I began.  I thanked him for what he had done, and told both him and the Colonel that I was frequently disgusted with the way men could go through the army without being stopped by anyone; that it appeared to us sometimes that they did not care whether a man was a spy or not, nor whether he found out what was going on, and wont direct to the enemy and reported. I also told them that frequently I had heard other scouts make the same complaint, and I said:

"Now, my young friend, I am glad to see that one man, at least, in this regiment cared enough to put himself to some trouble to find out whether I was a friend or an enemy." The sullen look had disappeared; he had expected a cursing, which I am sorry to say was what a private soldier got more of than was good for him.

I found Headquarters in the course of a couple of hours after leaving that regiment, which was an Ohio one. The battle of Cold Harbor was fought that next day, I think; if not on that day, within 4 couple or three days", at all events. How long the army stopped here after the 4th of June I can't remember. My old regiment (2d N. J.) went home from Cold Harbor, and a day or two afterward one of the guards at the "bull-pen," a member of the 20th N. Y., came to me and said: "There is a man in the bull-pen who says he belongs to your old regiment, and wants to see you."

I went back with him, when a young fellow who was on the inside of the line of guards pressed forward as far as the guard would let In in, and said: "Don't you know me, Sergeant?" I took a good a good look at him, and answered: "No; I can't say that I do."
Said he: "Sergeant, I used to belong to your old regiment"

"What company were you in?" 

"G, and yours was H." 

"Yes; that is right So you were in Capt. Close's company. How did you get in here? The regiment has gone home, and I can't see how you should be in the bull-pen." 

He then told me that he was in one of the Wilderness fights, and was wounded; had been sent to Washington to a hospital, and as soon as no could leave it applied to be sent to his regiment; had come down the Potomac to Port Royal, and had helped to guard a wagon-train from there to Army Headquarters; when he got there his regiment was gone. His story had not been believed, and he had brought up in the pen. After listening to his story he said:

"You remember me now, don't you, Sergeant?" I could not recollect him, and said so. Tears came into his eyes as I turned away and walked to Col. Sharp's tent, who at that time was Deputy Provost-Marshal-General of the Army of the Potomac. I went in and told the story to Sharp, and when I got through he said: Do you remember him?" 

"Hardly; but I know he tells the truth." 

"Well," said he, "it is a shame, and we will have him out."

He then wrote an order to turn the boy over to me, and told me to go and get him. When he came the Colonel questioned him a few minute, gave him an order for transportation and the papers he would need to keep him out of trouble with military authorities, and turned him loose. He was one of the most grateful boys I ever saw. He was not over 21 years old, and lived in Bloomfield, N.J. His name had escaped my memory. Within a few days I got a chance to send the borrowed horse to Gen. Gregg, I'd did so.

JUDSON KNIGHT, Washington, D. C.

(The End)

-The National Tribune, January 26, 1893

Judson Knight: A Chase along the Pamunkey 1864 - II

The adventures of Judson Knight, Chief of Scouts of the Army of the Potomac, along the Pamunkey River in the summer of 1864 continued . . .

WITH THE SCOUTS

Serg't Knight's Adventures In the Swamps of the Pamunkey.

(Continued from last week)

BEING in fear of some kind of an ambush, it struck me forcibly that the best thing to do was to keep quiet until dark. I had lain still all day, so as not to move the tops of the bushes, and came to the conclusion to still continue the same tactics, although it would have been a great relief to me to change My position, for it seemed to me as though every bone and muscle in my person was aching, so that it appeared as if I never would ct over it. Added to this was hunger and thirst, I tried to dip up some water with my hand?, but could not quite resell it, and would not move for fear they were watching and would see the tops of the bushes shake and give me a volley.

It was a terribly long afternoon, but at last the sun went down, and very soon afterward I emerged from my hiding place and very carefully made my way out to the solid land, coming to it with my head held as low as possible, and sweeping the circumference of half-circle, to see if I could discover anything that looked like my Confederate friends or hordes between myself and the sky. After looking and listening for sometime, I could neither see nor hear anything suspicious, and so emerged from the swamp. As soon as I reached the solid ground I took off my boots and emptied them of the water that had been in them all day. Thinking what I should do myself if the position was reversed, and I the hunter instead of the hunted, I concluded not go to Pamunkeytown by the road, hut make my way to the river, and, in case no boat could be confiscated, swim to the other side and make my way down to the White House as best I could.

I soon found the river, and it was much nearer the road than where I had crossed the night before, owing to a bend in the stream at the place where I came to it. On reaching the river I discovered three men doing something on the shore, and leaving my dispatches hidden in a safe place I "fetched a traverse and snaked my way" up to where I could hear what they were saving and see what they were doing. A short observation showed me they were negroes, tangling up a seine on stakes along the shore. I soon satisfied myself there were no white men among them, and walked right up to them, saying: "Good evening, boys; what luck?"

They showed me two sturgeon they had caught, one of which was the largest I ever saw. After speaking of the size as being something uncommon, I said: "Boys, have you seen any of our soldiers around to-day?"

A tall mulatto, who appeared to have charge of things, said: "Yes; Lieut. Rodgers¹ and three men swam their horses across here three times this evening; they went over first, then came back again, and just before dark went over again."

"Can you tell me where they are now?"

"Just at dark they were over there," pointing with his hand, "by the old mill."

"I wish I had been here before they crossed the last time; I should have been glad to have met them. Do you know of any more of our men on this side of the river?"

"Look yere, maussa; you aint one of our men, you aint."

"I aint? Well, tell me what I am, if I aint."

"You's a Yankee, you is."

"What makes yon think so?"

"Oh, you don't talk like our folks does."

Up to this time had imagined I was playing the part of a Confederate rather successfully, and to be detected by this fellow so easily made me ashamed. I had played the part of a Confederate Surgeon only the previous Winter, and knew that there was no suspicion on the part of several families of white people of my being any thine than what I represented my self to he. It lowered me several pegs in my own estimation. The thought instantly came to me. You had better own up; these people will tell you more if they see you trust them.
So I said:

"Suppose I were a Yankee, would you betray me?" 

"No, sah."

"Well. boys, you are right; I am a Yankee, and a very hungry one, too. Can you get me something to eat? I have got plenty of money and will pay you well for anything you do for me."

"Don't want no pay, maussa. I will go right away and get you something," said the mulatto. When he left I walked into the bushes, from which I had listened to their conversation, and the two who were left began asking all kinds of questions, one of which I remember well. They wanted to know if, when we got hold of any negroes, we cut off one of their arms. I told them no, of course, and asked why they asked such a question as that. They said the white folks told them so.

Much sooner than I expected, the mulatto came back, bringing with him two pones of hot corn bread, a large pitcher of buttermilk, and some of the fattest, rankest bacon I ever saw. Buttermilk I always detested; bacon, even the best of it, never was a favorite; but I got away with everything buttermilk and all. After eating, I began inquiring in my turn, and found that I was about eight miles above the White House; that no launches had come there that day. they felt certain, as they would have heard the steamers' whistles; for they had been on the river all day. In looking at their boats, I found one about 10 feet long, made of five pieces of boards. The bow was about four inches wide; stem, 14 inches; sides and bottom made of half-inch stuff; bow and stern pieces of inch boards. In the center, the boat was about 20 inches wide. When I found the mulatto knew the channel of the river, I offered him $10 to take me down and land me at Pamunkeytown. Before getting through I offered $50, but soon discovered that money was no inducement to him. While friendly to me personally, and Yankees in general, and he hoped they would be successful, he thought more of himself than anything else. He also knew that Lieut. Rodgers and his three men were on the south side of the river; how many more might be there he could not tell. lie also knew that in rowing he would make considerable unavoidable noise, and that a pistol-shot, even, fired from the shore, would kill, provided it hit, and his belief was that be would be killed if he went. He would sell the small boat and throw in a paddle for $3. He also had something that he had found on the south side of the river in 1862, after McClellan had gone from there. "There was glass in both ends, and there was two of them fastened together, side by side," he said, and that if I would wait he would "go to the house and get it." He went, and brought back a field glass, that, as near as I could judge after dark, was a tolerably good one, and I gave him $5 for that. I then made him the offer of $50 again to go down the river with me, and told him that I had lost all of that day, and that was the reason why I would give him that amount.

Said he: "You is the man that Lieut. Rodgers run in the swamp this morning soon after gun up. Well, sir. Lieut. Rodgers cussed like the dobil for bcin' a d__d fool for to holler at you. Shore you carry dispatches, and he bay be have you shore befoh you git two miles from dis place."

When I saw there was no further use in endeavoring to overcome the timidity of the mulatto, I stepped into the boat, and seating myself in the stern, I began using the paddle, and soon discovered the tide was against me, and that my progress was altogether too slow to reach Pamunkeytown or the White House in any reasonable time. The idea came to my mind to run in close to shore and use the paddle as a "setting pole." When I put it in practice it -worked to a charm. By using the blade so that I could draw it edgewise through the water, I soon found that I was going faster than I could walk, and making no noise that could be heard even at a short distance. Keeping along the north shore for a mile or more I found a bayou, and concluded, as I knew nothing of the channel, to follow the shore even if it did increase the distance considerably, believing that in this case "the longest way around is the shortest way home."

I had just got into the channel again, and was close in-shore, under an almost perpendicular bluff, when I heard voices on shore that sounded above me. Looking upward I discovered, silhouetted against the sky, a man and woman on the top of the bluff. Scarcely had I discovered them when a stone thrown, no doubt, by the man, as large as he could conveniently hold, struck the water not a foot from the boat, barely missing it. Had it struck in the boat it would have gone through the bottom like a shot, and stopped my trip by water. An instant's thought satisfied me that I had not been seen, which was confirmed immediately by the voice of the woman saying: "What a splash!" Giving several vigorous shoves with the paddle, I was soon out of reach of any more "dornicks,² " should the notion take the stranger to make another splash.

There were plenty of bayous, which I followed the configuration of until I felt certain that the distance to the White House could not be over four miles, when the sweetest music that ever struck mortal ears was plainly borne to mine. It was the shrill, and, at the same time, hoarse whistle of a steamer. I was making good progress when the sound first came to my ears, but when I heard it and knew, as I did, that Baldy Smith must have arrived at the White House, new vigor was imparted to my muscles, and the cockle-shell I was in fairly flew.

Before going over a mile from where I was when the first whistle sounded five or six more were heard, which did not cause me to lesson my exertions. At last the whistling became almost continuous. I knew that there was a large house on the south side of the river, one mile above the White House, called Eltham³. When I got there I concluded to land and sneak around to the negro quarters and wake one of them, and get him to guide me through the fields to the landing. Crossing the river and running my boat ashore, I stepped out and listened a moment, and could hear no noise of any kind, except the cries of insects. Following a path that was plainly to be seen by the white sand where the grass had been trodden out by constant use, I passed around to the rear of the mansion and knocked on the door of one of the quarters. Immediately came a coarse, low growl from a dog that was some where outside, whether fastened or loose I could not tell. I got no response to my first rap, and tried it again. This time a louder growl, and one that very plainly showed me the dog was a large one, came from the same direction as the first. After thinking the matter over a moment, it struck me that the most sensible thing to do would be to go back to the river and resume the boat, cross over to the north bank, and escape being fired at by our own pickets, which I imagined would be close to the shore immediately below Eltham. I had nearly reached the shore when a startled voice rang out, "Halt! Who goes there!"

"Who are you?" said I.

"Who are you?" said the challenger.

"Do you belong to the Union army?" said I.

What the answer was I don't remember, but I do know that it was such as convinced me I was parleying with a Northern man, and I said, "It is all right ; I can tell you are a Union soldier."

Without saying whether this was true or not, he insisted on knowing who I was, and I told my mission. While the sentry and myself had been trying to ascertain each other's status, men had been rising from the ground all around me; three or four rose within a yard of me, and when I declared that I was carrying dispatches from Gen. Grant, one man, who had risen from the ground within two feet of me, said, "I will take this," and put his hand on the paddle which I was holding, with the blade resting on the ground. It looked to him in the darkness like a gun. They huddled around me, and wanted to know how I got there. I answered that I had come down the river; which did not satisfy them at all.

"How did you come here, right where you are standing now?"

"As I told you before, I came down the river in a boat, and landed at the foot of this path; came up this path, and went to the rear of the house yonder to see if could find a negro to guide me through the fields to the landing. When I knocked on the door, I heard a dog in the yard growl; the more I knocked the worse he growled. I did not know how many Johnnies might be around, for they are always prowling around just on the outskirts of any of our forces. In 1862, when we landed here under McClellan, two or three pickets were found the next morning with their throats cut, within a mile of this place. Knowing their nocturnal habits, and having a lively desire to keep my hide whole, I concluded to go back to my boat and resume by journey by water.

It took some time to make them believe that I had passed through them and they had not heard me, hut it was more astonishing to think I had not heard anything of them. I took them down to the boat and got the dispatches, which were rolled up in my coat in the bow. When they saw the boat they began to believe me. The Lieutenant in charge said he would have to keep me until morning. There was not a match in the party, and there was no way of verifying my story until daylight.

Judson Knight, Washington, D. C.
(to be continued.)

-The National Tribune., January 19, 1893



¹ Most probably Andrew J. Rodgers of the 42d Virginia Cavalry Battalion.

²  a rather obscure name for a rock, perhaps implying the couple were dull and unobservant.

³ He is quite off here; Eltham and the White House are 10 miles from each other in direct line and twice that by river.

Judson Knight: A Chase along the Pamunkey 1864 - I

What Our Veterans Have to Say About Their Old Campaigns.

WITH THE SCOUTS

Sergn't Knight's Adventures In the Swamps of the Pamunkey.

AFTER the fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse was over, I cannot remember how the country looked, or what roads we took until we approached the Pamunkey River. In my mind's eye I am see the road for about a mile leading across a river bottom, filled with doughboys, as the infantry were called, who had been halted to let Army Headquarters pass. They had been marching in column of fours, and had separated, so that two were on the right and two on the left of the road. After Headquarters came a motley group of servants, all mounted, which appeared to excite the ire of the infantry. The day was hot, and they had had a long march that morning. As a general thing the scouts were not with headquarters when on the march; only a lot of so called guides, most of them negroes, although there were quite-a number of white men and boys, Virginians by birth. The negroes were guides, in some cases.

After crossing the Pamunkey Headquarters were established on a farm called Gold Hill. Soon after we had settled down, I mounted my horse and took a ride westwardly to see what the topography of the country was like. Just as I came to the first place west of Gold Hill, Gen. Grant and a number of his staff came out of a house; as I passed them Grant was saying: "I told her that I considered our losses about equal. As we had all the time been the attacking party, we had lost more in killed and wounded" but we had taken many more prisoners than Lee had." Afterward I learned Mrs. Newton was the name of the lady he was speaking of.

About 10 a. m. on the nest day, an Orderly from Gen. M. R. Patrick, the Provost Marshal General of the Army of the Potomac, came over to our camp, and said to me: "Gen. Patrick wants to see you." On reporting to him, he said: "Mr. Dana wants to see you." Mr. Dana was Assistant Secretary of War. and had been at Headquarters of the Army from the opening of the Wilderness campaign. When I reached Headquarters, I asked for Mr. Dana. Gen. Rawlings pointed to him, and he (Dana) said: "I am Mr. Dana." Gen. Grant and Col. Rufus Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster of the Army, were also in the tent. I said to him: "Gen. Patrick ordered me to report to you."

"You are a scout. "We want to send dispatches to Yorktown. That is the nearest point that we can reach a telegraph." 

Yorktown was about 70 miles away, and the country between in full possession of the enemy. I am free to confess that there was no craving on my part for the job. All that I knew of the country was what an infantry man, serving with his regiment, that lauded at West Point, at the junction of the Pamunkey and York Rivers, would naturally learn in going from there to New Kent Courthouse; from thence to Cumberland Landing; from there to Gaines's farm; from Gaines's farm to Mechanicsville: from thence to Fair Oaks and Harrison's Landing, by way of Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill. Two years had elapsed since. I thought over our guides, and the different scouts not a man of them knew a thing of the country, and told Mr. Dana that there was not a horse in our party in fit condition to make such a trip, and said my own horse had a sore back in fact, they all had. Gen. Grant, I could see, was listening to our conversation. When I mentioned the condition of the horses in our party, he said: "Ingalls, haven't yon got fresh horses in the corral?" "Yes," said he. Then to me: "When you get through here, I will go with you to the corral, and show you what I have."

That settled it, and I could see there was no way to get out of it, and might as well put on a cheerful air as any other. Mr, Dana then showed me a lot of dispatches, and marked them, saying, "This is to be telegraphed, and this !s to be mailed," until ho had all but three marked. Then he showed me those, saying as he did so: "If you are caught with these, you "will be hung." I did not believe anything of the kind, and came near telling him that his telling me that would not make we one particle more diligent in endeavoring to get through without being captured. My impression was then, as it is now, that he thought I was a detailed soldier, and that if he could scare me into thinking I was in danger of losing my life by being captured with those documents, I would try harder to get through with them than otherwise. He was careful to not tell me that a Lieutenant with 16 men had been sent with the same dispatches the night before, and had returned with only half his men the same morning. 

He wanted to know how many men I would take with me, and I said one. When Col. In galls saw that he had got through with me, he jumped from his seat, saying: 'Come with me, now, and I will show you what horses I have."

On our arrival at the corral I picked out the largest and strongest looking horse there. The Colonel said: "That is a rough rider you have got there." I told him I know it, but he had no bottom, I thought, and also remarked that I was not a lightweight 'No," said he, " that is so. He will serve you if you can can stand the jolting. What kind of a man is the one going with you?" 

"No better living. He will never leave one in the lurch. He is good as gold."

"That, is not what I mean," said the Colonel, smilingly. "How large is he? What will he weigh?"

Why, he is a little fellow; won't weigh over 115 pounds."

"Let me pick him a horse," said the Colonel. 

In a few minutes he selected one that one could see with half an eye, if he knew any thing about a horse, would be an easy one to ride; then telling negro to deliver the horses to any place I directed, he said to me: "Let me see the pass Rawlings gave you." After looking at it for a moment, he said, "Strange that some people never appear to think. Now, I am going to tell you something that may be of bet vice to you, and I hope it will. We expect Baldy Smith with the Eighteenth Corps to land at the "White House soon. My advice to you is to go by the way of the White House. You may find him there. You have three dispatches for him in your bundle. If you should find him show him this." 

He was busy writing on the back of the pass, and when he handed it to me he had written an order on any Quartermaster in the "United States service to furnish us with a steamboat, horses, or any transportation in their power, and to facilitate these men in the discharge of their duty" by any means in their power, and a request to all Captains of gunboats to do the same. When I had read it I thanked him for his thoughtfulness and ready appreciation of the difficulties in the way of the accomplishment of our mission, which might be very much easier for Hatton and myself by his forethought. Then, his way of doing it was so friendly. 

How it became so well known Hatton and I were going to try and reach Yorktown we never found out; but in some way it became noised around that we were going, and several people came to us asking that we should carry letters for them; among others, Col. Collis, at that time commanding a regiment of zouaves attached to Headquarters as a guard, soon afterward prompted Brigadier-General, asked me to carry a letter for him directed to his wife, who had not heard from him in some weeks. He never forgot it, and more than a quarter of a century afterward did not forgot what he at that time considered a great favor.

After getting the horses we hastily swallowed not a "plate of soup," but our dinner, and started. About two or three miles from Headquarters we had to halt to let the Fifth Corps pass. Many of them had gone by when we came to the road they were marching out. The very last man in the corps was Joe Beggs, an old friend of mine. Capt. McDonagh, who was killed at Mine Run in the fall of 1863, had told me before his death that Joe was in the army. He (Capt. McDouagh) and myself had boarded in he same house before the war, and I had been on the lookout for Joe for months. It was a very "hot day, and in addition to his regular load of blankets, cartridge-boxes, haversack, musket, I etc, Joe had a camp kettle clung on his musket. He was hot, covered with dust, and tired.

After the natural greetings of old chums who had not seen each other since the war began, I said: "Joe, will you have a drink of whisky?" 

"Will a duck swim? Have you got any?" 

"Yes; but it is hot." 

"That don't matter, so it is not boiling." 

Unslinging a canteen from the saddle, I passed it over to him, apologizing at the same time for its being so hot. When he handed it back he said, "You have saved my life. I will have to hurry now to catch up; good-by," and he was off.

Hatton and I crossed the road, and after going about two miles farther we came to a cavalry videt in the road. After showing our pass Hatton asked him what his regiment was, and the answer showed he was one of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. I said: "Where is Gen. Custer?" He pointed into the woods on the left of the road, and answered: "In there, where you see that group of horsemen." As I had known Custer very well in 1861, while I was at Gen. Kearny's Headquarters, where he for a lime was Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, and at the same time commanding a company of the 2d Cav, of which he was Second Lieutenant, this was the first time I had had a chance to see him since September, 1861, and I availed myself of it. He did not know me until I asked if he remembered Serg't Knight, at Kearny's Headquarters. There was no nonsense about Custer. I could sec he was pleased to see me. After asking a number of questions, he said: " Where are you going?" I told him to Yorktown, and he replied, "I should not care to take such a trip," and said ho hoped we would got through all right, wished us "bon voyage," and we parted. I never saw him afterward to speak with, and only once at all, after the fall of Richmond, when his command had started for Washington. 

After leaving Gen. Custer we made good time and saw no one to interfere with us until we came to a place called, _____ which was the name of an estate. The house stood on a high hill commanding a view of the road for some distance, both above and below it. Here we met a Pamunkey Indian. We stopped him to see what we could learn about the situation of affairs. He told us that someone was always on the watch from the house on the hill; also, that there was a line of couriers from the White House to Richmond. In answer to a question ho said the couriers belonged to Col. Shingler's command, and he believed Col. Shingler was from South Carolina. He also told us that he had just come up the road from where it crossed the railroad leading from the White House to Richmond, and that there was stationed therefrom 35 to 20 men; ho had not counted them, but was sure that there was at least 15 of them. We bade him good day and went on. We could not turn back from hearsay. 

As we went along, we found that we both had the same impression in regard to the Indian's truthfulness. Neither of us had a doubt but what he had told the truth as far as he knew it. About two miles from where we met the Indian we came upon the cavalry he had told us of. There was but one man who was mounted, but I counted 16 horses, including his. The remainder of the men were lying around under trees, endeavoring to keep cool. As soon as they saw us halt, they commenced getting up and running to their horses. We saw that it would be but a short time before they would be after us, so we turned and started back on a gallop, which we kept up until we passed the place where we had met the Indian. As we were ascending a small hill I noticed the ground was of such a nature that the tracks of our horses could not be seen without very close observation. Small pines were on both sides of the road, which was narrow at that point. We turned out of the road and led our horses into the pines about 100 yards and waited. In a few minutes about eight or 10 of oar Confederate friends came dashing up the road and went right on past. It was very nearly dark when they passed, and we knew that they would come back soon as wise as they went. We came back within a few feet of the road and waited. It was nearly 9 o'clock when we heard them returning. We caught our horses by the nose to keep them from whinneying, or, as our Confederate friends called it, nickering. They were not in as great a hurry going back as they had been in coming, and were very much chagrined that they had not succeeded in overtaking us, and were wondering who and what we were.It was finally decided that we were couriers, for one fellow said he had noticed the "big man" had a bundle in front of him that he felt certain was dispatches. He settled the matter by saying: "You need not say they were deserters, either from the Yankees or our army. They are couriers, and they have not gone far. They will be trying to get past us to-night, and if we keep a good lookout we will stood a chance to see them again." They little imagined we were then so close that we could hear every word they were saying. 

After they had passed out of hearing we came out into the road and held a consultation. Jim said to me: "What shall we do now?" After thinking the situation over for a time I said: "Jim, you had better take the horses and go back. You will be able to reach our lines early in the morning."

"Well, what will you do!"

"The best thing to do will be for yon to do as I say; take the horses and return. I will go down to the Pamunkey River and swim over, then work my Way down to Pamunkeytown and get one of the Indians to land me on the south side of the York River, and depend on finding a horse in some stable and confiscating him, and then go on, provided I see nothing of Smith in the. mean time. You know, there is a chance of meeting him at the White House. I am sure that I don't know this country well enough to attempt to flank those fellows down there at 'Tunstalls' in the dark." 

Said Jim: "What will they think of me at Headquarters, to come back and leave you alone, when we have not gone more -in fact-,less than one-third of the way? I hate to do it, old boy." 

I argued with him some time, and finally he agreed to go back. I said to him, "The Pamunkey can't be more than two or three miles over there," pointing in a northeast direction. "I can perhaps reach the Indian village by daylight, and get to the south side of the York early in the morning, always provided Baldy Smith don't arrive in time to save going there. You can tell them at Headquarters that I said to you that they could rest easy about the dispatches being delivered, and you can tell them where and when you left me."

By this time it was about 10 o'clock at night. He wanted me to take the canteen, which I refused on account of its weight, although we had reduced that by some ounces, and parted. I plunged into the pines upon the other side of the road, and Jim started off on a gallop in the direction from which we had come. 

When I started for the river I felt certain I would find it about two miles off. It was very slow time I made through the pines, which at that point must have been quite a mile through. When at last I came to a clearing I was not far from a house, so near that the dogs heard me, and I was escorted to the boundary of that plantation by curs of every degree, and they kept up a continual yelping as long as I was on the place. They stopped at a point I supposed to be the boundary of what they considered their bailiwick, and the choros(sic) was immediately taken up by another set, who welcomed me to the hospitalities of their place. In this way I was escorted from one place to another, and several times was in danger of being bitten. It was only by the exhibition of  "eternal vigilance" that I escaped it. The river was much farther off than I had anticipated, a bend in it that I know nothing of causing me a much longer walk than I had expected. At last the river was before me and I hunted for a fence; one was soon found, from which I selected about a dozen suitable rails, which I placed in the water, keeping one end on the bank, then undressing, placed my dispatches and loiters on them, my pistol on clothes on the cud of the rails on shore, my top of the whole outfit, and taking the heft went down in the water and strapped the rails together lightly; then going to the end of the rails in the water bore down my weight on them until I had the raft afloat. 

In a short time I had crossed the river, and nothing wet, with the exception of the belt. Resuming my clothes, and taking the dispatches under one arm, I started inland to find a road leading down stream. It was much farther than I anticipated; should think it nearly two miles before coming lo one. When I at last found it I started down stream and walked fast. I had no idea that I was over three miles above Pamunkey town. After going about a mile daylight overtook me, but I kept on for a short distance, when I heard a hello in my rear, looking hack I saw four horsemen coming along the road, and as they were evidently Johnnies, there was not the slightest desire on my part for an interview. 

As good luck would have it, I discovered there was a swamp only a short distance ahead, that extended for some distance toward the river. Immediately I sprang for the fence, which was a high one, "staked and ridered." As soon as they saw me climbing the fence, they started into a gallop and came for me. They were walking their horses when they first yelled at me. If they had said nothing they might have come close enough to me before I discovered them to have capt u roil me before it would have been possible for me to get away-from thorn. Evidently they had expected me to stop and wait for them to come up with me. When the long-drawn-out "O-h-h-h-h, thar!" first struck on my ears, I felt under many obligations to them for their warning, which I would not have gotten, most likely, had it not been from the disinclination that all Confederate cavalrymen showed to exerting their horses except when obliged to. The reason probably was, that the horse he rode was private property.

Before they got the fence torn down I was in the swamp. The first jump took me into water and mud above my knees. The surface water was clear, and the whole surface of the swamp was dotted over with small hummocks of bushes, with long grass growing in the soil among the roofs. I passed several of the hummocks, as being not only too small for my purposes, but not far enough from the shore. About 50 yards in I came to one which appeared to me to be the most suitable of any in sight. Passing along to the farther end, I crawled in among the bushes, so as to lie with my head toward the shore. As I crawled in three largo water moccasins crawled out and wiggled their way through the water to an other hummock, and disappeared among the bushes and grass. I had got myself very comfortably settled, and knew that there was no motion among the tops of the bushes that could betray my hiding-place, when I heard the sound of the horses' hoofs on the ground as they rode up to the spot where I had entered the swamp. From my covert I could not see them, and consequently know they could not see me, so that I nearly laughed aloud, when I heard a voice saying, "Come out hyar. I see you. If you don' come I will fire."

At intervals of a few seconds the same voice would repeat the command to "Come out hyar," and breathe dire threats of vengeance if I did not. I was near enough to hear every thing they said while they spoke in their ordinary tone of voice, but it was always the same voice that invited me to "Come out hyar,' from which I came to the conclusion that my very persistent friend, who after each invitation would lie like Ananias by saying, "I see you."

He finally became very profane, and cursed "like a trooper." Had it not been for the dispatches there were times when I would have returned his "curses in kind, like the Confederate tax," and dared them to come in and take me out; and should they attempt it, had no fears as to the result, for I knew they could only come, at the most, two abreast, and I was good with a pistol at 60 yards for the size of a man's palm of the hand every shot.

I know they were up to 9 a.m. right on the shore of the swamp; then all noises ceased for nearly an hour. All of a sudden those mo voice sang out: "Do you see anything of him?" "No," came back the answer from some place east of me at a considerable distance. I could judge that they had sent three of their number around on the borders of the swamp east of me to see if I had come out, which I felt certain they could tell easily, for a look at the water in the vicinity of the hummock I was on looked roily yet. I heard them shouting to each other occasionally, until about 3 p.m., after which hour everything was silent. 

-Judson Knight, Washington, D. C.
(to be continued.)

-The National Tribune. (Washington, D.C.), January 12, 1893

"Private advices"- April, 1864

War news.

We present our readers this morning with very little news of this character. We had yesterday morning a report of another raid on the Peninsula, which, however, dwindled considerably as the day wore away, and finally exploded on the arrival of the York River cars.

-The Daily Dispatch: April 27, 1864.

Reported advance of the enemy on the Peninsula.

Yesterday evening, just before the York River cars left Bromley's farm, below Tunstall's Station, a courier arrived, who reported the enemy within two miles of that place. When the train left, at half-past 2 P. M., the long roll was beating. They came into Barhamsville, in New Kent, early yesterday morning. We have private advices to the effect that the country last Saturday in the vicinity of Gloucester Point was dotted over with their tents, and feel satisfied that the advancing force came from that direction. From all that can be learned, there has been great activity both at Yorktown and Gloucester. The negro troops who were sent from Suffolk were debarked at Yorktown, and probably compose a portion of the advancing force of the enemy.

P. S.--Official information received since the above was in type is to the effect that our pickets were driven in near New Kent Court-House yesterday morning, and that the enemy appeared to be only in small force.

-The Daily Dispatch: April 29, 1864.

The news of the day.

From the Army of Northern Virginia we have intelligence that "all is quiet." If the present good weather continues the clash of arms will soon resound again over our once peaceful hills. The great struggle cannot be much longer deferred.

It was extensively rumored during the day yesterday that the enemy were landing near Westover or Harrison's Landing, on James river; but up to the hour of going to press we had no confirmation of the rumor.

The reported advance on the Peninsula turns out to have been a small affair. The party only numbered about 150, who came within two and a half miles of Tunstall's Station, on the York River Railroad. They also visited Cumberland, a point on the Pamunkey river, between the White House and West Point. We learn of no damage done by them while on this expedition.

-The Daily Dispatch: April 30, 1864.

March Comes in Like a Lion- "a matter of great anxiety"

The Departure of the raiders.

The fate of Kilpatrick's command was a matter of great anxiety to the Yankees on the Peninsula. On Wednesday last Col. Spears, 11th Pennsylvania cavalry, cause up to Tunstall's Station three times to meet Kilpatrick, and finding he had not arrived went back. The last time they came up they met him, and falling in with him protected his rear on his way down the Peninsula.--Col. Bradley Johnson, with his gallant body of men, who had been hammering at Kilpatrick's column, then found Dahlgren in his own rear wills a largely superior force, and turned upon him. Had he had a larger force he would have captured them, as they were much dispirited. When they found Johnson in their front, they seemed to be consulting about giving up. One of them was heard by our men to say, "We had better go to than to go back to Richmond." This opinion seemed to prevail, and they determined to force their way through. Of course, Col. Johnson, will his handful of men, could not stop them, but he cut into their rear and brought off twenty-one of them as they got by. With the exception of Lieut. Pollard's attack this was the last time they were "operated" upon.

Arrival of Dahlgren's body.

Yesterday evening Lieut. Christian, of Co. H. 9th Va. Cavalry, with an escort, arrived in Richmond by the York River train, with the body of Col. Ulric Dahlgren, the leader of the Yankee, raiders, who was killed at Stevensville, King and Queen county, on Wednesday night.

-The Daily Dispatch: March 7, 1864

March Comes in Like a Lion- Col. Spear at Tunstall's

Col. Samuel P. Spear

Report of Col. Samuel P. Spear, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Cavalry Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE,

Near Williamsburg, Va., March 4, 1864.

SIR: In accordance to instructions received from the colonel commanding, I formed my brigade, leaving one squadron at Gloucester Point and one squadron at Lebanon Church and vicinity, also the pickets and a relief, in all about 800 effective men, in front of Fort Magruder, at 11 o'clock p. in. on the 1st instant, and proceeded in  the place in column assigned me to New Kent Court-House, at which point I arrived at 7.30 a. m. on the morning of the 2d instant. Resting till 11 o'clock a.m., I proceeded with 300 men to Tunstall's Station, on the Richmond and West Point Railroad. Here I found the enemy's pickets had been drawn in the previous night. I destroyed the railroad track, some cars, the switches, culverts, depot store-houses, a large and valuable saw-mill, & c., all of which were of great value and use to the enemy.

Small detachments were also sent out in different directions and continued until the advance of General Kilpatricks command was found, when all returned to New Kent, covering his rear, when found, which was at a point near the White House, on the morning of the 3d instant. My command encamped at New Kent on the nights of the 2d and 3d, and took up the march for Williamsburg on the morning of the 4th, arriving at Fort Magruder and reporting to the commanding officer at 4 p.m.

At White House and vicinity 12 prisoners were captured and brought in, and on my return the notorious Robert Corton, a well-known guerrilla, was pursued near Six-Mile Ordinary, and killed in attempting to make his escape. inclosed I forward papers found upon his person, which are of the most treasonable character.

My command will be ready in a day or two for any duty or emergency.

I am, sir, with high respect, your obedient servant,

SAM., P. SPEAR,

Col. Eleventh Pennsylvania Vol. Cavalry, Comdg. Brigade

Col. ROBERT M. WEST,

Commanding Fort Magruder.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,

Yorktown, Va., March 5, 1864.

Most respectfully forwarded.

I gladly bear testimony to Colonel Spears cheerful and hearty cooperation throughout the recent expedition. He omits the mention in his report of the destruction of a new steam engine in the saw-mill which he destroyed. This alone was a loss to the enemy which he cannot easily replace.

ROBT. M. WEST,

Colonel, Commanding.

Photograph of Col. Spear from The Photographic History of The Civil War In Ten Volumes, Vol. 10, the Review of Reviews Co. 1911

March Comes in Like a Lion- "Tunstall's had been a station on the York River and Richmond railroad"

An officer of the 5th Cavalry relates the following:

"On General Kilpatrick's retreat from Richmond after his unsuccessful attempt on that place, the command had bivouacked for the night, expecting to be attacked at any moment, being almost entirely surrounded, as Pickett's division of infantry were following in rear, with Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on the right, and Hill's cavalry on the left. At 1 o'clock A.M Kilpatrick held a council of his officers, explaining their condition and stating that he was unable to decide what road to take, not being able to recognize any known land mark. All realized their dangerous position and were most anxious for a 'Pathfinder,' which, providentially, soon made an appearance in the person of an old negro. As he approached the camp-fire, one of Kilpatrick's aids said to him, 'Uncle, can you tell us where Tunstall's Station is?' He replied, 'Bress your heart Cap'n, you are within half a mile of it. Tunstall's had been a station on the York River and Richmond railroad, but over a year before had been, with all the surrounding buildings, burned and the rails and ties carried off, and with one year's growth of vegetation could hardly be found by any person not familiar with the locality.

When the colored man pointed out the cross roads there was a universal shout in camp.

The command started for Louisa Court House* and upon arriving there found, with joy and surprise, a division of Butler's colored troops. The boys were then all glad to shout again for the 'darkey.'"

-Michigan in the War
Michigan. Adjutant-General's Department
Editor    John Robertson
W.S. George & Company, State Printers, 1882




*Most likely meaning New Kent Court House

" . . . a rumor which located the Yankees at the White House"

Thursday morning...January 21, 1864

A Yankee dash on New Kent.

At daylight yesterday morning a company of Yankee cavalry made a dash on the pickets stationed below New Kent Court-House. The pickets were wide awake, however, and gave them a salute, and ran in, none of them being captured. Finding their plan, whatever that was, frustrated, the cavalry wheeled and went back in a hard gallop in the direction of Williamsburg, from whence they came.

The Yankees at the white House.

The York River train which went out yesterday morning with a number of workmen charged with the removal of several damaged engines from a point below Tunstall's, put back after getting a few miles below Richmond, upon information of a rumor which located the Yankees at the White House. It was not stated in what force they appeared nor what was the object of their visit there.

-The Daily Dispatch: January 21, 1864.

"All testimony corroborates the correctness of our decision . . ."

-The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Chapter XXXIX - Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863.

"If you decline to make the move, General Gordon will be put in command."

-The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Chapter XXXIX - Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863.


 So at this point is General Keyes merely cautious or timid? . . .or should General Dix stop micromanaging from the landing? And is it a good idea to have two Major Generals operating in a raid/diversion of this size, the senior general six miles from the tactical position that he seems most concerned about?

"Very Respectfully"

-The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Chapter XXXIX - Operations in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Department of the East. June 3-August 3, 1863.

 Refer to the maps from July 18th for these movements . . .

". . . facts and rumors . . ."

The advance on Richmond.

fighting on the Peninsula — defeat of the enemy — demonstration on Hanover Junction, &c.

In the city yesterday there was little of interest to note. The city troops assembled at 6 o'clock in the morning and were marched to their respective positions, and beyond the amusement afforded by squads of provost guards going around picking up stragglers, there was very little to amuse the few who remained in Richmond. The York River train arrived about 12½ o'clock, and brought the particulars of the fight below Bottom's Bridge, in New Kent. From an intelligent gentleman, who was in the fight, we gather the following particulars.

Gen. D. H. Hill advanced a portion of his force to feel the enemy, and found him about 6 ½ o'clock P. M., Thursday, at Dr. L. Crump's farm, just this side of the Cross Roads. Our troops formed in line of battle. Gen. Jenkins's South Carolina and Gen. Ransom's North Carolina brigades took position across the Williamsburg road, at Mrs. Crump's farm, with Major Branch's Virginia artillery in the centre, and Col. Shingler's and the Holcombe Legion cavalry on the right and left. Skirmishing speedily and actively commenced with the infantry, and the artillery opened an accurate and incessant cannonading. The enemy, consisting of three regiments of infantry, a force of cavalry, and four pieces of artillery, under Colonel West, commanding, at first presented a bold front, but as our infantry advanced in splendid order, at the double quick, they retreated. Gens. Jenkins's and Ransom's onslaught was bold and fearless, but as the enemy retired rapidly, Gen. Hill ordered Col. Shingler, with his cavalry, to the charge, which was executed in gallant and impetuous style, driving the enemy to Tunstall's, four miles, when darkness put an end to the pursuit. The enemy two or three times took an ambuscade, and poured heavy volleys upon the cavalry, but, most providentially, without inflicting any injury. Our loss was only one killed--a member of the 24th North Carolina regiment.--Four of the enemy's dead were found in the woods where there line of battle was formed, and we captured six prisoners, one of whom was mortally wounded. The enemy ran off in great confusion, strewing the road with knapsacks, haversacks, blankets, oil cloths, and sabres. The prisoners stated that the number of troops under Dix was about 22,000. They think that there is not much fight in the troops. Two of them who arrived at the Libby prison say that the force which fought our troops numbered 4,000, and was the advance of the army. There were, they said, 20,000 troops in their rear, and they were being reinforced. There were five or six Brigadier Generals with the force. They did not know what point the army was marching on, but, from what they had heard their officers say, thought Richmond was to be taken. General Corcoran, with his force, from Suffolk, was with Dix.

The train which came up on the York River Railroad yesterday afternoon brought the intelligence that there had been no fighting yesterday morning, and that the Yankees had disappeared from the Cross Roads, taking the route towards Hanover Court-House. Also, that a large force from the White House had crossed the Pamunkey into King William, and, were making for the same point. A citizen of King William county, who lives near the centre of the county, sent. He informs us that on Wednesday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, some 1,500 of the enemy's cavalry passed his farm. They had with them two pieces of field artillery and one caisson. Two hours later in the day they were followed by an infantry force, estimated to number from 1,000 to 1,200, with sixteen pieces of artillery and about twenty wagons — whether baggage or ordnance wagons our informant could not tell.

The next morning, about 6 o'clock, a squadron of cavalry--two companies — passed up in the same direction. The force that passed up on Wednesday evening stated that their destination was Hanover Junction. At sunset they stopped for an hour at the intersection of the Hanover Town and New Castle Ferry roads and fed their horses. Leaving there, they went in the direction of Nelson's Bridge, on the Pamunkey, and halted for the night in the neighborhood of King William C. H.; where they destroyed the harvested crop of Mr. Richard Pemberton, on the alleged ground that Mrs. P. had insulted them.

The next morning they crossed the Pamunkey, either at Nelson's Bridge or Taylor's Ferry, and proceeded in the direction of Hanover Junction, about twelve miles distant.--At different points along the route they declared it to be their purpose to destroy effectually the railroad communication between Richmond and the army of Gen. Lee, and to capture the city, or so threaten its capture as to require the withdrawal of Gen. Lee's forces from the North. They are represented by all who had an opportunity of talking with them as being exceedingly impudent, and boastful of their prospects of entering the Confederate capital.

Yesterday, early in the day, a report reached the city that this force had tapped the railroads at Hanover Junction, and were threatening the bridge on the Fredericksburg road over the South Anna. In the afternoon this report received a seeming confirmation in the fact that the train which was due at 5 o'clock did not arrive. Upon inquiry we learned that the Central train had stopped at Beaver Dam Station, having been apprised of the threatening presence of the enemy. The information received at the War Department at 8 o'clock in the evening was not such as to justify the belief that they were really in possession of the Junction, and it was hoped, at least, that our forces at that point would be sufficient to repulse them.

Regarding the number of troops the enemy has, there is of course much doubt. An exchanged prisoner who came by the last flag of truce boat laid off Fortress Monroe on Tuesday, and while there saw on board a Federal vessel an old acquaintance whom he had known, in Baltimore. The Federal told him that Dix had taken almost every man able to carry a musket on this expedition to Richmond, including Peck's troops, and that he had about 20,000 men. Some of the men belonged to companies whose time was up, but their regiments time not having expired, they were forced to accompany it on the march. Our informant, while lying off Fortress Monroe, saw several transports plying between Norfolk and there, which he was told had Peck's troops on board. There were ten transports lying in Hampton Roads with regiments whose time was up going North.

The Yankees still picket up as high as Tunstall's.

- Richmond Daily Dispatch of July 4, 1863

From the Peninsula- 1863

The Yankees advancing 

The Yankees yesterday were at Tunstall's Station in considerable force, mostly cavalry. Their infantry was no doubt advancing in the fear ready to support them. Their force is variously estimated at from 10 to 25,000 men. Opinions are much divided as to the object of this expedition. Some suppose the design is actually to attack the city; but to us, that seems preposterous. Others think with more appearance of probability, that it is intended merely to keep up an excitement and draw off men from Lee's army. It appears to us that we have force sufficient not only to defeat, but to capture the whole of their army, should it venture near enough.

From the Peninsula. 

The Federal forces on the Peninsula are not stationary. We learn through a letter from Turner's ford, ten miles this side of Diascund bridge, written yesterday, that the Yankees were reported to be advancing upon the latter point; but the writer adds that no signs of them have yet been seen. It is stated that our scouts near Diascund captured a Yankee mail Sunday, with a dispatch from Gen. Dix to Keyes, ordering him to march on Richmond, as those were the instructions from the War Department at Washington. It is added that this letter was sent to the War Department here. 

From the White House we learn that the Federal have made a slight advance. They occupy Tunstall's station, four miles this side chiefly with a cavalry force. The camp is to the right of Tunstall's station, between the Williamsburg road and the railroad. 

The Yankee steamers on the Pamunkey were very busy Sunday and yesterday traveling up and down the river. The person who communicated this did not see whether they were landing troops or not.

From the Peninsula. 

The news from the Peninsula is not very definite. Our scouts report correctly that there is no enemy at Diascund Bridge or New Kent Court-House. The train on the York River Railroad yesterday morning brought up a prisoner who was captured by our scouts straggling from the Yankee army. He reports that the Yankees at Diascund fell back towards Yorktown, where they are to get reinforcements and come on to Richmond. There are, he asserts, a plenty of troops at Yorktown. These are the statements of a straggler, who, of course, knows nothing about the intended movements of the General commanding. The assertion that there are plenty of troops at Yorktown is transparently false, for it is well known that the United States strained every point to get up the 15,000 which are making this diversion under Keyes and Gordon. The deserter adds that a party of 1,200 crossed the Pamunkey into King William on Monday to complete the devastation of that county, commenced last week. 

The train last evening brought intelligence of no change in the position of the Yankees at the White House or Tunstall's. Their cavalry are encamped on a hill near Tunstall's. 

Col. Shingler's men are picketing as far down as Diascund, and to within a short distance of Tunstall's. 

The general impression seems to be that Keyes will attempt a march around Richmond to Aquia Creek or to Gordonsville, destroying the roads and crops on his way. A soldier who has been scouting within their lines reports that he saw thirty-two regiments, eighty-eight wagons, and sixteen pieces of artillery. This, in the present depleted state of the Yankee regiments, would give about 12,000 or 14,000 men. The deserter mentioned above says that they only had 10,000 men.

The Federal on the Peninsula — an advance. 

The Federal force on the Peninsula made an advance yesterday and the night before. They now occupy the Cross Roads, in New Kent county, about 5 miles from Bottom's Bridge, and 18 miles from Richmond. The reports received yesterday evening by the York river train state that on Tuesday night a force commenced moving from the White House towards the Cross Roads, and that yesterday morning more troops followed. Gen. Dix had arrived at the White House and taken command of the whole army. Gens. Keyes and Gordon were at the Cross Roads. The Federal have been reinforcing at the White House during the past three days, and it is stated that among the reinforcements was Gen. Peck's command from Suffolk. This is, doubtless, true, as the Yankees have been fortifying around Norfolk some time, preparatory to falling back there from Suffolk, and on Thursday last all the "contra bands" at Suffolk were sent down to Norfolk. It is very doubtful whether there is a regiment of Yankees now in town. 

A gentleman who lives near Williamsburg states positively that not more than 10,000 troops went from Yorktown by land up the Peninsula. Of course he does not know how many went by way of York river to the White House. 

The Yankees still hold the White House, or did yesterday afternoon, probably to make it a point to fall back on in case of a disaster to their arms, which, it appears, they think probable — we know to be certain. 

Yesterday morning some of Col. Shingler's men went in the rear of their pickets at Tunstall's and captured a Lieutenant and private; but both of the captives were too drunk to answer any questions intelligibly. 

It is hardly probable that the Yankees would have left Suffolk in a comparatively defenceless situation merely to make a grand march around Richmond to Aquia Creek, or upon Gordonsville, nor did they need so large a force as they have collected to make a feint on Richmond — a feat they might have accomplished with much fewer men. It is most likely that they really contemplate an "On to Richmond," which will end even more disastrously than the nine marches they have heretofore made upon the city.

-Richmond Daily Dispatch of June 30, July 1 and July 2, 1863