The XVIII Corps Moves up the Pamunkey IV

Gen. William F. Smith

More from "Baldy Smith" . . .

My command consisted very nearly of 16,000 infantry, sixteen pieces of. artillery, and one squadron of cavalry of about 100 men. As I knew of no landing-place on the north side of the Pamunkey near the White House, II had asked permission from Washington, through General Butler, to land at West Point and march to the designated point, but this was refused. I, however, took the responsibility of sending General Ames and one brigade in fast steamers to land at West Point, and march to protect my landing if it should become necessary, and requested Admiral Lee to give orders to Captain Babcock, U.S. Navy, to cover the landing of this brigade by gun-boats. The necessary orders were promptly given by the admiral, with his usual zeal in all his co-operations: By Sunday morning, 11 a.m., 29th, the embarkation was so far advanced that I started to overtake the head of my command. On arriving at Fort Monroe, a telegram gave me information that General Grant had crossed the Pamunkey with the greater part of the Army of the Potomac, and then, deeming my proper course to be up the Pamunkey, landing at the White House, I immediately gave the necessary orders, and reached the landing at the White House, with my headquarters, on Monday, May 30, at 11 a.m. The transports were as rapidly unloaded as the inadequate means of landing would admit, and several fast steamers were sent back to assist in towing barges and schooners, and in aiding other steamers which had run aground on the shoals in the James River. During the night of the 30th and morning of the 31st, I received three copies of the following order:

            HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,

                Hanovertown, Va., May 28, 1864-1 p.m.

Maj. Gen. W.F. SMITH,

    Commanding Eighteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: The Army of the Potomac is now crossing to the south side of the Pamunkey River and massing at this place; the most of it has already crossed. You will leave a garrison at the White House until it is relieved by General Abercrombie's command from Port Royal, and with the remainder of your command move direct to New Castle, on the south side of the Pamunkey, and there await further orders. Order the garrison left by you at White House, on being relieved, to follow after and join you.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

                            JNO. A. RAWLINS,
                        Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

As my troops had not all arrived, and none of my wagons or ammunition, I sent to ask if my command should move as I then stood, or wait until I could take supplies with me, but later in the day, upon the receipt of a letter from General Grant, I determined not to wait for a reply to my first letter, but to march at once. I left General Ames with about 2,500 men to garrison White House, and marched about 3.30 p.m. with about 10,000 men and my artillery, and without wagons to carry supplies or extra ammunition. About 10 p.m. I reached Bassett's house near Old Church and distributed my troops to cover the roads leading to New Castle Ferry. The men had had but little experience in heavy marching, and that, together with the heat of the day, caused much straggling, which I was unable to prevent, as my provost guard had not arrived when I left the White House. From Bassett's I sent to inform General Grant of my position, and asking further orders. The next morning at daylight I received an order to proceed at once to New Castle Ferry, and place myself between the Fifth and Sixth Corps. Deeming time to be of great importance, I moved the command, without allowing the men time to get their coffee. On reaching New Castle Ferry I found that we were in the broad valley lands of the Pamunkey, surrounded by hills within artillery range, which, if occupied by the enemy, would force us to carry them by assault. The Fifth and Sixth Corps were not in this vicinity. I at once sent Captain Farqnhar, of the Engineers, to say to the Lieutenant-general that I was certain from my position there was some mistake in the order, and to ask that it be rectified. While my lines were being formed I began the construction of a bridge across the river, and during these operations, Lieutenant-Colonel Babcock, of General Grant's staff, arrived to say there had been a mistake in my order, and that it should have been to march to Cold Harbor instead of New Castle Ferry. The command was immediately marched back over the road we had just traveled, and in the direction of Cold Harbor.

. . .

-The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. ; Series 1-Volume 36 (Part I)

The XVIII Corps Moves up the Pamunkey III

More on the illustration from the other day . . .

Maj Gen Smiths Expedition disembarking at the White House- LOC

• Title inscribed upper left.
• Inscribed vertically upper right with indicators: Ruins of the White House; the scene of Washington's courtship & marriage; the tent by Pilchard.
• Inscribed within image: men bathing; soldiers stripping, &c.
• Inscribed on verso: This is only a small portion of the force shown here as there were many large vessels employed such as the John Brooks, the George Leary, the Escort, the Metamone[sic]-all similar to the Hudson river & sound boats but which I have not the opportunity of sketching if Mr Parsons has drawings of these vessels if the view is thought interesting enough they might be introduced covered with troops hanging on like bees. For description see the letters of Mr. Winser in the Times. W.W.
• Published in: Harper's Weekly, June 18, 1864.
• Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919

. . . and some more on the artist himself, William Waud, here and here.

The XVIII Corps Moves up the Pamunkey II

Maj Gen Smiths Expedition disembarking at the White House-LOC

                                                           [Telegram.]

                        FORT MONROE, VA., May 29, 1864.

I have been requested by Major-General Smith, through Brigadier- General Ames, to cooperate with the troops which go to West Point, [Va.], this afternoon. I have telegraphed General Ames that I will be happy to cooperate with him. Shall be obliged to go alone, as the boiler of the Mystic is undergoing repair. Respectfully, etc.,

                        CHAS. A. BABCOCK,

            Lieutenant-Commander and Senior Officer Present.

Rear-Admiral S. P. LEE,

                    Comdg. North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, H Roads.

Report of Lieutenant- Commander Babcock, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Morse, of the convoying of army transports, May 29- 30, 1864.

U.S.S. MORSE,

Off White House, Pamunkey River, Virginia, June 1, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report in relation to the part taken by this vessel in cooperating with and convoying transports with troops under command of Major-General Smith, which arrived at this place on the 30th ultimo.

After telegraphing you on the 29th that General Smith requested my cooperation I got underway at 5 p.m. of that day and, followed by two transports, proceeded to West Point, coming to anchor at 9:30 p.m. During the night several transports filled with troops arrived from Yorktown. On the following morning I was informed by Brigadier-General Ames that all the transports with troops were going to the White House, and requested me to convoy them. I immediately got underway and, taking the lead, proceeded up the Pamunkey River, arriving at this place with transports and troops safely at 11:30 a.m. on the 80th ultimo. I saw nothing of the enemy, and found no obstruction whatever in the river. I have stationed the Shokokon off Cumberland, with orders to protect the transports from the enemy should they make their appearance. The Cohasset is at anchor off the White house and this vessel at the railroad bridge [Richmond and York River Railroad]. The Mystic still remains at Yorktown. At present all the vessels I have with me are fully supplied with ammunition, coal, and provisions.

 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

                    CHAS. A. BABCOCK,
            Lieutenant- Commander and Senior Officer Present.

Rear-Admiral S. P. LEE,    

    Comdg. North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Hampton Roads 

-Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. ; Series I - Volume 10: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (May 6, 1864 - October 27, 1864)

The XVIII Corps Moves up the Pamunkey I

                    STONINGTON, CONN.,
                        August 9, 1864.

SIR: My continuous and active service in the field has prevented me from making out reports of certain operations of the troops under my command at an earlier date, and as many of the subordinate reports have not been made to me for reasons similar to those which have delayed mine, I can now give but a résumé, and propose to include in the report to your headquarters operations of my command while with the Army of the Potomac an not under the orders of General Butler. On the 27th of May I received orders to concentrate my command, consisting of the two white divisions of the Eighteenth Corps, and the divisions of Generals Ames and Turner of the Tenth Corps, in rear of the lines at Port Waithall, preparatory to embarkation at Bermuda Hundred, to join the Army of the Potomac. My orders were to land on the north side of the Pamunkey to protect the engineer troops, who were to be sent to work on the bridges at that point. The following is the order upon which I moved:

                    WASHINGTON, May 28, 1864-2.30 p.m.

Major-General SMITH:

Lieutenant-General Grant directs that on reaching White House you will put the railroad bridge there in condition for crossing troops and artillery, and leave a sufficient force to hold it. Ask General Butler to give you artillery enough for that purpose. The railroad bridge corps will immediately leave Alexandria with men and materials for executing the work. As soon as you occupy the place telegraph here your progress in ascending the river and landing.

HALLECK

 Major-General.

-The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. ; Series 1-Volume 36 (Part I)