July 1, 1863, The New York Herald
Important from the Peninsula.
Mr. STEPHEN HAYES’LETTER.
ON THE PENINSULA, June 29, 1863.
THE START AND MARCH.
The expedition started from West Point on Thursday, the 25th inst., the force consisting of the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, and two hundred men, part of the Second Massachusetts and Twelfth Illinois — the whole force under the command of Colonel Samuel P. Spear.
THE FIRST DAY’S MARCH was conducted with the usual license accorded while the enemy is still distant; but before the night’s bivouac was ordered silence, under the stern order of the Colonel, was enforced, and miles of the concluding part of the march were passed over in silence.
THE SURPRISE.
By early dawn of the next morning the troops were again in motion, and as they rapidly neared the bridge spanning the Pamunkey at White House, where but a company of Stuart cavalry had been stationed holding that point, our bugle gave the first notice of impending danger to the rebel garrison. But it was sufficient, and the rebels rapidly disappeared. On the bridge the troops reined in, and having thus crossed more leisurely, and formed on the other side, the rebels had a pretty fair start, and were out of sight before the head of our column was again in motion. Everything was found at the post in use by the rebels there, testifying, for once, to the secresy of the movement. A pretty well filled sutler’s store fell into our hands, the contents of which contributed to the hearty breakfast that was thus improvised on the spot.
THE ONWARD MARCH.
Breakfast having been disposed of, the troops were again formed, the march for miles being through a locality well known to many of the officers and men. Approaching Tunstall’s Station a halt was silently ordered, and Col. Spear and Lieut. Col. Davis, of the Twelfth Illinois, in command of the Illinois and Massachusetts troops, rode from front to rear, informing the men of the duty expected of them and enjoining steadiness and unity of action.
THE REBEL PICKETS ENCOUNTERED.
A little further on the pickets of the enemy were encountered, who fled at our appearance, one only of them falling into our hands. At a gallop the troops dashed through Tunstall’s Station and on for some distance towards Hanover Court House. After a short rest this side of the Court House the march was resumed and we entered Hanover Court House.
CAPTURE OF A REBEL WAGON TRAIN.
Here we captured a quartermaster’s stores, consisting of sixty-five wagons, the more worthless of which we burned; there also fell into our hands all the books, orders and documents of the office of some importance, but none of which we had an opportunity of examining. Also three hundred and fifty sets of harness, five thousand bushels of grain, a blacksmith’s and wheelwrigh’s tapparatus, all of which we also burned.
DESTRUCTION OF SOUTH ANNA BRIDGE.
The main object of the expedition was yet to be accomplished. — that is from our view of the results which followed, and not speaking from any official information. From Hanover Court House the troops proceeded on their march, and the next day reached the South Anna Bridge, on the Central Railroad, connecting Gordonsville with Richmond.
A SEVERE SKIRMISH.
At this point a severe skirmish took place with a rebel force very strongly posted, and from the first well prepared and vigilant and to the last brave and unyielding till overpowered. The force here encountered was composed of the Forty-fourth North Carolina troops, considered the crack regiment of the secesh portion of that State. The bridge was held with steady and unflinching valor for nearly an hour and a half. It was in the assault finally ordered that our first casualties occurred.
DEATH OF SERGEANT FARLEY.
Here Orderly Sergeant M. Farley, who commanded our dismounted troopers told off for the assault, fell stabbed to the heart with a bayonet. At the head of one hundred volunteers he charged the breastworks pistol in hand. After a brief struggle they took possession of the works, not a rebel defender escaping from death or capture. Nine were killed and fifteen wounded so severely that Colonel Spear was obliged to parole them on the spot. The rest were all made prisoners.
CAPTURE OF W. F. H. LEE.
Brigadier General W. F. H. Lee, son of the rebel General-in-Chief, was captured at this point. He was on his way (so far as your correspondent could ascertain) to Richmond, from some neighboring country residence, and had but arrived at South Anna the evening before. So rapid was the advance and vigorous and steady the assault, leaving us masters of the post, that he had not time to effect his escape, and he fell into our hands, together with the post commanding officer, Captain Hudgons, Captain Bingham, six lieutenants, and one hundred and three enlisted men.
OTHER CAPTURED STORES.
A considerable portion of property also fell into our hands, consisting of forty wagons, six hundred mules, two hundred horses, sutlers stores, tents, &c. and a large number of contrabands. The destruction of the South Anna bridge was so complete that it will now take six weeks to rebuild it.
DESTRUCTION OF NELSON’S BRIDGE.
On the return home we destroyed, after crossing, Nelson bridge, and encamped for the night on the plantation of Widow Nelson, whose name the bridge bore. Here General Lee was most warmly and hospitably welcomed, the best bed in the house having been prepared for him; but there was no welcome for us. Colonel Spear, with great forbearance and good humor, allowed the old lady to indulge her proclivities, permitting his prisoner to be benefited in every way, while himself and officers took up their quarters on the grounds outside, there bivouacking with their men.
SEIZURE OF CONFEDERATE MONEY.
The remainder of the march was without further incident, beyond the capture of a rebel paymaster with twenty thousand dollars confederate money in his possession, who was on his way to South Anna. As most of the men on the paymaster roll, and to whom this money was due, were prisoners, Colonel Share very considerately took paymaster and money with him, so that he might see justice done for once between confederate soldier and confederate paymaster.
BACK TO QUARTERS.
At six o’clock on Saturday evening we returned from the most successful raid yet made from this point. In proof of this I may state that our captive, General Lee, said it was, so far as his actual experience went, the most destructive raid in this region since the war commenced. He complimented our cavalry on the quiet and orderly manner of their march, and upon the steadiness and vigor with which their charges at South Anna bridge were made.
In conclusion, I may say that since our return Colonel Spear, Lieutenant Colonel Davis, and the officers of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, whose names and rank we append, are at present the heroes of the White House and its surrounding encampments. Again they are ready for the field, where I trust the same success awaits them.
The following are the officers of the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry: —
Colonel — Samuel P. Spear.
Lieutenant Colonel — George Stitzel.
Major — Samuel Wetherill.
Major — F. A. Stratton.
Major — G. T. Cornog.
Adjutant — A. M. Menzies.
Quartermaster — Charles A. Sherman.
Commissary — J. L. Roper.
Surgeon — George C. Harlan.
Asistant Surgeons — Hestis M. Nogle and —– Dona.
Company A — Captain, George S. Ringland; First Lieutenant, J. J. Barclay; Second Lieutenant, F. A. Blake.
Company B — Captain, W. Dewees Roberts; First Lieutenant, James E. McFarland, Second Lieutenant, Wm. D. Irwin.
Company D — Captain, R. B. Ward; First Lieutenant, J. S. Nimmons; Second Lieutenant, John C. Somple.
Company E — Captain, Wm. Bailey; First Lieutenant, David O. Ciers; Second Lieutenant, P. A. Palmer.
Company G — Captain, Jas. A. Skilly; First Lieutenant, A. H. D. Williams; Second Lieutenant, John C. Murray.
Company H — Captain, Wm. H. Lelp; First Lieutenant, James E. Fleming; Second Lieutenant, John S. Rice.
Company I — Captain, W. J. Reisinger; First Lieutenant, C. W. Butts; Second Lieutenant, Edward Minnich.
Company K — Captain, Albert Akerly; First Lieutenant, G. B. Knight; Second Lieutenant, John Caspar Baker.
Company L — Captain, John B. Loomis; First Lieutenant, James D. Mahon; Second Lieutenant, M. Beatty.
Company M — Captain, Gerard Reynolds First Lieutenant, Samuel L. Titus; Second Lieutenant, F. Lucien Prud.