June 30, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
(From the Richmond Dispatch of Saturday.)
The reports of the progress of the Yankee raid from the White House yesterday came into the city fast and furious, and it is remarkable to note that they were in very few cases exaggerated, except with regard to the numbers of the foe. There was no excitement, and we may safely assert that there never was a duller day here. Everybody was cool, and everybody, except those who were in militia organizations, were attending to their every day business as usual. The day has passed when Richmond can be stirred up by the news of a Yankee raid.
On Thursday evening a portion of the Federal troops – about 1,200 – left the White House on the road to Hanover Court House, and upon arriving camped for the night on Colonel Wickham’s farm. Thursday night, at a late hour, the rest of the troops at the White House left in the same direction, and passed Old Church about breakfast time. It is believed by some that both parties met near Hanover Court House, and, on the other hand, it is supposed that the two divisions took different routes. This latter supposition is strengthened by the fact that our pickets at Mechanicsville, four miles from Richmond, were driven in early in the day, and three of them captured. Before leaving the White House they tore up the track from there to Tunstall’s Station, a distance of four miles. The rumor yesterday that they brought two locomotives and cars with them on their gunboats, and had put them on the road, is of course unfounded, as they did not leave the track down to use. They also burnt the store of Mr. Dabney, at Tunstall’s Station, with a full stock of goods, which the proprietor had only received the day before. The excuse for this vandalism was that the building contained the Postoffice. They did not rob the money drawer of the store – something most remarkable for a Yankee.
Late last evening a train arrived at the depot from Despatch Station, and we learn by it that a gentleman during the day rode down to within 500 yards of the White House, and found there were but two wooden gunboats lying there. Not a Yankee soldier was to be seen. Those who saw the troops land from the gunboats say there were not more, and probably less, than 5000. It is more than likely that the Yankees will attempt to get through to Aquia Creek, and there embark in safety on their gunboats. Yesterday afternoon there was not even a Yankee picket to be seen from Tunstall’s to the White House. The two gunboats there are probably left to cover their embarkation at that point, should they be intercepted in their way through by our troops. There has been very little damage done by the Yankees in the vicinity of the White House and Tunstall’s Station, they being restrained, perhaps, by the knowledge that our army is in their country now. They burnt some straw at the White House before leaving.
Between 12 and 1 o’clock the presence of the enemy at Hanover Station, eight miles this side of the Junction, was ascertained by the interruption of telegraphic communication. It then became apparent that danger of the destruction of the South Anna Bridge, on the Central Railroad, was imminent, and the commandant at Hanover Junction was directed to concentrate his forces – one regiment being all that he had at his command – for its protection and defence, whilst troops from other quarters were gotten together and hurried off in the direction of the threatened point. At four o’clock a despatch was received from Col. D.J. Godwin, commanding the forces at the bridge, that the enemy had made an attack, and the firing was then going on, and concluding with an appeal for the reinforcements to be hurried up.
Trains were despatched with troops both on the Central and Fredericksburg Roads, and it was hoped they would arrive in time to resist the attack of the enemy, and save the bridges from destruction. The Central Road was regarded as being in the most imminent danger, and the larger number of well equipped and thoroughly organized troops were sent by this route, under the command of Colonel Gilmer, 27th North Carolina Regiment. The train bearing this force left the depot in this city about 6 o’clock, but were too late to relieve the small force contending with the enemy on the South Anna, which was finally overpowered and compelled to yield the possession of the bridge to the enemy, who at once fired it, and in a comparatively short time it was completely destroyed. Colonel Godwin immediately telegraphed the fact to the commandent of this department, and in his despatch stated that the enemy were moving in considerable force on the bridge over the South Anna on the Fredericksburg Road; that their force consisted of infantry, artillery, and much cavalry. This despatch also concluded with an appeal for reinforcements. It may be well to state that up to 10 o’clock on Thursday night these bridges were protected by an ample guard, consisting of an entire brigade. At that hour information was received that a raid of the enemy’s cavalry was threatened at Gordonsville, and the brigade was sent from the Junction to that point, leaving but one regiment, the 44th North Carolina, and a small cavalry force, for the defence of Hanover Junction and the two South Anna bridges. What may have occurred at Gordonsville, we have no means of knowing, as no trains reached the city from that direction last evening. Some anxiety is felt for the safety of the passenger train which left this city yesterday morning, as well as the one which was due here yesterday afternoon. There is no information of any train having been captured, though the material train which reached the depot about noon yesterday reported being fired into in the vicinity of Hanover Court House.
The loss of the bridge on the Central road will not be materially felt, if the bridge on the Fredericksburg road can be saved. If both should be destroyed, however, it will result in serious interruption to our communication. Up to a late hour last night the result of the demonstration on the latter road was unknown, but strong hopes were entertained that our reinforcements had reached it in time to save it.
Still Later. – The train which took out the troops on the Central road returned at 11 o’clock last night. From the officers on board this train we have some fuller particulars of the rid upon the road yesterday afternoon. Before attacking the bridge over the South Anna, the enemy destroyed the trestle work on the road near Hanover Court House, and tore up the track for some distance. They then attacked the bridge, which was guarded by only 80 men, belonging, we are informed, to the 44th North Carolina. Perhaps there has not been more determined and desperate gallantry exhibited during this whole war than was exhibited by these gallant men in defence of the bridge. For upwards of an hour they contended with twelve hundred of the enemy’s cavalry and two pieces of artillery, and only yielded when completely overpowered. The Lieutenant Colonel commanding this guard refused to surrender his sword, even after being overpowered, and it was not until he was ruthlessly knocked down with the butt of a musket that it was wrested from him. According to one account we had eight men killed in the action, whilst another states that we lost but three. Our wounded, some half in number, were left at Hanover Court House. The enemy is known to have had three killed and a number wounded. After firing the bridge, the Yankees started in the direction of the bridge on the Fredericksburg road, but on being informed by a citizen, who was a prisoner of theirs, that we had two brigades at point and Hanover Junction, they turned their course, and marched back in the direction of the White House, passing Hanover Court House only a few minutes before the arrival of our reinforcements. The gentleman who gave them the information with reference to our forces at the Junction, says they told him they had a cavalry force of 1,200, and a large infantry force at the White House and neighborhood, and they boasted of their intention to take Richmond last night or today.
Whilst in Hanover they went to the residence of Colonel Wickham, where they captured General W.H.F. Lee, who has been there since he was wounded in the battle of Brandy Station, on the 9th. They conveyed him away in the carriage of Colonel W., which they stole. They also burned the fine barn of Colonel Wickham, and one or two other outbuildings.