Army Northern Virginia
June 14 [1864] 6 p.m.
On Sunday evening [June 12, 1864] the enemy commenced moving off our front near Cold Harbor and Turkey Hill Ridge and continued the movement all that night, crossing the Chickahominy at Long Bridge.
They left about 150 pickets, which we captured.
Early the next morning [June 13, 1864] they attacked the cavalry force stationed near the Long Bridge (Gary’s brigade) driving them back until about 2 p.m. when a portion of Hill’s corps came up and attacked the enemy, driving him back with ease about a mile and a half and capturing a good many prisoners.
The engagement commenced near Brackett’s house on the Charles City road, and was heaviest about a mile below on the left of the road. Scales’, McGowan’s and Thomas’ brigades of Wilcox’s division, were the troops engaged. The affair amounted to but little more than a heavy skirmish, the principal fighting being done by our skirmishers, and the enemy at no time, I believe, making an obstinate resistance.
Prisoners — from the 5th and 6th Corps – taken in this affair state that they crossed Sunday night and Monday morning [June 12 and 13, 1864], and that the 2nd Corps is also over. This however is doubted.
Our troops were put in position to meet any advance of the enemy, the left being near White Oak Swamp Bridge, and the right near Malvern Hill, which he held. The line crosses the Charles City Road at right angles, and runs almost parallel to and only a few hundred yards east of the Willis Church road.
The enemy have been shelling Malvern Hill to day [June 14, 1864] from their gunboats in the James river.1 “Nobody hurt” on our side.
Scouts just in report no enemy is in our front. A scouting party from Gary’s brigade of cavalry have just come in. They crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and found no enemy except a party of 14 stragglers whom they captured. They report the enemy moving to the south side. Other reports represent Grant as crossing on pontoons at Harrison’s Landing. Heavy clouds of dust could be seen on the south side from Malvern Hill this evening. Grant is doubtless changing his base. We have captured in the movement about 300 prisoners. SOLDAT2
SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Bryce Suderow and is included in a collection of articles from the Richmond Sentinel. His transcription of this article is published here with his written permission.
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