[1051]
If the principal cavalry officers are brave, the thing must succeed.
With renewed and heartfelt thanks for your uniform kindness, and not the least of them — this opportunity given me — permit me to call myself,
Your sincere and attached friend,
P. S.--On Sunday morning, at five o'clock, pray for our country and for me.
I. J. W.
[no. 16. see page 619.]
General Wistar's report of operation.
Yorktown, Feb. 9, 1864.
Major:--I have the honor to report the following operations of the forces under my command, undertaken with a view to the surprise and capture of Richmond, and incidental results:
All the infantry and cavalry placed at my disposal by the general commanding, being about four thousand of the former and two thousand two hundred of the latter, were suddenly concentrated behind my lines at Williamsburg after dark on the evening of the 5th instant, together with Hunt's and Belger's light batteries.
The infantry, consisting of three white regiments, brigaded under Col. R. M. West, First Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and three colored regiments under Colonel Duncan, Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, moved thence at 9 A. M. on the 6th, carrying on the person six days rations in the knapsack and seventy rounds of cartridges--forty in the boxes and thirty in the knapsack.
The cavalry, being detachments of five regiments under Col. S. P. Spear, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, moved two hours later.
Colonel Spear was directed to arrive at Bottom's Bridge, twelve miles this side of Richmond, by 3 A. M. of the 7th, surprise it, and move on rapidly to Richmond.
A picked company under Captain Hill, First New York Mounted Rifles, with selected horses, was placed in advance to ride down the three pickets — at New Kent, Baltimore Cross-Roads, and at the bridge.
Arrangements had been previously made to have the telegraph wire between Meadow Station and Richmond cut between dark and midnight of the 6th.
By these means it was hoped to surprise the enemy's Battery No. 2, on the Bottom's Bridge road near Richmond, and occupy Capitol Square in that city for at least two or three hours; detachments previously detailed and carefully instructed breaking successively from the main column, on entering, for various specific purposes.
Of course the success of the enterprise was based upon the sudden and noiseless surprise of the strong picket at Bottom's Bridge, without which it would be impossible for cavalry alone to pass Battery No. 2. Colonel Spear reached Bottom's Bridge, a distance of fifty-one miles, ten minutes before the time designated, but found the enemy there in strong force, with infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
They had received notice some sixteen hours previously, and had during that time been vigorously making preparations.
The bridge planks had been taken up, the fords both above and below effectually obstructed, extensive earthworks and rifle-pits constructed, 