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Chapter 35: battles of Cold Harbor.
On the 27th, the enemy having withdrawn to the north bank of the
North Anna, and commenced another flank movement by moving down the north bank of the
Pamunkey,
Ewell's corps, now under my command, by reason of
General Ewell's sickness, was moved across the
South Anna over the bridge of the Central Railroad, and by a place called “
Merry Oaks,” leaving
Ashland on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad to the right, and bivouacked for the night at
Hughes' cross-road, the intersection of the road from
Ashland to Atlee's Station on the Central Railroad with the road from the
Merry Oaks to
Richmond.
Next morning I moved by Atlee's Station to
Hundley's Corner, at the intersection of the road from Hanover Town (the point at which
Grant crossed the
Pamunkey), by Pole Green Church to
Richmond, with the road from Atlee's Station, by Old Church in
Hanover County, to the
White House on the
Pamunkey.
This is the point from which
General Jackson commenced his famous attack on
McClellan's flank and rear, in 1862, and it was very important that it should be occupied, as it intercepted
Grant's direct march towards
Richmond.
All of these movements were made under orders from
General Lee.
My troops were placed in position, covering the road by Pole Green Church, and also the road to Old Church, with my right resting near
Beaver Dam Creek, a small stream running towards
Mechanicsville and into the
Chickahominy.
Brigadier General Ramseur of
Rodes' division was this day assigned to the command of my division.
Ewell's corps, the 2nd of the Army of Northern Virginia, now numbered less than 9,000 muskets for duty, its loss, on the 12th of May, having been very heavy.
