SHERIDAN

His grand march across the peninsula
From the Pamunkey to the James

From special correspondence New York Tribune

Preparations for a movement from the White House

Jones’s landing James River Virginia March 28, 1865

On 24 March, at night, 2500 disabled horses from Sheridan’s cavalry corps had been shipped, or rather, The last were being shipped to the great national horse infirmary Goldsboro, near Washington, for condemnation or recuperation and about 2500 cavalrymen with their saddles and other equipments on their backs had been embarked or were being embarked via fortress Monroe for City Point to be remounted and await orders. Several steamers and other vessels were lying at the wharf taking aboard these disabled horses and dismounted men while no further supplies were being landed. And it seemed to be the study of the quartermasters how to get away again The surplus forage, the commissary stores &c. that in the munificence of the government had already accumulated on the bank. The vessels that were now arriving came empty and as they came inquiringly up to the wharf seemed evidently to come for something instead of to bring something.

The fires in Sheridan‘s open air blacksmith shops on the shore had one by one paled away during the day until only two or three forges at the end of the long row were now in operation their operators shoeing some of the 11th hour horses that were bringing up the rear of the immense throng that had kept the entire line of forges going night and day ever since the equine horde struck the Pamunkey.

The advance already sent forward

On the morning of the 24th the army pontoon train under protection of Colonel Wells’ brigade of the third cavalry division and general Dodge’s infantry brigade of the 24th Army Corps, which had been dispatched by the army of the James and sent around to join Sheridan, had been sent out on the New Kent and Charles City Road toward the Chickahominy and after nightfall it was reported by the scouts that they had reached that stream without opposition and succeeded in laying a pontoon bridge across on the site of the old Jones bridge which they held ready for the main crossing of the main army next morning.

Another serenade to general Sheridan

On the evening of the 24th General Sheridan was again serenaded by one of the Cavalry Corps bands, at his headquarters on board the Metamora. The bounding, stirring, martial music of the band ravishing the balmy trembling twilight air, mingled not inharmoniously but overwhelmingly with the trampling sounds of busy embarkation, while general Sheridan and his officers, with their baggage all packed, impatiently paced the soon to be deserted docks, mounted in the expectation of the coming rn, when mounted heroes would be at home again in the saddle and in resonant forest and martial Field

The night before the march

it was late before the officers, orderlies, and colored servants, all busy with preparation‘s for an early start, turned in,. Though no Caucasian woman with beaming eyes and genial smile graced the scenes of the White House with her presence, still there were some bachelor festivals festivities on board the Metamora the night before the march

Colonel S of the staff was the dry grave comedian of the evening but retired early amid the good-natured missive of his union comrades, returning as good as were sent.

Says Colonel P, "I woder who is going to get a bullet through him this time." Retorted another, "you ought to have half a dozen through you for raising the queston."

One by one the officers turned in on the floor of the upper saloons telling and laughing about incidents of the late raid and of their former military experiences while the colored gentlmen were polishing boots and chewing tobacco by the whlolesale below. These two, after a while, turned in, and for three or four hours in the latter part of the night all was comparatively quiet, nought disturbing the stillness except the solitary pacings of the sentinels and a few nervous sounds about the wakeful steamers in port.

The army in motion

At daylight in the morning the valley of the Pamunkey was the scene of activity and preparation for the day's march, the cavalry hosts, in response to the trumpet calls, being gradually formed into line.

Soon the variegated battle flags of the regiments were streaming over the wooded hills that overlook the old White House estates. General Custer's mounted veterans led the van, the winding horns at his buglers making the vernal woods resonant with their melodies.

The march was onward, mid stirring martial music, fluttering banners, the songs of spring birds, and the aromatic air of the new budded forest through former scenes of conflict and disaster to the historic banks of the James. Two days march, with three days rations, in saddle pouches and grain sacks was expected to mingle the mounted heroes of the valley with their infantry comrades and compatriots of the Potomac and the James for the grand final conflict

an ancient residence

on the hill immediately overlooking the old White House estate on the road leading out to New Kent and Charles City Rd., we passed the runs of what has been a very old residence, on a very fine site. Nothing remains of the buildings except the brick chimneys amid the ruins of a few old log out-houses. A decaying peach Orchard, on the side of the hill towards the White House, the trees of which continue to blossom even in old age, was completely regrown with the cedar trees indigenous to the soil. From this place on the hill, we had a view of the Pamunkey valley below, and the wagon train and the last of the troops gradually falling into line, and the host of the steamers except one gun boat left, as rear guard, winding down the deep meandering Pamunkey.

The march

was most delightful over a moist sandy road, for the most part spacious, winding over Hill and Dale, and cultivated plain, across rushng mill streams and babbling brooks.

The country

it is about 20 miles from the White House across the peninsula to Wilcox‘s Landing, on the James River. This distance, except about a mile and a half on the west end, we made on the 24th, the column all getting into camp within our lines, near Mrs. Wilcox‘s place, before dark, without having seen or heard of an enemy. The country through which we are switching the past had evidently once been one of the finest and most highly cultivated regions in the state, particularly from the checkout harmony to the Jameson. We passed many fine plantations bearing unmistakable signs of former magnificence, but which now war of the appearance of being almost deserted. No gangs of slaves could be seen telling them as in former day had been one of the finest and most highly cultivated regions in the state, particularly from the Chicahominy to the James. We passed many fine plantations bearing unmistakable signs of former magnificence, but which now wore the appearance of being almost deserted. No gangs of slaves could be seen tilling them as in former days

We passed one Church and one mill on the road, the latter on a fine stream of water, and both apparently in a good state of repair, but the occupation of both seem to be gone. The grass was springing up in the gateway of the former, and the dust of many days apparently had settled upon the overshot water wheel of the latter.

we passed one church and one mill on the road, the ladder on a fine stream of water, and both apparently in a good state of repair, but the occupation of both seem to be gone. The grass was springing up in the gateway of the former, and the dust of many days apparently had settled upon the overshot water wheel of the land.

an exchange

at one place on the road in New Kent county we exchanged a magnificent war panorama for a single beautiful tabeau – – that is, a good looking lady came down to the gate, with her pretty daughter and little son, to see the column pass. They naturally took rather an artistic position, and showed by their manifestations that they had the intelligence not to be afraid of the Yankees and to appreciate the glorious American union for which they were fighting. These were about the only Caucasian women that we saw on the route.

The Chicahominy

We found the pontoon bridge all right across the Chickahominy, and spanning two different channels, and guarded by a piece of artillery and a portion of General Dodge's infantry. The historic Chicahominy was pretty high, and brought up in our minds many associations of the old peninsula campaign and subsequent marches.

another tableau

At Mr. William Jordan’s fine place, on the west Bank of the Chickahominy, we were presented with another tableau on the hillside, near the road, this on a larger scale and of another color, consisting of ebony old men and ebony women, old and young and children of the same, here thrown in promiscouusly – – all Yankee admirers and union and erty appreciators.

The march today

from Miss Mrs. Wilcox‘s place, a mile and a half from James River, up along the Charles city Road, via general Ord‘s headquarters, and his pontoon bridge to this place, was not so pleasant as that of yesterday, the road being not being so good, etc., but was not without interest.

A grande reception

was given to General Sheridans Braves by the veteran Army of the James on our entrance into General Ord's lines. The frowning, bristling battlements swarmed with his men coming out to meet and welcome the recognized heroes of the valley.

The bands of the Forts struck up stirring martial airs, which were responded to by the bands of the cavalry host. Old comrades recognized each other after long separation, and fell upon each other shoulders and wept tears of Shear Joy Casagranda Reunion

The pontoon bridge across the James, through which the river queen, Margaret Washington, and the George steers, had just passed, was soon swung into position, and the trampling host was seen winding down the hills on the north side, across the river, over the valley, and up the hills on the south side of the James, where, at this writing they are going into camp, for probably a two day stay, previous to further important operations.

Philadelphia Inquirer
April 1, 1865
page 3 columns 1-2