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Re: Battle of Riddle's Shop
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Bryce,

Here are three articles which appeared in the Richmod Daily Dispatch.

George Martin

Tuesday morning....June 14 1864.

the War news — Grant moving towards James River — skirmishing on the Chickahominy — the movement against Lynchburg forces its Achievement in Mississippi, &c.

At an early hour yesterday morning the reports of cannon in the direction of Bottom's Bridge gave warning that active hostilities had been resumed, though to what extent was not known until a later hour of the day. A rumor was soon in circulation that Grant was moving his whole army towards the James, and abandoning his position near Cold Harbor, which he had taken much pains to fortify and render impregnable. This report was afterwards fully confirmed.

It appears that a force of the enemy, during the night of Sunday, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, eight miles below Bottom's Bridge, and drove in our cavalry pickets. Report says that they also crossed at Forge Bridge and Turner's Ford, still lower down the river. Our pickets fell back to Riddle's Shop, a point thirteen miles below Richmond, at the intersection of the Charles City and Long Bridge roads, where a brisk skirmish took place between a detachment of Gen. W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, under Col. Gary, and the enemy. This fight was progressing at two o'clock P. M., though with what result we are not informed. A report was in circulation that the enemy had gained possession of Malyvern Hill, but this lacks confirmation.

Later advices state that our men, owing to the difference in numbers, were compelled to full back.

[from our own correspondent.]

Army of Northerns Virginia, June, 13th, 5 P. M.

Grant, after digging six heavy lines of [ entrenchnment ] on his old front, near Gaines's Mill, Suddenly abandoned them last night, moving again on our right. This morning about day he suddenly appeared at the Long Bridge on the Chickahominy, about eighteen miles below Richmond. Here his forces found a small picket of ours, which was readily driven in, and the enemy proceeded to cross. Our cavalry fell back to Riddle's shop, and the enemy pushing as there was a considerable fight until our men were forced to give back before the enemy's combined force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry.
The enemy are also reported moving on the River road, as well as the Charles City read. Our scouts also say that Grant is landing troops and supplies from his gun boats near Malvern Hill, and it is supposed that he is in possession of those heights. This accords with the information previously received, and now confirmed, that the enemy have been tearing up and destroying the York River railroad.

Up to this hour there has been no collision of the two armies, but it is not improbable that one will occur late this evening or early in the morning. Our troops are marching rapidly to thwart and check the enemy.

Grant may intend to go to the Southside, but it is more likely that he will make another effort this side of the James and the Chickahominy.

Our men captured a few prisoners this morning. They were principally from the 17th and 18th corps.

Grant is not so, near Richmond as when he was south of the Chickahominy, but he has certainly now made across that river.

The enemy, when they abandoned their breastworks this morning, left them guard of by a line of skirmishers, some one hundred and fifty of whom fell into our hands, among them a mad carrier attached to the 6th corps

Richmond Dispatch
Wednesday morning...June 15 1864.

The War News.

Yesterday passed off with unusual quiet, scarcely a rumor having disturbed the current of the public mind. We give below such news as we were enabled to gather:

From the front.

It appears that all the reports of the fight at Riddle's Shop ? , on Monday, were incorrect, and that, instead of driving our troops, the Yankees were finally themselves driven by our infantry several miles. We still hold the Malvern Heights, and Grant is reported to have gone to Wesfever, full thirty miles from Richmond by the road, in Charles City county. This is near the point to which McClellan retreated after he was whipped away from the front of Richmond. The reports of the demoralization of the Federal army are apparently well grounded, and it may be that he has sought this locality which, under the protection of the gunboats, he can recuperate his shattered strength, and get the courage of his men up to the fighting point; though the more probable supposition is that he design is crossing to the Southside, somewhere in the vicinity of City Point.

The following dispatch, received yesterday at the War Department from Gen. Lee, officially confirms our account of the rout of Sheridan's raiders by our cavalry under Gen. Hampton:

Headq'rs Army Northern Va.,

June 13, 1864--10 P. M. Hon Secretary of War.

A dispatch just received from Major Gen. Hampton, states that he defeated the enemy's cavalry near Trevillian's, with heavy loss, capturing five hundred prisoners, besides the wounded. The enemy retreated in confusion,
apparently, by the route he came, leaving his dead and wounded on the field.
At daylight this morning, it was discovered that the army of Gen. Grant had left our front. Our skirmishers were advanced between one and two miles, but failing to discover the enemy, were withdrawn. A body of cavalry and some infantry, from long Bridge, advanced to Riddle's shop and were driven back this evening nearly two miles, after some sharp skirmishing.

Respectfully,

R. E. Lee, General.

[from our own Correspondent]

Army of Northern Virginia,
June 14th 5 P. M.

The enemy are still moving, it is supposed for the purpose of crossing the James river near City Point. The main body of their force is believed to be moving still on the north side of the Chickahominy. The force which they sent across the Chickahominy yesterday at Long Bridge, and which advanced up the Charles City road about three miles above ? Riddle's Shop and the road leading to Malvern Hill, until checked and driven back by Mahone and Wilcox, consisted of two picked divisions of Yankee infantry from the 5th corps, a division of cavalry, and a battery of artillery. This force came across merely to divert our attention, and with no purpose of seizing Malven Hill. They quickly, and almost without resistance, gave back when our infantry came up, retiring some four or five miles, and as seen as night came on they began moving down the south sine of the Chickahominy towards the James.

In this fight we lost some eighty or ninety men. The loss of the enemy is unknown beyond some thirty prisoners we captured.

Their purpose is doubtless to cross to the Southside, but at what point is as yet not exactly known to us. X.

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