For several days previously to the above date, the rebels, returning from their raid up the Shenandoah valley, had been extending their pickets towards Old Church, throwing forces upon McClellan’s right flank, and otherwise indicating that they meant mischief. These threats of battle were answered by his suddenly throwing out a heavy Union force, between Hanover and Richmond, which cut off their communications by the Virginia Central, and the Richmond and Petersburg railroads. By this means the Union army totally dispersed the enemy, in two short, sharp engagements, cleared its flank, and disabled the rebel railroad operations. But a more important work was ahead; and the force selected for it was General G. W. Morrell’s division, of General F. J. Porter’s Fifth Provisional Army Corps. At midnight of Monday, orders were given to each regiment to be in light marching trim, for the morning. The reveille beat at 3 A. M. A drenching rain was pouring down, so that not so much as a cup of coffee could be heated; and there was nothing but cold rations to give the required strength for the prospective march.
The soldiers marched in silence for some six or eight miles; and then the whisper gathered breath, and passed from man to man, “Where are we going?” Pocket compasses were consulted, and it was discovered that slowly, though gradually, the division was bearing more and more to the right. Few in the column had any idea of the object in view; but no questions were asked.
At 10 o’clock, the dismal, overhanging clouds had disappeared almost entirely, and through their broken masses poured down the rays of a brilliant sun, that soon became almost tropical in its intense heat. The head of the column was suddenly turned to the right; a course due north was pursued for a short time; and then, where the roads intersected each other, a battery was planted, a regiment being detailed to support it. Again the brigades moved rapidly onward. At the halt, the Virginia railroad was reported to be but a mile and a half westward; and, in obedience to orders received, the Twenty-second Massachusetts, Colonel Gore, marched northward to disable the railroad, and subsequently joined the main body a few miles above.
The design in view was to capture a large body of rebels, known to have been at Hanover Court House on the Sunday before, and which had then consisted of the Seventh, Twelfth, Eighteenth, Twenty-third, Thirty-third, and Thirty-eighth, North Carolina troops. Each regiment was represented as numbering one thousand men: and it was further stated that the enemy intended to strongly reinforce the position.
The Union division reached a point about two miles north of the intersection of the roads, when the advance guard, composed of cavalry; the Twenty-fifth New York Infantry, Colonel Johnson, and a section of artillery, discovered the pickets of the enemy. Without an instant’s delay the skirmishers opened fire, when the enemy slowly withdrew for two miles—the Twenty-fifth in rapid pursuit, keeping ahead even of Benson’s Light Battery, which was in front. It was in an open field, near the house of Doctor King, that the rebels drew up in line of battle. Colonel Johnson pressed boldly forward, engaged them at close range, and for fifteen minutes, before any support arrived, made hot work for both sides. The rebels had sheltered themselves behind the house, and in support of two of their own field pieces; but they were speedily driven from that protection. A force of the enemy which approached on the right of the Twenty-fifth, coming from the woods, succeeded in taking prisoners a portion of company G, which they immediately carried to their rear. A section of Manin’s Massachusetts Battery, followed by a portion of Griffin’s Regular Battery now came to the Assistance of Colonel Johnson, and speedily fixed the attention of the rebels, who continued to pour in a sharp shower of grape and shell from their twelve-pound howitzers.
But now a turn in affairs took place which was as great a surprise as it was a disaster to the rebels. From their determined stand it was clearly perceived that they supposed the force before them to be our only strength; and they evidently considered that it would be short work to repulse and capture the small body of men so heroically attacking them. But General Butterfield had already ordered the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel McLane and the Seventeenth New York, Colonel Lansing, to the timber on the left of the enemy’s flank; and before they could suspect the blow that threatened them, our reinforcements appeared in the wheat field on their left. The vitality of the movement was clear to them as soon as perceived; and surprised, then confused, they wavered at the first well-directed volley poured in on them. Their ranks broke; and, turning, they fled confusedly, in every direction. A second volley picked off their men at the guns. Forward, at the double-quick, and with a loud, hearty yell, went the brave Seventeenth. The cannon were abandoned without spiking them, and our victorious troops pursued the retreating enemy to Hanover Court-House. Within an hour sixty prisoners were brought in. Beyond this point the enemy still fled; and the cavalry continued in hot pursuit. At the Court-House the regiments stopped, as the enemy had abandoned it just in time to escape the net so skilfully set for his capture.
At Peake’s Station orders were received from General Porter for the Twenty-second Massachusetts to move up the railroad, several hundred feet of which they had previously torn up. All other regiments, including the Forty-fourth and the battery below, were ordered to move with all possible rapidity, as it was expected that much more sharp fighting remained to be done ahead. They had but just moved forward when a mounted cavalry picket in hot haste rode up and informed General Martindale that a large force of rebels had arrived by rail, and was already hurrying on for an attack upon the rear, evidently hoping to get us between two fires. The Second Maine regiment, in the rear, was faced about, and stationed at the point where the rebel attack was expected. But they advanced under shelter of the timber. The Forty-fourth New York, Colonel Stryker, was ordered to the left of Martin’s battery; the Twenty-fifth regiment, attending on the wounded, having been sent for, arrived and took up a position on the left of the battery, before which the rebels had already appeared. The Forty-fourth started to deploy in the woods to the left, with a view to protect one of the hospitals which was in that direction; but the enemy attacking our right flank made it necessary to have them recalled. They returned to their former position; and engaged their opponents vigorously.
The fight waxed hot and furious. Six rebel infantry regiments were in plain sight. Colonel Johnson was severely wounded, and soon after had his horse shot under him; Adjutant Houghton received a flesh wound in the leg, and Major Chapin of the Forty-fourth was severely wounded in the chest, and the leg. Adjutant Knox, and Lieutenant Fox were both wounded. The enemy pressed fiercely upon the Union lines; their fire was poured in with relentless fury, and their whole strength was put out to crush the patriotic force. But in vain, for though losing severely at every onslaught, the three heroic columns stood their ground with an unflinching bravery that has won for them the highest meed of praise. They would not yield an inch. Finally the Second Maine was out of ammunition, and Colonel Roberts appealed for a chance to charge with the bayonet.
During all the time this furious fight was raging the brigades in the advance were returning on the double-quick.
The Eighty-third Pennsylvania and Sixteenth Michigan were thrown in on the left. The Sixty-second Pennsylvania, Colonel Black, was sent into the timber on the left; the Ninth Massachusetts, Colonel Cass, was placed on the left of the Eighty-third. The Fourteenth New York relieved the Second Maine, and was joined by the Thirteenth New Jersey, from Colonel Warren’s brigade.