Today in History:

552 Series I Volume XXXVI-II Serial 68 - Wilderness-Cold Harbor Part II

Page 552 OPERATIONS IN SE.VA. AND N.C. Chapter XLVIII.


HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 8, 1864.

Major-General HUMPHREYS,
Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Major-General Sheridan's headquarters will be at Silver's to-night, on the plank road to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. If the general should again make a change he will send you word. The general desires to know where army headquarters will be to-night.

E. B. PARSONS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 8, 1864-10 p.m.

General SHERIDAN,
Commanding Cavalry Corps:

The major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate your available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and such supply trains as are filled [exclusive of ambulances] proceed against the enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing, on the James River, there communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies, and return to this army. Your dismounted men will be left with the train here.

A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Todd's Tavern, May 8, 1864-1 a.m.

General TORBERT or MERRITT,
First Cavalry Division:

You will immediately move your command beyond Spotsylvania Court-House, placing one brigade for the present at the Block house, picketing the roads approaching the Court-House, and disposing the other two so as to cover the trains that will be north of the Ny River, between that and the Orange plank road. It is of the utmost importance that not the slightest delay occur in your opening the Brok road beyond Spotsylvania Court-House, as an infantry corps is now on its way to occupy that place.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General, Commanding.


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 8, 1864- 1 a.m.

Brigadier-General GREGG,
Commanding Second Cavalry Division:

You will immediately move your division to the vicinity of Corbin's Bridge and watch all the roads approaching from Parker's Store, and as soon as General Hancock has occupied Todd's Tavern you will send a force on the Brock road to notify General H. of the approach of the enemy.

GEO. G. MEADE,

Major-General, Commanding.


Page 552 OPERATIONS IN SE.VA. AND N.C. Chapter XLVIII.