Battle of Yellow Tavern

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For an hour after Stuart was carried from the field, Sheridan kept up the pressure on the Confederate line. While Custer and Chapman continued to drive Lomax’s brigade back, Gibbs and Devin hammered at Wickham’s line. Conceding the hopelessness of the situation, Lee pulled his entire division back four miles, retiring across the north fork of the Chickahominy River to regroup. Brushing aside what remained of Lee’s shattered division, Sheridan led his force southward toward the Mechanicsburg Turnpike and Richmond’s outer line of defense, which he reached that evening. I could capture Richmond, if I wanted, but I can’t hold it, he told one of his officers. It isn’t worth the men it would cost. Instead, he suddenly wheeled his force eastward. He planned to cross the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, placing the river between himself and any Confederate pursuers. After making their way downstream, the Union troops would then recross the river and join Butler’s army at Haxall’s Landing on the James River, four miles south of Richmond. There, they could be resupplied with food and ammunition, both of which were nearly exhausted.

Sheridan’s movement was hindered by Confederate torpedoes (buried artillery shells equipped with tripwires to serve as land mines) laid along his intended route. After suffering several casualties, the Union commander used two dozen Confederate prisoners to locate and disarm the shells. His progress was also slowed by a rainstorm so violent that it toppled the steeple of St. John’s Church in Richmond. The drenched Federals did not reach Meadow Bridge until daylight, by which time they found that both the highway and railroad bridge had been set on fire by Confederates. Although most of the flames had been doused by the previous night’s downpour, the bridge needed some reflooring, which was begun after dismounted troopers from Custer’s brigade dashed across to secure the far bank.

As Sheridan had anticipated, Lee’s and Gordon’s reorganized cavalry and Bragg’s infantry caught up with his force and attacked his flanks and rear. Elements of Brig. Gen. David M. Gregg’s 2nd Division and Wilson’s 3rd Division held them off while troopers from Merritt’s division joined Custer’s men in repairing the bridge. Just as the repairs were being completed, Gordon led another charge against Gregg’s rear guard, but the attack faltered when Gordon was cut down. At that point, Sheridan’s three divisions made their way across the bridge and proceeded without further incident to link up with Butler at Haxall’s Landing. After four days of rest and replenishment, Sheridan’s cavalry set out to rejoin the Army of the Potomac.

Sheridan’s foray had not been without cost-in all, he lost 625 men killed, wounded or missing. But he had done great material damage, recovered nearly 400 Union prisoners and left about 300 Confederate prisoners with Butler. While their respective cavalry corps dueled at Yellow Tavern, the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia were locked in a far bloodier struggle at Spotsylvania Court House. On the night of May 12, as fighting at the Confederate salient called the Mule Shoe reached its peak, General Robert E. Lee received a telegram. For several moments he was speechless, then he said to his staff. Gentlemen, we have very bad news. General Stuart has been mortally wounded. Later that night, Lee remarked, I can scarcely think about him without weeping.

While Lee wept, Jeb Stuart’s agonizing, six-hour journey ended at the home of his brother-in-law, Dr. Charles Brewer, on Grace Street in Richmond. The telegraph lines out of Richmond had been cut by the Federals, but eventually a message sent via Lynchburg and Gordonsville reached Stuart’s wife at Beaver Dam Station around noon on May 12. Flora Stuart, her children and two male escorts left by private train for Richmond an hour later. Their ride ended at Ashland, where the tracks had been torn up by Sheridan’s men, but some wounded Confederate cavalry officers insisted on putting their ambulance at Flora’s disposal so that she and her party could resume their sad trek. Meanwhile, Stuart was making thorough arrangements with Henry McClelIan as to the disposal of his belongings. Artillery was heard outside the city, and McClellan told Stuart that it was Sheridan moving east down the Chickahominy, with Fitz Lee’s troopers endeavoring to trap him. God grant that they may be successful, said Stuart, but I must be prepared for another world.

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Tags: 19th Century, America's Civil War, American Civil War, Historical Conflicts

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