Location of Battle in relation to Richmond |
Yellow Tavern
11 May, 1864
(Prelude to the battle of North Anna)
On May 8th,1864 during a heated exchange, General Sheridan quipped to General Meade that he could whip J.E.B. Stuart if given the chance. When Grant learned of Sheridan's boast he decided to let him try. On the 9th of May, 12,000 blue clad troopers left Spotsylvania Court House riding south toward Richmond. That evening they razed Beaver Dam Station on the Virginia Central Railroad. Crossing the South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge, Ashland Station was captured on the morning of the 11th. Learning that Stuart was massing his cavalry at Yellow Tavern, Sheridan proceeded there.
Location of Battle in relation to Richmond |
Where Yellow Tavern once stood |
Chain of command for Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry
Confederate Cavalry Corp, General JEB Stuart commanding
Fitzhugh Lee's Division, Major General Fitzhugh Lee commanding
Wickham's Brigade, Brigadier General Williams C. Wickham commanding
2nd Virginia Cavalry, Colonel Thomas T. Munford commanding.
Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, 1st Lieutenant James L. Jones commanding
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Attempting to counter Sheridan's move, Stuart detached General Fitzhugh Lee's division to harass the Union rear. Stuart then rode south with Lomax's and Wickham's brigades, hoping to get ahead of Sheridan. On May 11, after riding day and night, the exhausted Confederate troopers reached the outskirts of Richmond before Sheridan. At the crossroads of Yellow Tavern around 8:30 a.m., the two Confederate brigades (approximately 4,000 men) formed a line in two wings and assumed a blocking position. Wickham, took up a position west of Telegraph Road, facing south. Lomax, formed at a right angle, facing west.
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Wickham's initial position.
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Lomax's initial position
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Approximately 9 A.M, Merritt's Division consisting of Gibbs', Devin's and Custer's brigades attacked from Mountain Road . Gibbs' 6th Pennsylvania slammed into the picket's of Lomax's 6th Virginia near Brook and Telegraph roads. Custer's Brigade moved to the left of Gibbs and Devin moved to the Gibbs' right. Custer's 5th and 6th Michigan (both dismounted ) probed toward the ridge were they encountered Wickham's brigade to left and Lomax to the front. With its left flank turned by Devin's Brigade, Lomax's Brigade was forced to fall back . Pate's 5th Virginia Regiment , following Stuart's orders to "Hold the position at all costs" was torn apart by fire from Gibbs to its front and Devin to its left. As Pate shouted "one more round boys, then we'll get to the hill" a bullet crashed through his skull and he fell lifeless. 200 of these men stood their ground and were captured. The remnants of Lomax's brigade fell back to a position on Wickham's left. Meanwhile Custer was forced to fallback from the flanking fire of Wickham's brigade and the Baltimore Light Artillery. With their flanks now exposed Devin and Gibbs also retired. |
Approximate position of Lomax's Brigade on Whickhams left
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| Despite being outnumbered Stuart was confident he
could hold his position along the ridge. He felt that Gordons Infantry would be up soon
and together they would crush Sheridan's forces. On the Union side, while Gibbs and Custer
regrouped , Sheridan sent the 17th Pennsylvania and 6th New York w/ several guns of
Willston's horse artillery south to reconnoiter. Two miles south, they ran into Richmond's
outer earthworks and easily overwhelmed the sparse defense. Advancing toward Richmond
Devin reported to Sheridan "The bells could be heard ringing . locomotives whistling,
and general alarm and bustling seemed to prevail in Richmond".
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Richmond outer defense attacked by Sheridans Cavalry 11 May, 1864..
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Sign describing earthworks below Yellow Tavern on either side of Brook Road.
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Sheridan decided to renew the attack . He now had two divisions against Stuart's two brigades. At 4 P.M, as the Union attacked, a thunderstorm broke out. Custer's 1st and 7th Michigan along with the 1st Vermont of Chapman's Brigades attacked in a mounted charge, up the road heading straight for the Baltimore Light Artillery. The rest of Chapman's and Custer's brigades deployed dismounted, in front of Whickham, with Heaton's Battery in support. On Custer's right, Gibbs assaulted Lomax.. Stuart, seeing his artillery in danger, deployed company K(consisting of 70 Marylanders of the 1st Virginia regiment) to support the Baltimore guns. The 6th Virginia charged Custer's mounted regiments and drove them back ."The dull sound of sabers descending upon hapless heads could be heard amid the rattle of carbines and the crackling of pistols..." Amid the mayhem Stuart fired at fleeing union troopers. One of them was a 48 year old dismounted trooper, Pvt. John Huff of the 5th Michigan.He saw the plumed Confederate officer and fired his pistol. The bullet lodged in Stuarts abdomen and he reeled, mortally wounded, in the saddle. In seventeen days, Huff himself would be killed in the fight at Haw's Shop. |
Memorial to Major General J.E.B. Stuart
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Plaque on memorial
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As aides led the wounded Stuart to the rear, Fitzhugh Lee assumed command. Though the artillery had been saved, Union numbers began to tell and both Confederate brigades withdrew.Clearly the victor, Sheridan decided to skirt Richmond and rejoin Grant. Stuart was transported to a relative's house in Richmond. At 7:30 P.M 12 May ,1864, after a prayer, Stuart uttered "I am going fast now, I am resigned, God's will be done". With that, the Commander of Confederate Cavalry, A.N.V. breathed his last. |
