Headquarters Army Of
The Potomac, March 2, 1864.
We have all been in a state of excitement about our recent
cavalry raids. On the 28th, I moved the Sixth Corps and part of the Third to
Madison Court House, threatening the enemy's left flank. At the same time
Custer, with fifteen hundred cavalry and two pieces of artillery, was sent to
Charlottesville to try and cut the Gordonsville and Lynchburg Railroad near
that place, where there is an important bridge over the Ravenna River. Custer
got within two miles of the bridge, but found it too strongly guarded. He,
however, skirmished with the enemy, destroyed and captured a great deal of
property, took fifty prisoners, and on his return cut his way through a large
cavalry force, commanded by Jeb. Stuart, that had been sent to cut him off,
thus being quite successful. In the meantime, while the enemy's attention was
fully occupied with Custer, and they were under the impression I was moving in
that direction, Kilpatrick, with four thousand cavalry and six guns, at night
crossed the Rapidan on our left and pushed straight for Richmond. He fortunately
captured the picket on the Rapidan, thus preventing early intelligence of his
movement being communicated. He left Sunday night, and the last we have heard
of him was Monday afternoon, when he was within thirty miles of Richmond. Of
course you can imagine our anxiety to know his fate. If he finds Richmond no
better guarded than our information says it is, he will have a great chance of
getting in and liberating all the prisoners, which is the great object of the
movement. God grant he may, for their sakes and his.
I suppose you have seen by the papers that I have been
confirmed as a brigadier general in the regular army.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 168-9
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