114 Southern Historical Society
than we had any idea of. To make this clearly understood, let us take a look on the map.
Lee and Grant were confronting each other at or near Spots\ 1- vania Courthouse, which is about thirty miles north of Hanover Junction. Hancock's Corps, the advance of Grant's army, was ordered, on the igth of May, to move by the left flank towards Bowling Green. He reached Guinea Station, about ten miles from Spotsylvania Courthouse, on the night of the 2oth, and on the morn- ing of the 2ist, at 10 o'clock, Torbert's Division of cavalry, of Han- cock's Corps, struck Kemper's men at Milford Station, the infantry being close in its rear.
Hancock's report of that day says Torbert's Division of cavalry succeeded, after a stubborn fight, in driving a part of Kemper's Bri- gade from the station where they were heavily entrenched. The statement as to being entrenched is not true. We had no time to entrench ourselves, nor had we any idea of having to fight Han- cock's Corps when the action began.
A FORTUNATE HALT.
After driving us from Milford Station Hancock halted.
This halt was fortunate for General Lee, for had Hancock pushed on, there can be but little doubt that he would have reached the Junction first and thus been enabled to select advantageously choice of position.
The causes which brought about this halt of the enemy's advance, may be more fully explained when we learn the fact, that Corse's brigade which had been left at Penola Station, marched up from there and reached a point called the Poorhouse Field, which was about a mile south of the position occupied by us, on the range of hills west of the Mattapony river on which we formed in line after crossing the river. General Corse also formed his brigade into line of battle and seeing the enemy in his front was aoout to charge them when he was informed that the whole of Hancock's corps were in his front. After holding this position until sundown, Corse marched his men to the rear, where they fell into line with Swell's corps early the next morning. We were at that time entirely ignorant of Corse's men being so near to us, otherwise we should have joined in wkh them, near where they fell back. As it was, each command acted independently of each other, but obtained an object undreamed by them at that time bringing Grant's army to a halt.
The enemy after crossing the river, seeing the hills in their front
