Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/523

 522 Southern Historical Society Papers.

THE CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT.

We give first the following official reports :

FROM GENERAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE

HAMPTON.

In the beginning of the spring of 1864 the enemy made an expedi- tion, which may be regarded as the beginning of operations in the last campaign. This was the attempt made by Kilpatrick, with a heavy body of cavalry, to capture Richmond. As my command was called into service on this occasion, I begin my narrative of active operations of my division by inserting the official report which was sent in by me at that time. Before doing this, however, the following letter, which throws some light on the movements, is given:

HEADQUARTERS, March 6th, 1864.

GENERAL, In advance of the report that I shall make, I write to suggest some considerations which have occurred to me. In the first place, my observations convinced me that the enemy could have taken Richmond, and in all probability would have done so, but for the fact that Colonel Johnson intercepted a dispatch from Dahlgren to Kilpatrick, asking what hour the latter had fixed for an attack on the city, so that both attacks might be simultaneous. Kil- patrick had said on his retreat that with Butler's force he could and would take the city. I regard the force to defend Richmond inade- quate as at present located; and if a determined and concentrated attack is made, grave apprehensions of the result are to be enter- tained.

But if Kilpatrick will not risk another attack, there are but two modes of egress from his present position, not, of course, including that by water. He may, under cover of a feint from the Peninsula, endeavor to pass by Hanover Courthouse, across Little Page Ferry, and thence to the Rappahannock; or he may cross into Gloucester, go to Urbanna, cross the river there and escape by the Northern Neck. A judicious disposition of a proper force of infantry can defeat either attempt to escape. The Mattadaquin and the Totopotomoy creeks, with very little work, would make most excellent defensive lines, where an enemy can be checked by a small force; and both of these creeks head near the railroad. A force distributed along the line of