A.. Pleasonton to George B. McClellan, August 20, 1862

GENERAL:

Having finished the march from Haxall’s to this place, I have the honor to submit the following report of the service performed by my command as the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac in covering the movement of the army from Harrison’s Landing to Williamsburg from the 14th to the 19th instant:

After withdrawing from Malvern Hill, on the morning of the 7th instant, I received orders to hold the Haxall position to the last extremity, and having no infantry, General Sumner very kindly sent me the Irish Brigade, which I posted in the woods to the right of my position and in support of the batteries, at that time three in number, viz, Robertson’s, Benson’s, and Hazzard’s. The cavalry brigade was posted as follows: The First and Sixth Cavalry on the left, near the river, on a line with the batteries and with the gunboat Port Royal, whose guns could sweep our entire front, while the Highth Hlinois and Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry were in rear and to the left of the batteries in support of them.

My pickets were 14 miles to the front, in sight of the enemy’s pickets on the opposite side of Turkey Creek, and extended some 3 miles from right to left. Besides this line of pickets, frequent patrols passed up and down all the roads leading from the front and right to my position. The enemy kept a strong picket force on Turkey Creek of cavalry and infantry, and made several attempts to drive my pickets back from their position; but knowing the great importance of not falling back at that time, my line was re-enforced and always maintained itself. In these affairs 1 or 2 men were wounded every day.

On the 14th instant instructions were received from you to send the Irish Brigade and Hazzard’s battery to their respective commands, and also to extend my pickets on the first and second Long Bridge roads and on the Middle road. These instructions were immediately carried into effect, and left my command composed of the Second Brigade of Cavalry and the two Horse Batteries, Robertson’s and Benson’s. My line of pickets and scouts then covered a distance of some 15 miles, having numerous parties 4 and 5 miles out on all the roads leading into Harrison’s Landing and the line of march of the army.

It was not possible for the enemy to have advanced in any direction without timely warning being given.

To confuse the enemy, I desired Captain Morris, of the Port Royal, to shell Malvern Hill, where they were posted. He complied with my request, and with such effect the rebels became much alarmed, doubled their pickets, and showed themselves in force on the hill, evidently expecting our sudden advance. Having sueceeded in this, Captain Morris quietly fell back to his position on the left of my line.

In the afternoon of the 15th Capt. John Rodgers, of the U.S. steamer Galena, arrived, and generously offered me any assistance I might want, and it wes arranged that he should receive and keep in custody all persons in that neighborhood who could give information to the enemy of our movements.

Having then been notified that the last army corps had left Harrison’s Landing on the morning of the 16th, I caused the timber to be slashed from the river to a point beyond the Haxall road, thus obstructing any passage for the enemy’s artillery, and withdrew the main body of my command after dark to the position at Clarke’s, near the second Long Bridge road. My pickets in front of Haxall’s were not withdrawn until after midnight, and then took up a position west of our lines at Harrison’s Landing, the reserves being held within the lines. The pickets on the first and second Long Bridge roads remaining in position, some of the enemy’s vedettes came down the first Long Bridge road that night, but retired when fired upon.

Early on the morning of the 17th I sent a squadron of cavalry down the Charles City road to Jones’ Bridge, thence down the Chickahominy to Barrett’s Ferry. This squadron saw no signs of the enemy, and

joined the command at Barrett’s Ferry on the morning of the 18th.”

Notice having been received that the last of the army was within 6 miles of Barrett’s Ferry, 1 moved my command from Clarke’s at 6 p.m. on the 17th, leaving the pickets and reserves to follow after dark, On the march from Charles City Court-House to Barrett’s Ferry large numbers of stragglers from the different corps of the army were arrested and brought forward, and although the stragglers kept coming in for twenty-four hours after I had crossed the Chickahominy, yet with the assistance of the gunboats at the ferry, very few, if any of them, were left on the opposite shore.

About 4.30 o’clock in the afternoon of the 17th the enemy appeared in force from Haxall’s to the plain in front of our lines to the west of Harrison’s Landing. Both infantry and cavalry were seen. One squadron of the latter charged our pickets and succeeded in severely wounding one of the men. On hearing this I dispatched two squadrons to support the picket, and brought off the wounded man in an ambulance.

The enemy made no further demonstration, and after dark all my pickets and reserves were withdrawn to our position, 5 miles from Barrett’s Ferry. A rear guard of one squadron was left some 5 or 6 miles to the rear to slash the timber across the road through the woods. At 10 o’clock a.m. on the 18th my whole command had crossed the Chickahominy, having successfully executed the orders of the majorgeneral commanding with the loss of but 1 man wounded.

On the 19th the command marched from Barrett’s Ferry to Yorktown, by the way of Jamestown and Williamsburg. The road by the way of Jamestown to Williamsburg is an excellent one; but little longer than the direct road, and with much less dust.

In conclusion, general, permit me to recommend to favorable notice the important services that have been rendered by the folowing-named officers, viz: Col. D. McM. Gregg and Major Huey, of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Majors Clendenin and Beveridge, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry; Capts. William Sanders and Gregg, Sixth Regular Cavalry ; Captain Robertson, Second Artillery, and Lieutenants Wilson and Hains, of the same regiment.

The efficiency of the Signal Corps was fully shown in the reconnaissance at Malvern Hill, and the subsequent service with the command of Lieutenants Clark and Camp, of that corps, entitle them to special consideration for advancement in their branch of the profession.

My staff officers—Capt. A. J. Cohen, assistant adjutant-general; Lieutenant Ward, Sixth Cavalry, and Lieutenant Granger, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, aides-de-camp; Virst Lieutenant Spangler, Sixth Cayalry, acting brigade quartermaster, and Lieut. J. A. Hall, brigade commissary—were at all times active, intelligent, and energetic in the discharge of their duties.

I respectfully request of the general commanding that an appreciation of the gallant bearing of the men of this command may be evinced by permitting the following-named regiments and batteries to inscribe on their colors “Malvern Hill, August 5, 1862:” The Sixth Regular Cavalry, the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Robertson’s battery of Horse Artillery, Benson’s battery of Horse Artillery. These were the only troops that were actively engage@ with the enemy on that day; the only troops that followed in pursuit, and

whem that were the last to leave the field when the army was withdrawn. They victoriously closed the fighting of the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula. Iam, general,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,