the corps
of both armies being, at different times, engaged. Wilson's cavalry
division gained possession of the Court-House, but, being unsupported,
withdrew. May 9th, the enemy was pressed and his position developed.
Two divisions of the Ninth Corps, finding the enemy on the
Fredericksburg road, drove him back and across the Ny River with
some loss. This day, Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the
Sixth Corps, while on the advance line looking for the enemy's
position, was killed by a sharp-shooter. He had the confidence
and love of his corps.

Sheridan, with the cavalry, cut loose from the main army on the
9th, with orders from Meade to move southerly, engage, whenever
possible, the enemy's cavalry, cut railroads, threaten Richmond,
and eventually communicate with or join the Union forces on James
River. He passed around the enemy's right and destroyed the depot
at Beaver Dam, two locomotives, three trains of cars, one hundred
other cars, and large quantities of stores and rations for Lee's
army; also the telegraph line and railroad track for ten miles,
and recaptured some prisoners. On the 10th of May he crossed the
South Anna at Ground Squirrel Bridge, captured Ashland Station, a
locomotive and a train of cars, and destroyed stores and railroad
track, and next day marched towards Richmond. At Yellow Tavern he
met the Confederate cavalry, defeated it, killing its commander,
General J. E. B. Stuart, and taking two pieces of artillery and
some prisoners, and forcing it to retreat across the Chickahominy.
On the 12th Sheridan reached the second line of works around
Richmond, then recrossed the Chickahominy, and after much hard
fighting arrived at Bottom's Bridge the morning of the 13th. On
the next day he was at Haxall's Landing on the James River, where
he sent off his wounded and recruited his men and horses. On the
24th he rejoined the Army of the Potomac at Chesterfield, returning
_via_ White House on the Pamunkey.(14)

Fighting at and around Spotsylvania Court-House continued during
the 10th and 11th, and on the 12th Hancock's corps assaulted the
enemy's centre, capturing Major-General Edward Johnson, with General
George C. Steuart and about three thousand men of his division.
On advancing to the enemy's second line of breastworks, Hancock
met with desperate resistance at what is known as the salient, or
"_dead angle_." This was the key to Lee's position, and concentrating
there his batteries and