BATTLE OF LEE'S MILL, VA., JULY 30, 1864
BY REV. W. H. DOWLING.

After the battle of Trevillian, June 11th and 12th, 1864, nearly sixteen hundred of Butler's Brigade were dismounted in consequence of dead and disabled horses. Some of these were temporarily organized into a dismounted battalion. Lieutenant Robert Aldrich, now a circuit judge, was placed in command of same, and sergeants acted as captains. My company was stationed at Blanchard Breast Works, near Lee's Mill, about seven miles southeast from Petersburg.

July 30th, 1864, was an eventful day; Grant's Great Crater explosion aroused the whole army just before the dawn. General M. C. Butler had planned for a foraging expedition on the left of and around Grant's line. He sent seven companies of the Sixth Kegiment and my dismounted company to guard the crossing at Lee's Mill, while he, with the Fourth and Fifth regiments, protected his wagon train several miles away. Simultaneously General Gregg had planned to make a raid to Weldon, N. C, and extend the same for purposes of harassment in the rear of Lee's army, and was to cross the swamp at Lee's Mill, which was unguarded the day before, but by ten o'clock Colonel Miller's eight companies were on the ground. The mill dam had been cut and fish in great abundance were fluttering in the pond. While bivouacking we broiled some of these on ramrods in pine top fires; feasted without bread or salt, filled our canteens and were ready for the fray. About 12:30 o'clock the firing of pickets told us "The Yankees are coming." Quickly we were in line— about four hundred men—my company forming, by Miller's order, on the extreme right on the mill race and run of the swamp. Gregg's whole division was in front of us, but realizing the importance and responsibility of the position, we were determined to hold the place at all hazards, and we resisted the severe attack as Spartans at Thermopylae pass. The battle raged nearly two hours, when a lull occurred. We knew that strategy was taking place, and I sent the brave Pat Jennings and another vidette to scout to our right, but these did not return. The enemy had completely flanked us and were firing upon us from the front, right and rear. We fell back to the edge of the old field, firing rapidly on all sides. The situation seemed desperate, but we stood like the "Stonewall brigade." The blue columns were moving to close around us, our men were falling thick and fast by the enemy's bullets, but we never thought of surrendering. Miller ordered "retreat," a desperate effort was made to obey through the only open gap, which escape would have been impossible, but just then a cyclone of musketry struck the flanking enemy and stopped their "wild career." General Butler had arrived with his brigade, first made a mounted charge, then dismounted, saved the day, held the ground, and Miller's party got out all right.
Next morning Gregg was gone, leaving only a "wreck behind" —a similar experience to that which Hampton had given him at Trevillian a few weeks before.

A Northern history, referring to this battle, says: "General Gregg had started to Weldon, N. C, but finding Butler's cavalry at Lee's Mill, he drove them off, watered his horses and decided to go back."

Butler and His Cavalry pp. 301-302

The facts are that he may have watered his horses, but we are sure—Butler made him go back.