Taken from the Grand Army Scout & Soldiers Mail Oct. 25, 1884 edition

A Raid near Richmond

Cutting Lee's Communications during the Gettysburg Campaign

by Wm. J. Shirley Co. G, 11th Pa. Cavalry

11th Pa. Cavalry with a howitzer battery and, the 2d Battalion of Mass. Cav., under Col. S. P. Spear, of the 11th and a division of several thousand infantry, and four batteries of rifled field artillery, under command of General Getty, started from camp above White House, on July 1, 1863. We crossed the Pamunkey on the railroad bridge, and the 11th Pa. Cavalry took the advance. We met no enemy until we came in sight of King W William Court House, when we were fired on by a strong picket-guard, but these we at once charged, killing one and taking six prisoners. We also found a lot of shot guns, sabres, etc., in the court house and other buildings. It was the warmest and most sultry day that I ever experienced in Virginia. There were some new troops among the infantry, and a great many became sunstruck, some fatally.

We encamped 18 miles from Richmond, and put out a strong picket. We captured a few Confederates that night.

On the morning of the 2d of July, we broke camp at 6 o'clock, and marched slowly, taking two Confederate wagons and a few prisoners, and encamping in a large wheatfield on the fine farm of George Taylor.

July 3rd in the infantry and artillery came up and encamped in the same field.

On the morning of July 4th the command left Taylor's farm at 8 o'clock, and moved past Hanover Court House to Hanover Junction and attacked the enemy. Two companies--G and M, of the 11th Pa. Cavalry-- were moving in the darkness to the left, and through the woods and over rough woods, got in sight of Ashland Station, in the enemy's rear, about 2 o'clock a.m., moving so quietly that they captured the telegraph operator in his office before he had time to dispatch our arrival. We found a large amount of flour and salt, bridge timber, a stock-yard, and also three trains of cars, which were soon got in readiness for burning, by pouring a trail of oil through and over them, and a moment after the match was struck there was a fearful blaze. We could see the whole town plainly, and also the bayonets of the enemy who were coming on the double quick, but too late to save their property. I learned afterward that the Confederate government lost over $1, 000, 000 dollars worth of property by this fire.

On the fifth we fell back to our infantry, and marched back past Hanover Court House, crossing the Pamunkey and burning the bridge.

July 6 we reached King William Court House and encamped. We had cut the railroad in Lee's rear, had about one hundred prisoners, some horses and mules and Confederate wagons.