Battle of Williamsburg

As the May 5, 1862, Battle of Williamsburg raged along the Bloody Ravine and in front of Fort Magruder, the Union commander sought to turn the flank of the Confederate defenses. Gen. Joseph Hooker was convinced that the right flank was unoccupied and sent an engineer officer, Lt. Miles D. McAlester, to scout the Confederate position. McAlester reached Quarterpath Road near Allen’s Wharf and discovered that Redoubt 1 here at Tutter’s Mill Pond indeed appeared empty. He also reported that Quarterpath Road was an excellent approach to the Confederate rear. When Hooker and Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelmen received this news, they dispatched Gen. William H. Emory with his cavalry brigade to Quarterpath Road, ordered him to await reinforcements and then lead an assault on the flank.<br><br>The 3rd and 4th Maine Infantry regiments, consisting of approximately 2,000 men, joined Emory near Allen’s Wharf, where the rain-soaked advance began at 3:30 p.m. When Emory reached Whitaker’s Mill Pond, he sent part of Col. William W. Averell’s cavalry up Quarterpath Road to reconnoiter. The patrol reported that it found Redoubt 1 unoccupied, but after <i>&#8220;considerable deliberation,&#8221;</i> Emory decided to call off the advance because of <i>&#8220;the nature of the locality, the lateness of the hour, and the want of a guide.&#8221;</i> While an attack could have turned the Confederate flank here, the Williamsburg engagement was already coming to its dramatic conclusion at Redoubt 11 (located in York County near New Quarter Park).