At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of his artillery and trains.

In this last encounter, General Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made his way into our lines.

General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming in safely on our left and rear.

The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained.

It severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several weeks.
With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank of the James River and joined the force General Butler had there.