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 /P KE-F^ C E.^ 
 
 In giving t^e sketches of these exploits to the public 
 from- the immediate scenes where they were acted, our 
 position jn the ranks necessarily limits our province, 
 individually, to the events confined to this TBrigade ; 
 • and where it was connected in the same ex],')cditions 
 with Stuart's other Cavalry. ' 
 
 Written,, as they. have been, in hurried moments and 
 .snatched intervals in camp, i\yc ask the vail of charity 
 over their imperiections. " ^^*-^^ 
 
^y-t^Btf-^X^t 
 
 » 
 
 # 
 
 FORMATION OF THE BRIGADE. 
 
 FIRST SKIRMItJlIES; 
 
 We propose to speak of the part this Brigade took in the 
 fiummer. Fall, and Winter Campaigns of 62, through Vir- 
 ginia and Maryland— including Stuart?'s daring and success-, 
 ful Kaid into the 8tate of Pennsylvania; and inEnru^Me's 
 rear after the Battle of Fredericksburg. 
 
 The Brigade was organized immediately after the iJat- 
 tles around Richmond, — comprisinoj the following Caval- 
 ry Regiments, all of which had acted simply as Regiments, 
 attached to different Infantry Corps, viz : "Cobb's Geors-ia 
 Troopers," (formerly of Cobb's Legion), 2d Regiment S.^C. . 
 Cavalry, (of Hampton's old Legion), the Cavalry of the 
 "Jeff. Davis Legion," (of Philips' Legion), the "1st Regi- 
 ment N. C. Cavalry," and the " 10th Regiment Virginia 
 Cavalry," * and a Battery of Horse Artillery, (from Hamp- 
 ton's old Legion), under Captain Hart, a galhnt and skill- 
 ful officer. 
 
 These different Regiments embodied the tiuwer of the 
 youth and manhood of the different States of Mississippi, 
 Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina,* Xorth Carolina, and 
 Virginia. An impulsive youth, most of them brought up 
 in the lap of luxury and ease — fresh from the eollege and 
 the schools. Men. of worth and standing, from the desk, 
 
 • This Kepinifiit was, in the first nf tin- \viut<»r, ti in>fcncJ lo another Brigade 
 jiiiH replnced I)y tlie let !>. C. Cavaln . 
 
the shop, the office, and the farm, had been traJB|rmed 
 into the hard}' and dashing trooper. ij^^B 
 
 The Brigade was placed immediately under tBf com- 
 mand of General Wade Hampton, of b. C.,^who had early 
 equipped and led to the field a veterafnp*-^gion, from' his 
 own chivalrous State : with which Tie had already demon- 
 strated his jiist claims to the chattcter of a skillful, brave, 
 cool, and daring officer ; worthyof the highest confidence, 
 which he now enjoys to ^he fullest degree in his com- 
 mand. 
 
 About the same time Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, that dashing 
 and daring officer, was created Chief of the Cavalrj' of the 
 Army of Virginia, including our Brigade. 
 
 The Brigade was immediately despatched to the outpost 
 of the Chickahominy, to picket and watch the movements 
 of lVIjjCl€llan, on his " new base " on the James; where he 
 lay for weeks, cowering under the lash Lee's army had so 
 vigorously plied upon him, in his inglorious attempt of 
 his " on to Richmond by way of the Peninsula." Our .ad- 
 vance lines encircliiig his "base " from the south bank ot 
 the Pamunkey to tlie north bank of the James, our right 
 resting on Malvern Hill. For several weeks the outposts 
 of each army lay quietly iii the face of each other, wittlout 
 anything beyond the usual routine of picket duty. Till 
 about the 1st of August, the monotony of our watchin^s 
 was relieved by the rattling of artillerj'' wagons, and the 
 tramp of horses, advancing from the direction of the " Fed- 
 eral Base," on that part of the lin'o held by the North Caro- 
 lina and Georgia Cavalry — the North Carolinians holding 
 the upper part of the line, at the junction of the Quaker 
 and Charles City roads ; and the Georgians th6 extreme 
 right, on Malvern Hill. The Nol'th Carolinians skirmish- 
 ed, at intervals, all through the night, with the 'enemy's 
 Cavalry. At day-break in the morning, Capt. Siler, with 
 a body of dismounted troopers, met their advance on the 
 Quaker City road, and after a\ sharp skirmisli, wounding 
 

 8eve5|||pf the enemy, they fell back i^oii their main body, 
 aiul advanced down a parallel road farther to our left, con- 
 verging into Malvern Hill. Here, in full force, moved on 
 tlieir grand army,*our Cavalry harrassiug and hanging on 
 their flanks. AVith shouts thGy made the \velkin ring as 
 tliey reinvested these old memorable heights ; and that mor- 
 ning's sun rose upon her slopes frowning with Federal guns 
 to clear the broad plazas around, and the hill-sides were 
 bristling with bayonets ; while the spade and the pick was 
 being busily plied, extending the old works of July 1st, 
 and erecting new ones. Our arm*y, about twelve miles 
 distant, was apprised of this sudden move, and were on 
 the qui live, and reached the vicinity cf the hill. A desul- 
 tory skirmish was kept up on the right, principally by the 
 Cavalry, till two o'clock, when the artillery was brought 
 up and opened, which wps met with a spirited response for 
 an hour and a half. The diftercut corps of our forces was 
 being brought up, couriers were seen hurrying in dashing 
 sji^ed from one command to another — every appearance 
 foreshadowed a comiuo- engagement, and that the bloody 
 scenes of July the 1st, was to be re-enacted upon this mem- 
 orable spot. Firing, on the part of the enemy, became 
 ^low, when a reconnoisauce, from the Georgia and North 
 Carolina Cavalr^^-was thrown out, driving in the enemy's 
 pickets and skirmishers, when the skirts of the hill, which 
 was occupied by the main body of the enemy, was found to 
 be vacated, and their last lines of Infantry were seen skulk- 
 ing off over the crests of the hills on the east, hurrying in 
 confusion to their gun-boats that lay in profusion a few 
 miles distant — our cavalry hanging on and pursuing them-" 
 to their anxious covering. Our loss was .only five killed 
 and wounded. The enemy's loss was 35 killed and wound- 
 ed, and .125 prisoners. Thus ended McClellan's skedad- 
 dle No. 2 from Malvern Hill. Doubtless the lesson taught 
 him there, four weeks before, had brought up unhappy as- 
 sociations, which could be relieved only by a promenade 
 
under the port-hol^ of bis favorite "craft " tha^^ saved 
 bini from the rebel grasp after bis seven da^^^nnd-a- 
 bout walk from Richmond ; or only to perform. the cele- 
 "brated strategy of a valiant French G^nertll, who 
 
 "Marched his men up the hill. 
 And niarclied them down again." 
 
 McCLELLAN VA'CATES HIS '-NEW BASE." 
 
 After this event our lines and the enemy's continued the 
 same. The intervening space between the two lines was 
 covered, by thick heavy pine and oJik timber. McClellan's 
 position was admirably chosen for concealed movements. 
 The country arOund in the bend of the James is, for the 
 most part, a level phiin,Avith gently rising hills as3'0U near 
 the banks of the River, ovcrsliadowed by tall heavy forest, 
 behind which the shrewd Yankee Oeneral had care^jjully 
 located and laid out his numerous camps. 
 
 With these natural advantageous surroundings to inter- 
 cept our watchings, the enemy commenced his grand 
 Hegira from the James, at Harrison's Landing (as their 
 prisoners and deserters say,) on Friday morning the 15th. 
 The first intimation our Cavalry had of it was on Saturday 
 night the 16th. Early -Sunday morning Gen. Hampton 
 ordered out the North Carolina Cavalry to make a recon- 
 noisance, under his immeJiate command. He advanced 
 cautiously in the direction of the enemy's camys : feeling 
 the way slowly as he approi^ched through the thick woods. 
 The outer camps were found to have been hastily and re- 
 cently deserted, leaving boliind tlieui a good quantity of 
 Commissary Stores. The next camps farther on were left 
 in a similar situation. Just as the sun was sinking — while 
 moving slowl}' down a gradmil descent, in An open space, 
 with a strip of heayj' timber in front, l)e^\ond which was 
 
9 
 
 seen iif^^ edgfi of a corn-field the enemy's pickets, (jen. 
 HamptdBlnmediately formed the regiment into separate 
 detachments, a squadron in each, preparatory to a charge. 
 Skirmishers were thrown out. The advance charged the 
 first post and after a sharp firing the pickets were driven 
 in. The enemy had drawn up his Cavalry beyond the 
 corn at the farther side of an open wheat field to receive 
 us. Gen. Hampton's clear calm voice rang out "charge 
 them." Sabres leaped from their Scabb&rds and the whole 
 Regiment, by squadrons went dashing through the stand- 
 ing corn up across the open field, but soon saw that the 
 " skedadliug" propensities of our enemies were predomi- 
 nant, by their hastily turning their backs in a precipitate 
 flight towards their only ark of safety, the cowardly cover- 
 in,^ of Yankee Gun Boats. The pursuit was continued on, 
 till within a mile of the Gun Boats, and here formed a line 
 of bgttleabout dark. The command quietly aw aited an 
 advance of the enemy's forces. Gen. McLaws' Division 
 bein^^n reserve in supporting distance, deeming that the 
 proximity of our presence" would certainly draw them out; 
 night wore on^ but nothing disturbed the quietude, save 
 the smuggled ringing of an occasional bell of the Gun 
 Boat fhat lay ofl: in the River. Sabres were finally returned ; 
 the men dismounted and lay down oh the bare ground 
 with bridle in hand, and slept for an hour or two. When 
 our scouts roturned, having ascertained that the enemy's 
 main body had gone, or in other words, had " changed his 
 base." . The Regiment was immediately set on in pursuit, 
 dashing over brakcn down bridges and through deserted 
 camps, and marching till nearly daj'-light, halted, and took 
 a few moments repose ; mounted again and took up the 
 pursuit. In passing through a deserted camp was descried 
 on a board pasted in a conspicuous place, written in a tol- 
 erable k'n'iblo liiuid the followinir iualc\'oleut notice. 
 
•lu 
 
 '■ Fare\\-ell Rebels, we leave you a while Uk yonv salu- 
 In'ious clime, and. if you follow us up, we j^ give 3'ou 
 u repetition ofWilliamsburg, Fair 0?iks, MMvauicsville, 
 Gain's Mill and Malvern ITill. We intend to conquer and 
 restore you to the Union yet. We will then hang Jeff. 
 Davis, Beauregard & Co., and. take jour men for a stand- 
 ing army to defend the Union for all time." 
 
 (Signed.) 1st ILLmOIS CAVALRY. 
 
 What a compliment the latter clause; as by -the time 
 they subjugate us, their skedadling army wont 'have 
 virtue enough to defend that glqrious old institution, and 
 have to intrust it to the *' ragged rebels," they so much 
 deride.' Recollect, at the commencement of the war that 
 same boastful spirit g^ave out, "That the nations of Eutope 
 may rest assured that Jeft. Davis & Co., would be swing- 
 ing from the battlement • at Washington, at least before the 
 4th of July. We spit upon a later and longer deferred 
 justice. Many sucli repetitions as .tbe above li|p been 
 given. And^ the boastful author and his conjurors of cop- 
 perheads may spit and continue to spit their venom to the 
 exhaustion of the last drop of blood in their vile carcasses, 
 before they attain the canaaii of their unholy wishes. An- 
 other ludicrous incident wo will mention. Parsing across 
 
 'road with an old sign-board pointing to Richmond 25 
 miles. On the same post, immediately underneath, was 
 affixed an old horse's jaw-bone, the opening pointing to 
 
 "Richmond, inscribed in fancy characters, "To Dixie, 25 
 miles, soon be there." An acknowledged monument of 
 derision : We would suppose that they had besought its 
 samsonic virtue to lead them victoriously to the long cov- 
 eted Capital of the Southern Philistines. But alas! their 
 cause was not the same that accompanied that victorious 
 weapon, that delivered God's chosen people from the thrall- 
 dom of Philistinic tyranny. 
 
11 
 
 The pursuit was kept up rapidly, till abo.ut noon, when 
 near CharJ|s City C. PL, sonic Cavalry was captured, and 
 also some teams. After scouting on the Charles City and 
 James River roads, it was .ascertained that the enemy's 
 main body was too far in advance to make any farther pur- 
 suit practicable. A halt was called and a scout was ordered 
 to McClellan's works at Coggin's and Maycock's points. In 
 approaching the last line of fortifications, it was ascertain- 
 ed that the evacuation was complete. Here was found an- 
 other deep exercise of Yaakee ingenuity and strategy. On 
 approaching, could be seen ofi those distant works, senti- 
 nels posted at regular iiitervals, with full equipments clear- 
 ly visible, but their stationary position finally betrayed 
 them; and upon closer examination it was found how nice- 
 ly they had duped us. The advance, however, relieved 
 them from their long stand, consigning their robust pro- 
 
 ' portions of rag aAd straw to the four winds, and appropri- 
 ating their other equipments to Confederate use. The 
 whol^ountry whose face a few days before swarmed with 
 Yankee soldiery, was nowriddenbf their hateful presence. 
 The only hostile manifestations was the occasional Gun- 
 boat patrolling the Jiiver. Over this once happy but now 
 forsaken country, the frightened birds began to fly ; and 
 farther up from the River could be seen families in carts 
 and wagons returning to their despoiled homes. Not- 
 withstanding the desolation that would meet them there, 
 they seemed cheerful and delighted at the idea of onco 
 more beholding the hare spot where their once happy asso- 
 
 ' ciatious were once wont to cluster. But what a sad scene 
 would await th^m, their residence dismantled, fences des- 
 troyed, every living domestic animal disappeared, growing- 
 crops laid waste, and not even a flower from the overtrod- 
 den beds to -welcome tbem back again. A people that can 
 be cheerful under such circumstances, are certainly imbued 
 wit^i principles of a cause that can never bo shaken from 
 its base. 
 
Here iuglgriously ended the last act in the Mraiua of the 
 Grifnd Napoleon's favorite Peninsula Route to Richmond. 
 Giving a most ample commentary upon the trite old 
 
 con]ilot. 
 
 " That he who figlitf and runs uway. 
 Will live to light another <iuy." 
 
 HAMPTOXS LEAD WITHDRAWS FROM THE 
 CHICKAHOMINY— PURSUES THE RET R BAT- 
 ING ENEMY FROM MAjS'ASSAS— ©ROSSES INTO 
 MARYLAND. 
 
 What a <3ontrast this juncture presented in our affairs. 
 Here, from the out-post below Richmond, our Cavalry had 
 been watching the movements of the enemy upon our 
 beleaguered capital ; but were soon to be transjm-ted by 
 the sudden rush of events — to be huHed against the 
 retreating columns of another portion of his over-confident 
 army, and to vidette. almost at the gates of his own capi- 
 tal. At Cedar Mountain, on August the 9th, Jackson's 
 unwearied columns met and victoriously thrust back the 
 immense columns of the braggart Pope; and on the 29th 
 and COth, on the- memorable plains of Manassas, his com- 
 bined forces were again defeated and routed by the mas- 
 terly strategy and energy of our Generals. All our 
 Cavalry division, except one brigade which was left on the' 
 out-post below Richmond, under the immediate command 
 of Gen. J. D. 13. Stuart, was actively engaged amid the?e 
 stirring scenes. In the meantime, we too, were withdrawn 
 from our lines, with our horses heads nortljiward, and by 
 forced marches, came up in time to join in the pursuit of 
 the enemy from the scene of his last disaster of the 30th. 
 Accordingly, o!;i the morning of the 2hd of September, 
 Hampton's fiesh trooper?, with n lart of EitzLee's brig- 
 
la 
 
 ade, with Hampton's Battery of Horse Artillery, were 
 sent on iu pursuit of the jvtreating enemy, under the 
 immediate command of our gallant' chieftain, Gen. Stuart, 
 smiling with a cunning satisfaotib'n as he dashed along at 
 our head. The column moved on in the direction of 
 Fairfax, C. 11. Wlieu within a f^w miles, turned directly 
 to the left, moving along a by-way down a little run 
 skirted by a range of thickly timbered hills. Winding 
 cautiously down this run under cover of the woods, the 
 column was crossed and were couched among the thick 
 timber on the hill-sides. Then a small recrtnnoitering 
 party was led by Gen. Stuart and Hampton" across the 
 hills to within a short distance of the Fairlix and Alex- 
 ander road, three miles above Fairfax, C. II. The ene- 
 my's Cavalr}'' was. discovered about a mile across an open 
 field in a strip of woods skirting the latter with thick 
 heavy timber on both flanks qf the field. The road lead- 
 ing from Fairfax was still beyond this strip of woods 
 on whichjt was presunied that the enemy's columns were 
 passing. A body of dismounted troopers from the 1st X. 
 C . Cavalry, under Capt. Siler, was sent forward through 
 tiie wood on tke right to fully ascertain this fact, and if 
 possible, to get in the rear and bag the Cavalry. At this 
 side of the field Generals Stuart, Hampton and stafip, 
 selected a point of observation on a little knob in the edge 
 of the wood on this side of the run. Here a little occur- 
 rence took place that came near costing. Gen. Hampton 
 his life. Gen. Stuart had laid down on a little pile of 
 timothy bay, and his wearied form was seeking a few 
 moments repose. Gen. Hampton was busily making 
 observations with his glass, when a tall, stalwart, dis- 
 mounted trooper, on the track of the party just passed, 
 with two old rusty horse pistols in one hand and an old 
 Mississippi rifle in the other, wiping the swoat from his 
 bronzed brow, turning earnestly up his deep expressive 
 blue eyes, panting for breath, accosted Gen. ITamjJtou; 
 
14 
 
 "Well Gineral, I'm u leetle bcliind. Did jee see Captiiv 
 Siler go along cross this way," continuing.' "Yeesee 
 Gineral, the Captin 's a monstrous good hand with a rifle, • 
 and when yee sent down thar for us, we started, every 
 feller Avith his gun, and me witli mine, and when we had 
 o-ot a smart chance up the hill from the boys behind, the 
 Captin tuck my ritie and told me to go back, and yee see 
 I had nuthin' but these two old fellers left, (exhibiting the 
 old horse pistols,^) and I had a mine to go on anyhow, but 
 I know'd they would not do at long taw, Altho''fhc 
 Captin 's a monstrous arood hand with 'a gun,- 1 can hold 
 one jest about as plnm as the common run. ■ And so you 
 see I run back and getlicrcd up this old rifle from one uv 
 the boys and that's how I cum to be behind," The Gene, 
 ral, smiling, replied, '-It don't matter, just stay here with 
 me, the Captain is gone too far for you to overtake him 
 now." But he still continued with the earnestness of a 
 true heart. " Gineral, jist pint out the course -and I kin 
 ketch up yit. I can t stand it to see the boys go imo a fra- 
 kus 'thoutbein' along with thom too." The General tak- 
 ing his gun, asked him if it was loaded. Ascertaining 
 that it was not, he handed it back, and ordered hira to 
 charge it with a good cartridge : and pointed out to him the 
 Yankee position on the farther side of the field, instruct- 
 ing him to go round cautiously through the wood on the 
 left, across the run, and creep up in the timber, and when 
 he heard his party attack on the other side he could have 
 a chance, should any run out that way ; and also to "find 
 a crossing for artillery over tlie run. He stealthily hur- 
 ried ofl with an carnestj determined tread. ■ Gen. Hamp- 
 ton, to satisfy himself as to a crossing, rode dirictly across 
 the field to the run, through a thick undergrowth of ivy 
 and laurel, to the point indicated to the scout, who came, 
 hurrying back in the meantime, and with an earnes' and 
 enquiring look asked for the General. , He was answered 
 by one of his aids that he Ind rode down there, (pointing 
 
where lie came trom). " AVhat was it ? ' '•'AVei" ec >ec 
 as I was down tbar slipiu.aloug thru the bushes, I lu^ars a 
 man a ri(Ten along on the tother ^side uv me. The bushes 
 was monstrous thick, and I jist could see the glimpsuv a 
 person, and so I'thought'he was after some devilment, so f 
 laid my old rifle by a tree, awaiten for him to show himself 
 a lectle pl#,iner. My b^ad was sot, and I was about to pull, 
 down,, as the bushes waved a leetle, and I cotched a plain- 
 er glimps uv his clothes. I thought they didn't look blue 
 enough to please mc,*and the hat, too, looked a leetle like 
 the Gineral'g old broad un, (Gen. Hampton wears a broad- 
 brimmed black felt hat, with a simple Palmetto device on 
 the undersi\le of the brim, as familiar to his men as his 
 face), and so I dropped my finger from the trigger. And 
 if it wasn't the Gineral nor none of our boys, I didn't want 
 to make any suspicion, and so yee see I jist slided out and 
 run up to see; and if not, then I'd go back and shell my. 
 bead'on him." In the meantime Gen. Hampton came 
 riding up fiom the same direction. With a smile of the 
 most serene satisfaction, accompanied by an anxious nod, 
 he added, ""Well, the Gineral is allers prowlin round to see 
 for himself ef things is fixed all right. But it's no joke, he 
 come as near as a gnat's heel of ketchin it that time. Lord 
 I would a hated it monstf'ously ef my rifle had tuck down 
 the good old chap ! " In the meantime, the Yankee Cav- 
 alry discovered the ruse, and skedaddled at the top of their 
 spee'd. Capt. Siler returned after making the necessary 
 recounoisance, ascertaining that the enemy's columns were 
 passing along a road from Fairfax C. H., about a mile and 
 a half distant, placing as on his flanks. Accordingly, 
 about 4 o'clock, p. m.. Hart's Battery of Horse Artillerv 
 was moved up from the woods and placed in position on 
 the highest hills that run up from"' the afore-mentioued lit- 
 tle run, and opened suddenl}' an,d furiously upon the un- 
 suspecting columns of the Yajikee army, which caused no 
 little dismav in their discomfitted rants. Mendinir their 
 
pace at every step,- the}- plunged on to get beyond the reach 
 of our murderous missiles that were crashing through their 
 ranks. Heavy columns of black smoke were to be seen 
 rising from their rear — evident signs of a commissary sac- 
 rifice. Our Horse Artillery continued a furious cannon- 
 ading, with good, effect, till nearly sunset; when the cav- 
 alry was sent on in pursuit — the North Carolina Cavalry in 
 adVance. "When opposite the Court House, the command 
 was separated, one part dashing down to the village, and 
 the otiier party dashing into tl e main road aboi-e, captur- 
 ing a considerable body of the enemy about a mile up this 
 road ; while a considerable batcli was sectired at the Court 
 House. The whole body then moved on up this road after 
 the retreating forces of the enemy* catching up batches of 
 prisoners all along the road. Night was now coming on. 
 The pursuit was nevertheless pushed on till about nine 
 o'clock, when one of those unfortunate occurrences took 
 place incident to night pursuits. Both sides of the road 
 was skirted by a dense, heavy timber. While moving on 
 downto'the foot of a hill, a heavy fire ot musketry was 
 suddenly poured dow^n into our ranks, from behind the 
 timber on both sides. This sudden rebuff caused the col- 
 umn to halt and lalter, Ijut the cool and encouraging tones 
 of Hampton braced them and was preparing for the charge 
 when their artillery, from an advantageous position opened 
 upon us, and were sweeping the road with shell and canis- 
 ter, while the wood from all sides seemed to be lighted up 
 by the flash of small arms, and to have attempted any 
 farther advance would have been Balacklava rushiress. 
 The command was wheeled about and drawn off orderly 
 about two hundred yards back from this position, and 
 were drawn up in an open field for an attack; but no 
 sooner than formed the enemy .'s iiring suddenly ceased. 
 A reconnoiterin'g party was sent out, who reported that 
 the enemy had moved off and were making good time up 
 the Al<3xaudria road. Gur loss in th(j affair was miracu- 
 
17 
 
 loufiiy sligiit. Any turtlier pursuit under tho circum- 
 stance of darkness and tlie superior advantages of au am- 
 buscade was dcoraed impracticable and the command was 
 withdrawn and bivuuaced for the night near by the road. 
 Early, next mch-niug the jDursuit was again taken up and 
 pushed on vigorously to within 5 rniles of Alexandria, cap- 
 turing several batches of prisoners. Then turned to the 
 left up the Drainsville Turn Pike, pursued the road a few 
 miles, then turned to the right— passing above Georgetown 
 bivouaced on the* banks of the Pbtomav-. Xext day scout- 
 ed hear Georgetown — where a body of Yankee cavalry- 
 were ejicountered, dispersed them after killing and captur- 
 ing a number. T^he next daj^ Sept. 5th, took up line of 
 march, passed through Drainsvillo on to Lecsburif. 
 
 CRO'SSING THE POTOMAC INTO MARYr.AND— 
 CAPTURIO OB POOLSVILLE— YANKEE SCOUTS- 
 CAPTURE IMPORTANT D1SPATCHES-O0R 
 CAVALRY RECAPTURE THEM— FIGHT IN 
 FREDERIOKTOWN— CATOCKTIK MOUNTAIN— 
 MIDDLETON— AND SOUTH MOUNTAIN. THE 
 BATTLE OF B00NSi30RO GAP, HARPER'S 
 IFERRY AND ANTIETAM. 
 
 In .approaching Leesburg many different corps of our 
 Array have halted 9 nd were lying in the vicinity. And 
 the immense clouds of dpst rising from the different roads 
 converging to that pomt from the South — indicated that 
 the others were on the '/za* m^e moving up. Our column 
 filed on past, and rested a few hour.s on the skirts of the 
 town. And just as the last rays of the sittingsun were siok- 
 iDg behind the western hills the advance was sounded and 
 the long line ot our cavalry moved on through tJie streets of 
 thi? ancient old Burgh — debouc!:ing to the right filed dow u 
 
the last crest of bills thatoverlyol^ the rotojnac, uud rested 
 on its banks just- above the bloody scenes where nearly 
 eleven months bctbrc the Ball's Bluft' tragedy was enac-, 
 ted. The conjectures as to our late reticent movements 
 were not set at rest. The Potomac was to be crossed— 
 splendid bands of music both from the V'irginia and Ma- 
 ryland side strucjcup and continued discoursing th'eir most 
 cnspiriting martial airs. The wearied and worn soldier 
 momentarily forgot his fatigue, as the rnbicon of his long 
 cherished hopes lay out before him. The mooti and stars 
 never shown more brightly on the placid rolling waters of 
 this classic stream. Tlioiigh many a heart- silently bout 
 with indefinite longings and sad forebodings; as one wouM 
 reflect that that, same bright moon would shine on strange- 
 ly contrasted scenes to this. Iler gentle rays were soon to 
 play into many a cold pale face — the gurgling waters alone 
 to hum the requiem". 
 
 The cr/ra|«vas without any interpretation, as our ad- 
 vance^had clpred the opposite banks of a small body of 
 cavalry that fled at their approach. The- march was pur- 
 sued without any obstacle to Toolsville some 8 miles from 
 the river; where our advance encountered an unsuspecting 
 body of Yankee cavalry, and after a sharp skirmish in the 
 streets succeeded in entirely routing and dispersing them 
 — killing, wounding and capturing thirty. Here the brig- 
 ade halted and bivouaced for the rest of the night; and 
 resumed the march 'early next morning, (Sep. 6th,) with 
 the I^orth Caaolina cavalry in the advance. After passing 
 through the towii of Jjurnsville bearing to the right of a 
 range of n^ountains known as the "Shugar Loaf Range;" 
 we were quietly pur.suing our cours.e alpng a by-way lead- 
 ing along the base of these mountains; when an alarming- 
 incident occurred that came well nigh affecting seri- 
 ously the ensuing Campaign. The government dispatches 
 containing the matter relative to the present campaign 
 upon which the Confederates had jui^t entered were eii- 
 
19 
 
 trusted to' a bearer in care^of our cavalry who with a cour- 
 ier had hicautiously rode on ahead qt" flie Advance Guard 
 a short distance, and were assailed bj. a small party of 
 Yankee cavalry springing suddenly upon them in the behd 
 of the road. Thcfb(3tirer and all the dispatches were cap- 
 tured — the courier succeeded in escaping back to the Ad- 
 vance Guard, wlio under Capt. Ruffin were led on in instant 
 pursuit, which was anxiously and vigorously kept up for 
 four miles, when the objects were suddenly overtaken being 
 only an officer and private of the Yankee signal corp^in ' 
 charge of the prisoner. Who strange. to say had not ex- 
 amined the pofllmanteau conspicuously appended to the 
 pommel of the saddle. They had Icisurly ca^ed at a farm 
 house on the road side. Xot dreaming that their quiet 
 would be so suddenly intruded upon. The officer, as the 
 affair turned out, being a romantic youth, w'hile on signal 
 duty on these mountains had signalized to Cupid, who had 
 exchanged his mischievous darts between him and the old far- 
 mer's daughter — a bouncing lass of "sweet sixteen" and 
 had doubtless called in his course to have a teie a teteto relate 
 the adventures of the morning to his lady-love. But he 
 found his romance broken upon as our dusty troopers 
 dashed up to the house and led him out from the cozy em- 
 braces of his mountain Delilah, who had ploughed so deep- 
 ly into his affections as to have shorne him ojf the bright 
 honors the ■ circumstance of such an important capture 
 would have awaited him from his sensational masters at 
 Washington. The weeping lass mingled her sobs with his 
 further mortification as Gen. Stuart who had just rode up, ' 
 inflicted the ri'ght of search upon his person extracting 
 something more than love documents; which was found to 
 be a matter of some military importance to us. After this 
 occurrence we pursued our march quietly on to the little 
 village of Urbanna, where Gen. Stuart and Hampton es- 
 tablished their Headquarters. From this point our lines 
 
 ran to the Potomac below Poolsvil|e. Hampton on the 
 
 /^ 
 / 
 
20 
 
 left and the other eavuhy ou the right pickottiug the dit- 
 ferent roads some distanec down towards Washington. — 
 Our lines here were repeatedly -and vigorously assailed by 
 . tho Yankee cavalry — especially that part held by the brave 
 •and gallant Fitz Lee. He was attacked-on two occasions, the 
 details of which we are unable to speak, b^t siUHcient to 
 say these veteran troopers gallantly repulsed them and held 
 ■ the line against overwhelming odds of the enemy. That 
 part of the line held by Gen. Hampton, was less in1,errup- 
 ted. However the enemy assailed that part of the line ou 
 th'emainWas>hiiigton r.oad late in the evening of the 10th, but 
 the timely reinforcements of the North an# South Carolina 
 cavalry they were inunediatcly driven off. 
 . In the mean tin^o our whole army having come up, halt- 
 ed and rested on the Monockaey River near Fredericktown 
 up to the 8th inst., and ha(J now- all passed on over the 
 Blue llidgo to play their programme in the capture t)f Har- 
 per's Ferry. And their flanks required n<> further protec- 
 tion from this quarter; the cavalry was accordingly drawn 
 in. The enemy was found to be m.oving up in several col- 
 umns, on the ditfcrcnt roads leading from Washington city, 
 and had advanced to within a few miles of Urbanna. Late 
 in the afternoon of the 11th the command movqd slowly oft' 
 from this point iu the face of the enemy; and reached 
 Fredericktown 9 miles distant and bivouaced.her« for the 
 night without any i-ntefruption. From the eminence oti 
 which Fredericktov, n stands the enemy's cavala^- was seen 
 early next morning up on our fear closely followed by his 
 Infantry and Artillery in solid column. 
 
 A detachuKnt of 150 men, under the immediate com- 
 mand of Gen. Hampton, was formed as a rear guard, 
 while the main body' and the trains moved out, filing to 
 the left, ou the Hagerstown tunipike. The, rear guard, 
 led by Hampton in person, met,- about noon, at the skirtn 
 of the town, the advance of a considerable body of Yan- 
 kee Cavalry, when a sharp hand to hand conflict ensued, 
 
21 
 
 which resulted in drivhig them back against their main 
 hoft}'. They were rallied and followed our little band, 
 who slowly rct'red, tiling to the left behind the corner, 
 wheeled about, and prepared td receive" the confident - 
 unsuspecting enemy, who came dashing on up to the 
 confer in fine stWe, led by a portly Colonel, mounted on 
 a pplendid black charger, encouraged by an occasional 
 wave of linen from some female unionist, or a flap from 
 some enthusiastic old shoemaker's^ apron ils he passed. 
 As he neared the corner, waving his sabre, he shouted, 
 *' Come on boys, let's give 'em h — 1." Hampton's little 
 band stood firm, as fair hands were streaming secession' 
 emblems from tlie^balconies and windows above. Our boys 
 dasl^ed at them at the corner, l^op, pop^went the pistols, 
 follow-ed by the clash of sabres. It was only momentary. 
 Cold steel had the usual cfi:ect on Yankee valor. They 
 soon broke, cowering before our little body, back to their 
 main force, who were then .advancing in rapid strides to 
 their support. Our pursuing party was leisurely drawn ofi". 
 In pursuing the last bod}' (|own the streets some cowardly 
 miscreant fired upon Gen! Hampton from a window as he 
 passed. Our loss was two killed, five wounded and miss- 
 ing. The enemy's loss was five killed, several wounded 
 and eight captured. Among the latter was their Colonel, 
 who" so gallantly led the charg.e. His capture was con- 
 nected with an act'of. individual courage and daring 
 worthy of record. As he was nearing the corner, at the 
 head of his column, a stalwart Carolina trooper,' impetu- 
 ously dashed at him with drawn sabre, but Ins lieavy stroke 
 wa?^ warded off and his sabre wrung from his tig'ht grasp 
 by a dexterous parry of his expert antagcni.'t. • The con- 
 fident Yank was raising the final blow — the trooper's 
 horse was spurred against the others — darting under the 
 descending blow, which fell harmlessly ov6r him and 
 before his blow was recovered, with iron nerve, he instantly 
 K'ixed him bvthe/;'oat collar and wror^' >' i '■ • • ••" 1 ^s 
 
00 
 
 saddle violently npon the stone pavement. The ct'e^i- 
 fallen Yankee sang out, "I'm your prisoner.". Ilis fiiie 
 hlack charger was secured and placed in Gen. Hampton's 
 livery, which since hasi carried his rehcl rider safely 
 through many an adventure. 
 
 With many regrets we left behind the Igyal citizens' of 
 this place; who during our short sojourn liad contril)utctl 
 freely of their substance to the comtorts of our wearied aad 
 worn soldiers. The tramp of the enemy's cavalry and the 
 rumbling of his numerous artillery trains presented a sad 
 but pleasing contrast; as thc^entlc voices of her patriotic 
 women gave vent in the sweetest tones in the tune of IHx- 
 ie and Bonnie Blue Flag as we retired and \vaving us on 
 with the parting "God bless you." True, our fondest qx- 
 
 , pectations failed oftheir realization on entering the State, 
 3'et out; of justice to tliis place we. will state that five Imn- 
 dred young men of the first families flocked to our standard 
 and followed us from their homes and have fought and are 
 still fighting our battles. . And how. long will these noble 
 souls be exiles heaven only knows. They are truly worthy 
 ota free land; and although their mother home may be deri- 
 ded and her private motives spurned; the tyrant's grasp 
 must one day relax and then Maryland must fise redeemed. 
 Our march was pursued without any immediate pursuit 
 on the part of the enemy. They seemed content with 
 marching and counter marcjiing through the streets as 
 though the whole army was on simple patrol duty. Late 
 in the evening his immmcnse columns could be seen de- 
 bouching out from the streets and covering- tRe open fields 
 on both sides the Turn Pike. Passing on before him 
 through this beautiful valley we gained the base of the 1st 
 range of mountains beyond Fredericktown known as the 
 
 • "Catocktin Range." The Gap through which the Turn 
 Pike passes is approached by a gentle acclivity nearly on 
 a straight line from the base to the summit. The extreme 
 summit of the 'Gap is overlooked by high ridges rising on 
 
I 
 
 iLe right and left of the road — still running- up to loftier 
 proportions as it recedes from the pass. On the summit 
 in this Pass two pieces of artillery were placed in position 
 and a small detachment as pickets were left behind to keep 
 a close lookout on the movements of the enemy — while ^ 
 the main body moved tn\ down the mountain, through Mid- 
 dleton, a dingy mountain hamlet at the base, on Catocktin^ 
 creek, on the other side of which the brigade bivouacked 
 for the night. And early next morning were drawn out 
 and countermarched back through Middleton to the top of 
 the monirt^in with positive orders to hold it as long as 
 practicable that day. Part ot the command were- dis- 
 mounted and placed along the cliffs that overlooked the 
 road as sharpshooters — two more pieces of artillery were' 
 pjaced in position on the extreme ridge. *Barly about mid- 
 way between Fredericktown and the mountain the im- 
 mense column of the enemy with his long lines. of cavalry 
 in front, followed by his artillery — and the roads as far 
 back as the city seeriied to be one moving mass of infan- 
 try—were on the advance. From this point the grand 
 scenery of the subjacent country stretches out to the view 
 cataracts dashing from the mountain sides, swelling into 
 rivers and. sweeping in their course through the green 
 fields that Ornate the vallies below, neat white cottages 
 overhung by the clustering vine, dotted the subjacent 
 country around. But these peaceful scenes were soon to 
 give way to the unhallowed shock of war. The enemy's 
 columns came moving on up the valley about 9 o'clock, 
 his. advance a strong body of* Cavalry. Artillery an'd 
 Infantry in immediate supporting distance, arrived at the 
 foot of the mountain and advanced to within a mile and a 
 lialf ot our position; when 'Hampton's favorite Blakely 
 pieces opened from the summit with go^d eftect plunging 
 its solid balls into their ranks driving hinr back down the- 
 mountain si<lo? when his artillery was brought to the front. 
 
24 
 
 A lively duel was kojtf tip for two hours doing us do dam- 
 age, tlie ]lrojectiles of his lieavy field piecc?s ploughing into 
 the mountain sides below iis, or just ov^r the rid^e faliina" 
 harmlessl-y in the valley beyond. IKs cavalry made sev- 
 eral. attempts to advance but were forced back by our well 
 directed shots. Their advance skirmishers came round on 
 the right to flank that position held bj^ the North Caroli- 
 nians but thcJV trusty rifle carbines ' sent tkem skedadling 
 b^k killing and wounding several of their number. The 
 enemy accordiugl 3' about 1 o'<yock was massing a strong 
 force in front at the base as if to carry the pass by assault 
 and commenced the ascent. But our few pieces of artille- 
 ry was so skilfully worked as to check an(t consiflerably 
 retard their progress. Our dismounted skirmishers fought 
 and held them back till all our pieces were drawn off ami 
 retired about two o'clock slowly ddwn tlie western slopes 
 of the .mountain making a stand at. the eastern skirts of 
 Middleton, with only Hampton's Cavalry srt that point. ^- 
 A few miles beyond lay the South Mountain Jiange, across 
 which the road passesto Ilagerstown, through a narrow and 
 difficult pass, known as "Boonsboro' Ga}>," To the lefT, 
 in the. direction of Harper's Ferry., is another, pass, known 
 as " Crampton's Pass." 
 
 Jackson's forces was now .sweeping around and eirviron,- 
 ing ]Iarper's Fcrr}'. And the enemy now with anxious 
 tread was bending on to' the relief of that beleaguered 
 place. ' Stuart's Cavalry had for seve'ral . days' past been 
 hanging in his front, impeding his progress iit every step. 
 All the rest of our army lay beyond the mountain passes, 
 up'in th6 direction of Ilagerstown. And so the enemy had 
 to be held in this valley that day, till our Infantry could 
 ^et back and take position in these passes, to meet the 
 advancing hosts of. McCloUan. About 4^ o'clock in tho 
 evening, the 'enemy came teeming througli the pass we had 
 just evacuated and \nt]i exulting shouts, came pouring 
 
-:> 
 
 down the slopes. • The North Carolina Cavalry was posted 
 on the eastern skirts of th-<' village, to gppose them. The 
 other Regiments of Hampton's Cavahy being withdrawn 
 across Catocktin Creek, and drawn up t)u the other side 
 with the Artiller}'. The enemy's Cavali^ advan^d down 
 upon us with filet; of Infantry sharp-shooters on each side. 
 They were met by a squadron of mounted and dismounted 
 men under Capt. 8iler, a brave and daring officer of the 
 N. C. Cavalry, who gallantly fought and repulsed the ad- 
 vance. The whole Regiment were exposed to a most 
 murderous' fire o^the eneifiy's Artillery from the moun- 
 tain sides above. Onr brave boys were falling, and the 
 enemy were attempting to flank the body from above and 
 below ; and to hold the place iany longer was impracticable". 
 And by the brave and admirable conduct of Capt. Siler, 
 who formed the rear guard ; notwithstanding his thigh 
 Ijad been shattered by a ball, he stood firm against the 
 overwhelming odds and held the enemy in ch«ck till the 
 Regiment was safely withdrawn across Catocktin Creek. 
 Our loss iu these engagements were mostly in wounded. 
 The enemy's loss in both engaifements must have been 
 considerable from tlie visible effect of our artillery and 
 sharp-shooters on his ranks.- 
 
 The whole prigade moved off turning to the left, down 
 the Backittsville Road. Having pi'oceeded about five 
 miles, in passing through a thick wood', where a road runs 
 up from the left dt right angles to our road, a large body of 
 Yankee Cavahy was seen suddenly dashing upon us from 
 tliis road, dust at that tinfe the rear of the Georgia, Cav- 
 alry w'as passing, the quic^ eye of Col. Young perceived 
 this sudden dash, and immediately wheeled and led his men 
 impetuously against them ; and aftera short, but dpsperate 
 conflict, succeeded in routing them — his gallant men set 
 upon fhem, cutting them down as tliey broke and fled iu 
 the wilde.'Jt confusion. Their officer^ attempted to rally 
 
I'tj 
 
 them, but that savag reebel yell, and clashing sabres add- 
 ed nn impetus to their flight. It was with difficulty that 
 Qen. Hampton could call the impetuous troopers oft, as it 
 was important that t]ie next mountain pass should be gain- 
 ed as soon as possible. The enemy's loss was 40 killed 
 and Abounded — an officer and several privates captured. 
 Our loss was six killed iind wounded. Among the woun- 
 ded, was the gallant -and accomplished Col. Young, who 
 had his leg shattered by a hall, in the latter part of the en- 
 gagement. 4 • ^ 
 
 It being now ueaj' sun-down the conimaud was moved on 
 without any farther interruption to its destination — a ^lass 
 on .South Mountain. Here we'bivouaced for the night 
 on our position. This pass formed the extreme right liank 
 of- our forces. On the ensuing day, Sunday the 14th, ^he 
 forces of D. II. Hill were moving up and had occupied 
 the Boonsboio^ Pass ; while a small detachment of McLaw's 
 Division had, during the 'night, moved up and occupied 
 ("rarnpton's Pass. Our brave, weary, foot-sore Infantry 
 quietly slept on their arms, oi*livous of the near and fre- 
 quent vollies of their fellow-comrades skinftiishing at inter- 
 vals during the -night. All night- the approaching tramp 
 of the enemy could be heard nearing the position of our 
 army. The day at length. — a calm Sabbath da}' — ojiened 
 auspiciously. A bright sun, as the log of the valley early 
 liited itself away, rose and reflected its rays bn a cloudless 
 sky.'. From the little hamlets on the forc-gwund- between 
 the two hostile parties could early be seen the terror-strick- 
 en inmates rushing out and' precipitately liurrying to and 
 fro to escape the comingmissiles of destruction that had al- 
 ready commenced, at " long taw," hurling through the air. 
 'fte narrow valley below seemed to be one moving mass 
 ot Yankee soldiery. The grand and freshly recruited' ar- 
 mies of McClellan and Burnside now stood outin skirmish- 
 ing distance, and their long lines were sti!\ pouring from 
 the South through tlie Catocktin pass, and pitted against 
 
this immense and well-apportiotied host, were only 8,000 
 Confederate 'soldiers, worn down by fasting and over- 
 "marchings, led by that cool, intrepid christian, D. H. Hill, 
 of Bethel fame ; on whom the ,God of battles had so visibly 
 sn'iiled 
 
 Qf the dotaiis or tiiis hard-iought battle, wc shall not at- 
 tempt to speak.' The enemy, appreciating the difficulty 
 in approaching our position, an assault was early and furi- 
 ously made on the position at Boonesboro' Gap, by his 
 heavy artillery, and then continued all#along the line. 
 Musketry became general about two o'clock.. Up to that 
 lin^e, all of his assaults on our little band htid been success- 
 fully met and repulsed, except the position held by the 
 ]>rave and lamented GaVland, whose Brigade had been 
 thrown on an advance position, on the side of the mountain, 
 that fought more furiously, and probably did more execu- 
 tion on that desperate day, than any other troops. An 
 epitome of their noble conduct may not be. out of place 
 here. -Early in the action this gallant officer fell. His de- 
 voted men, composed entirelv of North Carolinians, after 
 they saw him borne lifeless off the field, unflinchinglyheld 
 their position. Five cracked Brigades of Burnside's Corps 
 closed around this Brigade. A remnant of them cut their 
 way through. . The 20th Regim-ent X. O. T., of this Brig- 
 ade, made its way out, and gained a position on a steep 
 «idc of the mountain behind a rough stone fence, and with 
 their unerring rifles were dealing death by the wholesale 
 into the ranks of the en.eriiy, as they wouki attempt the ascent. 
 Their posiji m gave the enemy's artillery beloAV no chance 
 at them. They however succeeded in rolling a piece by 
 hftnd tlkough a thick, timber on the right, and, unobserved, 
 had jnlaced it in position so as to command the space be- 
 hind #lie stone fence. Here Capt. J. B. Atwoll took out 
 his company and secreted them in musket range behind 
 a ledge of rocks, picking the gunners off as fast as they 
 could take po;iti"n|ai'onnd their s:un. They however 
 
sc'cmed nothing daunted at tijc fate of their comrades, but 
 IMomptlj took their places, but to make theHfeless heap, 
 higher. But while this eftective work waa goiug on, the 
 enemy's infantry clambered \w on the luonntaiu sides and 
 caniL' pouring round in disproportionate numbers on the 
 little band. . Here the noblo Atwell fell mortally woun.ded. 
 Hie: men succeeded in bearing his body oft — cutting their 
 way back to the main body at the Gap. (Kir position was 
 a strong one, on which to manoeuvre as mall body.of men ; 
 and skillfully did ^le gallant Hi'll handle l.iis little handful, 
 holding Iiis position on the ridge- and slopes around the 
 Pass, j'igaiust the shock of overwhelming odds: sheltering 
 his men behind the olifts and Stone fences, with compara- 
 tively small loss, except the Brigade above mentioned. In 
 the meantime, that part of McLaws' Division were gallant- 
 ly contending on the right atCrampton'sl'ass. Here only 
 a part of Cobb's Georgia brigade, with the Gth and 12th 
 Virginia regiments, held the pass till late' in the evening, 
 against nine brigades of Franklin's grand Federal Division, 
 and retired only alter the ammunition lirnl been entirely 
 exhausted,. 
 
 Our (-axiilry were engaged during the day in desultory 
 skirmishing on the extreme right. The " Grand Yankee 
 Arijiy. Corps" of Haoker and Burnside, with Heititzleman 
 ill reserve came pressing up in the evening, hoping there- 
 by to throttle oilr little band by 6he6r numbers. But our 
 artillery from the summit raked their advancing columns 
 with such immense havoc, while our deadly, musketry 
 from the clifls beneath, Averc dealing such destruction into, 
 their faltering rar.ks as to cause them to break for more 
 wholesome cover. They would relorm and throw fresh ♦ 
 troops forward with much the sanjc results, till night put 
 an end to the bloody scene. # 
 
 About ten o'clock that night. Gen.- Hill evaucated the 
 position and withdrew his forces, without any show ot pur- 
 suit on the part of the enemy, in the d'^ection of Sharps- 
 
bur.£;. Hij object on Sumiay Veins accqmplish^d — to hold 
 the enemj' iu check till tli^ Harper's Ferry programme was 
 carried out. 
 
 Our Cavalry withdrew in the latter part oi that night, iu 
 th^ direction of Harper's Ferry, picketin^c on the road 
 leading over the Maryland Heights to that place; froni 
 which point we will indulge a glance at this notable sjiot, 
 80 conspicuous both bcrfore and in the history of the preis- 
 ent war. • ' < . 
 
 . From a stjind-point on these Maryland Heights, that I'ln 
 up from the north bank of the Potomac, spreads out t) 
 the view perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes iu na- 
 ture. On your left comes rushing down the Shenandoah, 
 having ranged along the north base of the Blue Ridge tor 
 a hundred miles to seek a vent. On your right rolls down 
 the Potomab, seeking a passage also. In the moment of 
 their junction, they rush together against the mountain, 
 and rend it assunder, and pass off to»the sea. These two 
 rivers, at the junction, forms an obtuse angle. At the im- 
 mediate intersection of which the little town of Harper's 
 Ferry is situated, raiding up the narrow banks of each 
 river, overhung by terrible preci[tices in jutting fragments. 
 Up the Pot(>mac banks extend the immense dismantled 
 Armory Worlds. At the entrance still stands the old En- 
 gine house, of John Brown notoriety, a monument of that 
 old recreant's ti'eason. The upper tonvn runs up on a high 
 eminence, which is overlooked by a still higher one, en- 
 circled by precipitous ascents ; both of which, the enemy 
 had bastioned around with a line of strong works.' On 
 the south banks of the Shenandoah runs up the Loudon 
 Heights, and in front the Bolivian Heights, which, with 
 the Maryland Heights completely overlooks the place. 
 
 Up to v>atur<lay, the Yankee Garrison were entirely ig- 
 norant of our investing movement. .Jackson, witJi his 
 ubiquitous corps, had left Hagerstown on Thursday,, bear- , 
 ing round, had crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, pass- 
 
ed through Martinsburg on-Friday, from \vher§th*e enemy, 
 under Gen. Wliite, had retired to Harpers Ferry, the night 
 before, sweeping oji around he arrived in front of Harper's 
 Ferry about noon ^Saturday. 
 
 In the meantime, McLaws' Division was moving up and 
 occupying #ie Maryland Heights, and "Walker the LoAdon 
 Heights ; while Jackson's Corps had spread out and were 
 closing up the space betweeii the Potomac and the Shenan- 
 doah rivers, which included the Bolivian Heights. Thus 
 making the line of investment a complctre triangle, with 
 old Stondwall as the base— soon to demonstrate to General 
 AVhite, the Chicago tailor, tba't he might cut corfts. but to 
 cut himself out of this angle, would be abamboozling prob- 
 lem to his unsophisticated military genius. 
 
 On Suiklay our forces oil this base line prepared to invest 
 the place. A. P. Hill on the right, on the Chadestown road, 
 Ewell's Division in the center ancj Jackson's ol^l Division 
 completed the line ^cross from river to river. Our artillery 
 from the right opens witli its heavy pieces: which startles 
 the Yankee Commander.; his long caravan of wagon trains 
 is hurriedly drawn out and move in^aste across the Poto- 
 mac, and being fiiirly stretched out in the narrow detile 
 that winds along the bjase ot the Maryland heights. The 
 Garrison commences forming to fo]low ; but a few unsus- 
 pecting shell' from these heights, gave them to understand 
 that their plan of escjipe was balked in this*direction. The 
 frightened teamBtera suddenly wh«eled and went ratling 
 and crashing, belter skelter, over one another back to the 
 ferry, which was now tpo growing hot from the streaming 
 missiles from both the Louden and Maryland Heights, they 
 re-crossed, turning down the Shepherdstown road, and after 
 stretching. out and winding down this road a short distance, 
 met the same unexpected reception and came plunging 
 back in the wildest consternation to their former post. 
 
 The scige now opened and was kept up from all sides 
 ' slowly but regularly during the day. The enemy feebly 
 
.1 
 
 respondihg. The sun had now sank behind the western 
 hills; yet the glaring flash of the booming ArtiNcry from , 
 the mountain- sides literally lightened up the darkened 
 horizon ; night wears on ; still the streaming meteors from 
 the adjacent slopes fly around the terror-stricken ranks of 
 the Yankee Garrison. Morning comes, " and as with one 
 consept the hills salute- the rising sun," " with b'umbs burst- 
 ing in the air." And just as our forces on Jackson's line 
 prepare to assault the place' on the right, the gaudy folds 
 of their mammoth Garrison flag (measuring 40 yards in 
 length,) runs down and the streaming white runs up in its 
 place. The air rends with shouts from our victorious 
 forces. Lieut. ^Chamberlayne of A. P. Hill'&staft'gocs for- 
 ward and at 10 o'clock receives the sword of the Yankee 
 Conimander'who had fallen a few minutes before the sur- 
 render. Thus ended the careei^No. ^, of the abolitionist 
 at Harper's Ferry. Gen. Hill remarked to the Command- 
 ing Yankee officer, who was waiulering at our remarkable 
 skill and energy in capturing the place : " That he would 
 rather take tl^e place twenty times than undertake to hold 
 it once." 11,850 prisoners were captured, immense stores 
 of all kinds, vast supplies of ammunition, large numbers 
 of splendid canon, field and light_ pieces, vast supplies of 
 small arms and ajtimunitiou, and a great many horses and 
 negroes. " * ' 
 
 Our Cavalry was posted in the jDlace till the next day,' 
 foraging our famished horses on the \i^st Quartermaster 
 Garners. On the next day all the troops were hurried up 
 the river and crossed at Shepherdstwonandrc-jpiningLong- 
 strcet on the Antietam creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. 
 Early next morning, our difterent Corps, sadly reduced 
 by pressing marches, took position on the north side of the 
 Antietam creek, the enemy being drawn up along the base 
 of the mountain on the other side, and early began ad- 
 vancing in force upon our position. As the sun rose his 
 gay blue uniforms and bright and glittering weapons eon- 
 
trasteii strongly wilii the liiisty thread-bare apparel and uu- 
 poliehed weapons of Lee's " Rebel army." The battle 
 opened with a free use of artillery on botli sides, soon -fol- 
 lowed by a general roar of musketry along the entire line. 
 The enemy massed heavy forces and bore down with all 
 his fury on our loft. But the indomitable Jackson met 
 him with his usual coolness and determination, repulsjng' 
 and driving him back a mile and a half. In the center 
 the intrepid Lojigstreet with D. 11. HiU's corps, after a 
 desperate and bloody struggle drove him too, back from 
 this point with heavy slaughter. On our right, about 3 
 o'clock in the afternoon. Gen. A. T. Ilill was advancing 
 Irom Harper's Ferry, and came up just in time to meet the 
 enemy as he. was making a bold demonstration in that di- 
 rection, which was hell ynly by Jenkiu's and a part of 
 Toomb's ]^rigades, they had driven this little force before 
 them, and were dashii^ across the ifntietam with every 
 show^ ofsuccess. P.ut at this juncture the timely arrival 
 of the latter corps, changed the fortune at this point, and 
 after an obstinate contest that lasted from five o'clock till 
 dark, the enemy was driven into and across the Creek with 
 great loss. During the light the Federal sharp-shooters' 
 had picked oli and disabled nearly every man of a Battery 
 of the Washington Artillery, which had been coufipicuonsly 
 effective in the fight. Gen. Longstreet being near and 
 discerning t"he cause of its silence he dismounted and with 
 the assistance of nis staff worked one of the guns until the 
 crisis was over. As it has been remarked, "To see a tren' 
 eral officer wielding the destinies of a great fight, with its 
 carea and responsibilities upon his shoulders, performing 
 the duties of a common soldier, is a picture indeed, worthy 
 of the pencil of an artist." The sun set upon one of the 
 most ^Jesperate and bloody fields of the war. The Confed- 
 erates resting that night on their arras at every point con- 
 siderably in advance of tl eir position in the morning. 
 And the question may be asked : Why did we not pursue 
 
the eneuiy up? Simply, bocaase, from tiio topography ot 
 the country, where he was driven against the mountain 
 sides, would have given him signally the advantage " over 
 us. And tVom the causes a boVc mentioned our forces were 
 too much reduced to have relinquished their hold and at- 
 tempted a iiank movement. On the next day, Thursday, 
 from our position of the day"before, the challenge was 
 early thrown out to renew tlie engagement, but the beaten 
 foe let the gauntlet lie. 
 
 It is no exageration to say our atmy went into this bat- 
 tle reduced 50 per cent., worried out by tasting, incesant 
 marching and lighting, not more thai) 35,000 of onr brave 
 troops could be counted on that* desperate day. For, as 
 the columns of many of the corps had to bo rushed in al- 
 * most double-quick marches to makej;he time to gain their 
 respective positions, many a willing comrade fell out for 
 miles alqng the road from sheer exhaustion. And it is a 
 base slander upon our brave and noble soldiery to say that 
 Lee's army " straggled on that day.' ifo, to have seen 
 the pale emaciated soldier, sfeemingly with nothing but an 
 invisible spirit bearing him on, dispensing with every in- 
 cumbrance save his musket and cartridge box, halting 
 al g, flinching at every step, as he hesitatingly set his 
 bh Jing feet down upon the stony surface ; and then sink 
 do'»^h under the goading effect, was a rare comment upon 
 heroism ! Yet some pusilanimous NewsjJaper Generals and 
 army critics, called this " stragling." Xo, if your unfeeling 
 hearts bu<- possessed an inlinitismal part of your victim's 
 virtue, t Jn you might with some degree of assurance 
 criticise behind youi' paper if'aUs and staff para^pets. 
 
 McClellan, with an army already four times as large as our 
 own and with reinforcements coming up, aretrogade move- 
 ment was deemed practicable under the circumstances; as 
 every day would strengthen! the enemy, and in our present 
 position, the means for adding anything to our strength 
 was sadly beyond our reach. Accordingly our forces T^ero 
 
withdrawn late Thursday night and Friday luorniDg, in the 
 face of our foe, and eafejy 're-cros::fd the Potomac -nerir 
 Sht'phcidstown at one single ford. Thia important jeni 
 was accomplished in the t^pace oX twelve hours. -Sustaiu- 
 ing no material loss and withput any interru]/tion on the 
 part of the enemy. ■» . , 
 
 In this short bat eventful campaign, our wholejoss was 
 inside seven thousiind raeu ; whiJo tlie enemy, according 
 to his own coufcBsion, Avas over forty thousand killed 
 wounded and taken prisoners. But 8s is usually llie.caso. 
 our loss was mingled with some of our brave and, best 
 officers. The brave *aud heroic Garland, the noble Starke, 
 and the gallant JLJranch ofi^orth Garolina laid down t-lipir 
 lives upon the alter. of their country; 
 
 And with such proud rccor^;! of your fame ; 
 
 Your bodies may sleep wrapt iu gore. 
 But as long aS liberty bears a riarae, 
 
 Your spirits will be cherish'd evermore. 
 
 .' ■'" • . ' 
 
 Yet there was still a bloody "episode to mark the clpse if 
 this campaign. The enemy, about 10 o'plock on Friday, 
 had wiiii his heavy Parot guns,- at long taw, cdmn' i?ccd a 
 show of pursuit. Our troops on, the opposite ^ ,, were 
 seen hurrying, as under semblance of a retreat, oja^ on the 
 difi'crcnt roads leading from ShepherJstown; but ideally 
 retiring covertly behind the adjoicent ' hil,ts. WhilQ the 
 rear guard, three Brigades pf "Infantry ,un4$r Brigi^dier 
 General Pendleton, were posted on the o, ;-^it bai\k of 
 the river, near the passage, at Botellcr's, Mii|l,r,coi¥,i?iA^^- 
 ing which Vve had masked 35 pieces of Artillery, ^d with 
 five or six pieces exposed in advance, making a^faint s|iovr 
 of resistance, falling 'back slowly from one position t9 an- 
 other, before the advancing enemy's Batteries, th^t were 
 i)eing furiously plied from the opposite side.. La^e.ij^ the 
 evening u large force of the enemy, consisting of nparly 
 three entire Divisions, came pouring over with Haunting 
 
36 
 
 colors and defiant sKoiits. And;"^hen fy.v 
 Batteries were imoovercd amt t^/ith A. P. Hii'.'i u: 
 pounced suddenly down .upon hi?? 'coi^f.-'^nt L'^\', 
 driving them like chaff before t'ne^wind, ilo™n into i\w. 
 narrow passage^ where tbc? cmfiladiiig -fiVc of mir battories 
 were plowing and raldug bis ranks in a; most frightful 
 manner, and from the crowded gorge, friglilcn^"! rr^^^< 
 would indiscriminately break, panic-stri<5keu, r;^ 
 ot tbe river, but finding themselves hemnicd in iVom that 
 quarter, and in many instances, to escr^-" ■ '' ■ bayonets of 
 our impetuous soldiery they wonld'plun ■ • over these 
 
 precipitous bluffs, shattered on the rocky rann.^cs beneath ! 
 Tbo scene was truly 'appalling; Tlie wide, s^'hnllow fording 
 vvas filled with dead bodies, and the woun'^led. wbo woifld 
 chance to fall in the stream were suffocated in the water 
 by the liuj-rying, beedlesstrcad of the living. All organi- 
 zation was destroyed, and as the'broken remnants would 
 reach the opposite bank they would continue in the wild- 
 est disorder across the hills. Ancl why no token bf sur- 
 render was hung out to stop this fearful slaughter, was a 
 tpiestion with the conscience of the comtnander of this 
 ill-iatcd expeditiori. 
 
 . Our loss was only 200 in killed and. wounded, while 'the 
 Yankee loss must have been at least two-thirds of their 
 number in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Thus ended 
 this bloody campaign, leaving the enemy crippled and 
 beaten on his own soil, from which he lav coweriuo:" una- 
 ble to move for months. 
 
 It is but candor to say, .that in entering Maryland the 
 Confederates had two objects in view: First, to give her 
 pent up sympathy a chance to burst forth and join us in 
 physical resistance. And, however, much we arc di^^posed 
 to revere that sympathy which has always, and still exists 
 there for our cause, the reluctance and tardiness of her 
 people failed to meet the occasion. For "they who would 
 be free, must themselves strike the blow." In the second 
 
place, our victorious arms had just drivL-ii the eueiii} before 
 us behind tlx? walls at Wftshington, aiid^by threatening his 
 oountrv, would draw him out and bring the matter to a 
 nearer issue. The former was surrounded by circum- 
 stances over ■which we hac^' no control, and how far we 
 controlled the circumstances of the latter, the facts of the 
 campaign have fully tleraonstratcd to the world. 
 
 The day after the Antietam light, our cavalry were 
 placed on duty, some distance to the left njvthc river, and 
 in the evacuation, were cut off from the fording at Shep- 
 herdstown. But on Friday night, by a circuitous route up 
 th<) river, passing round a largo body of ^'aiikee forces, 
 windiirg down steep- and dangerous cliffs that scorned im- 
 passable for man and beast, helter-skelter, down the rug- 
 ged acclivity, we were plunged into the channel of the 
 river — a fording that an Indian p<^ny would snort and turn 
 away frorii — our horses, after blundering over rocks, then 
 j)lunging through eddying whirlpools, dripping and chilled, 
 we n;ached 'the Virg'fnia side. Following up the train of 
 our narrative, we proceeded to Martinsburg, from 
 ■\yhence, a fuw days'-after, (ien. Stuart dashed across the 
 Potomac into Williamsport and drove the enemy from 
 that place, killing a number and capturing a quantity of 
 prisoners and arms, with a small loss, returned again, and 
 estq,blished headquarters at Martinsburg, where, a few 
 days after this affair, the Yankee cavalry undertook to pay 
 hini back. They came dashing up the Shepherdstowu 
 road, driving in our pickets and scouts to the skirts of the 
 town. Hampton's cavalry was falling back before them, 
 while Lee's was dashing round to get in their rear. Per- 
 ceiving this, they suddenly wheeled and broke, back. Lee 
 immediately set after tliem, supported by Hampton, kill- 
 ing and capturing several, audit was by making the fastest 
 possible speed that the whole expedition saved themselves 
 from capture. 
 
STUART'S CAVALRY EXPKDITIOIS^ INTO PENN- 
 SYLVANIA—PREPARATIONS 'FOR THE EXPE- 
 DITION—TROOPS COMPOSING THE EXPEDL 
 TION— CROSSING TJIE POTO^IAC-SURPRISING 
 
 ' THE -ENEMY'S PICKETS— THE SUCCESSFUL 
 PASSAGE THROI^GH THE RIGHT WING OF 
 McCLELLAN'S ARMY- AND MARYLAND INTO 
 THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA — HORSE- 
 PRESSING ORDERS ISSUED— TAKING* OF MER- 
 CERSBURG. ST. THOMAS, AND OHA^IRERS- 
 BURG. 
 
 Our command was quietly laying arouLd Martinsburg, 
 picketing on the lines of the upper l^otomac, and having 
 to a considerable extent' recruited the nerves, of both man 
 and horse ; "vvhich had been seriously drawn upon by the 
 incessant and arduous labours of the Maryland campaign. 
 Wq were here in this beautiful and romantic region of the' 
 Old Dominion, enjoying ourselves with as much -^ oiium 
 cum digniiaie " as a soldier's life would admit of. The first 
 leaves of autumn had just began to fall ; the neighboring 
 mountain peaks were doffing their summer green, and fast 
 assuming the bronzed hue, and as" the bugles unwelcome 
 morning sound would cause the soldier to peep from his 
 blankets, the first traces' of Jack Frost could be seen upon 
 the half crisped fallen leaf ; while the we.itherfWorn trooper 
 with repeated strokes of his curry-comb to smooth the 
 rough haii" of his faithful steed, would soliloquize to him- 
 self, " Well, I do wi.sh old Stuart and Hampton was as 
 tired uv these ere parts as I am ; we'd 'git' a little fur- 
 ther inter I^ixie than this ; as these ere cold mornin winds 
 from the mountins blows our loose rags, open the bare 
 places a little cuttin, and our toes peeps a leetle too 
 impidently thru our old shoes for this ere white thing on 
 the leaves uv mornins; and out uv respect fur us they 
 ortcr consider the policy. Aiul beside.^ jist tu lliiuk uv 
 
;-iS 
 
 oui ^ijvi M li.t brutes.. Why, thar was Jackaou's army, 
 passed tliru these parts last roasfmg-ear time, and they 
 cleaned the corn-tiolJs ai'ore the luiJk tilled the grain, and 
 so horso .stock cant ^laud it uiuch longer. And so its pol- 
 icv to 'git" farther South any way you look at it. 13ut 
 I reckon old Stuart and Hampton Itnows best." Such 
 rude surijiibes were frequent from tiic humblest private in 
 the command^ and even the "reliable gentlemen "from 
 head quarter* wouid* quaintly give out that a backward 
 jn'ove was Hudeiway. In fact, all outward appearances 
 gcem6d indicative of a "fall back." AV'hile we were 
 re2:aliug ouroolves over the idea of getting where we could 
 hear a* railroad whistle again,- or open conlmuuicatiou with 
 liome once more, orders were issued to the ditfcrcnt com- 
 mands of the Division for a detachment of picked men 
 mounted on the best horses,. to prepare five days' rations, 
 for a scout on the ensuing day ; yet still the idea of cover- 
 ing a "fall back" w-as entertained by officers and men. 
 
 On the entjuing day, Oct. 9th, at 2 o'clock, we "fell in " 
 and took up line of march, but found our horses heads 
 turned northward. The whole force was comprised of 
 detatchments from Hamptom's, Lee's and Mumford^'s cav- 
 aliy, and a small detachment from Scott's partizan corps, 
 with one section of mounted artillery accompanying each, 
 all told, 2,500 men. Led by Stuart himself-^dashing along 
 on his little dark bay .favorite, in his usual don't-care dare-- 
 devil style, white the cheerful deep-cunning expression of 
 his features betokening some one of his favorite "tricks " 
 ahead, while Hampton rode along at his usual easy- 
 trotting style, as though-he was just going out to look over 
 his bi'oad cotton-ficlds. Leaving the town of Martinsburg 
 to.the i-ight. and passing along the base of the north range 
 of the Biuc Ridge whi'ch breaks off into hills as it n ears 
 the Polumac, we .passed through Hedgcsville and beyond 
 oyr outer picket posty where the column was halted and 
 rested till dark : within ear-shot of the roaring waters of 
 
3'J 
 
 the Potomac. xVfter good dark, the comraand resumed 
 tlie inarch and was advancing cautiously over a narrow 
 by-way in the direction ot the river, to within a mile* of 
 tHo crossing ; and here we were halted for the night. Two 
 reconoitering parties were thrown out, one under Lieut. 
 Philips of Cobb's Legion, and the other under Lieut. Bar- 
 rier, ot" the North Carolina cavalry, led by Hampton in 
 person. After a successful reconnoitcr, it was ascertained 
 that the enemy had no pickets on this bank of the river; 
 but we discovei-ed their posts immediately on the other side 
 of the ford, beyond the culvert of the canal, which opens 
 to the ford. Here, content with our discoveries, the party 
 bivouaced the remainder of the night, , on this side, behind 
 the cliffs that overhang the banks -above the ford, until 
 nearly day-break ; when Gen. Hampton detached fifteen 
 (15) men from the party, and placed them under Lieut. 
 Philips and dispatched them across the river on an old 
 fish-dam, a quarter of a mile above the ford, to surprise 
 and bag the post at the ford ; ai^i the remainder, under 
 Lieut. Barrier, were posted among the cliffs along the 
 banks for a support, in case the party on the opposite side 
 should become pressed. Day was just dawning; our com- 
 rades could be seen slyly creeping under cover of the canal 
 banks— making their way successfully without any inter- 
 ruption to the mouth of the culvert. One more dash and 
 the game is in their hands. But suddenly out dashed a 
 grim Bull Terrier dog, with snarly gnashes, to dispute the 
 passage of th6 culvert* which merely gave notice' to the 
 sentinel to scamper off without even firing his piece, 
 w>.i!o the reserve was immediately onslaughtered, and the 
 quick and successive cracks of our carbines, and the excited 
 exclamations "kill them! kill them ! here goes the d — d 
 blue-backed rascals." Which gave us to understand that 
 our support was no longer required, and every man to 
 horse, and across we dashed, and found one " blue-back " 
 lying bleeding, while earnest leg-bail had succeeded in 
 
; ii 
 
 getting otl his comrades, which caused a stajnpede along 
 the whole line, and liad it not been ior the timely notice 
 of their faithtnl doir in tho culvert the body would have 
 been nicely bagtd ; as at' the time the reserve Avere rega- 
 ling themselves, near bj' in a little shanty, at " seven up," 
 little dreaming thai their game bo early in the morning, 
 would be "triimptcd " by rebel intrusion. 
 
 At this rough and difficult ford the whole command, 
 artillery and all- .speedily and gafoly crossed over; and on 
 we hurried over a narfow and ditiicult defile through tlie 
 liills of the westerii i>5iit of Washington county, capturing 
 the balance ol our stampedi^ag P'H't}', "vvho ran into, our 
 columu before they were a\\are of our presence. Having 
 pursued this road about five miles, where it crossed the 
 turnpike leading irom llagerstown to Cumberland, 
 we found that we had run against the rear of .a 
 X)ivisi<>ii of Yankee Infantry, moving on to Cumbcvland. 
 Jiist at this point our advan^ came' upon their rear guard 
 and took a batch of them prisoners, and also captured one 
 stand of colors, which sudden and unexpected onslaugh, 
 put their whole command in confused commotion and 
 caused them to make fast time down the pike in the. direc- 
 tion of Cumberland. Their burning vehicles behind gave 
 full evidence tljat the skedaddling maneuver was in active 
 play, but as Stuart'.s. business did not lay on their loute, 
 they were' permitted to "double-quick" along uninter- 
 rupted from their own shadows. Here we crossed this 
 pike and pursued our march along a narrow, difficult by- 
 way," following the north side ol a range of mountains, 
 through a rocky bleak and almost barren region, with here 
 and there a lonely cabin to relieve the wild s'cvenery. Hav- 
 ing moved on some ten miles through this wild region, we 
 founil ourselves crossing the kist ridge of this range, emer- 
 ghiLs- out down into a beautiful and expansive valley ! know 
 as, '-JJlair's Valley," surrounded by an extensive range, 
 knovMi as the "Short Hill" range, wdiich breaks ofl 
 
# u 
 
 gradually into lesser bills as the Blue Kidge uears the 
 Potomac, which to the eye of the casual beholder sectns as 
 steps to the summit of her lofty peaks. The day was uot 
 a bright one. Thin vap.ory clouds Avere overspreading 
 the heav.eus. The sun's pale face looked dimly- through 
 the gatheringclouds, and the distant ridges seemed wrapped • 
 in a mysty blue, and the ."scar and yelloAv leaf," at every 
 breeze was loosing itS'hold and came rustling down arouud 
 us. ^uch a seen was indeed truly calculated to ^engender 
 melancholy feelings. But as the "-broad-acres " of Penn- 
 sylvania stretched out before us just at tl e fool of the last 
 hill, although, we were impressed with our 'hazardous sit- 
 uation, having just passed through and jverc in the rear of 
 tlje right wing of McClellan's grand army, yet every sol- 
 dier's fiice betokened emotions of inward joy, our backs 
 on the last rugged, cliffty hills, placed us beyond the limits 
 of Maryland. The " Ultima Thule " of Southern invasion 
 was passed. We were indeed on the hostile soil of proud 
 and defiant Pennsylvania ; who sixteen months before was 
 going to make a light breakfast out of the South herself 
 alone. But the rebel key had unbolted and rolled away 
 the keystone of the "glorious old arch " wide enough for 
 Stuart's rebel cavalry to pass. ISTo demonstration whatever 
 marked the event, as the column moved quietly forward 
 from the brirders of Franklin county, wliere we entered. 
 It seemed that a simple reflection on our situation would 
 call forth misgivings in the bosom of the most sanguine. 
 But the over.weeniug confidence in our true and tried 
 leader, would chide any such a thought and nerve it with 
 stronger confidcuce and deeper determination. 
 
 On we moved over a private country road, through the 
 secluded entrance of this valley, that had never been 
 trampled by an q^rmcd foot of either friend or foe. The 
 unsuspecting inhabitants met- and hailed us p.s union 
 troops, and no assertion to the contrary was likely to disa- 
 buse their minds of the fact that we were rebels ; and even 
 
42 
 
 " : en the hoTse-pressing orders were put in execution 
 ' the 01, they would look incredulously after us as 
 ^ Tiding their faithful steeds off hefore their eyes. 
 ;noe, we' will here give iin amusing incident 
 ' ctwoen an old- Dutch farmer and a party of 
 , •^. J V wO were scouring the country ?ome distance 
 ;V«iUi.tue road. They rode xi]) unceremoniously to his 
 large; brick barn that stood a short distance Jfrora the 
 dwetling, dismounted at the barn-yard gate, and wore pro- 
 ceeding to, th# stables. He and- his fat better-half were 
 standing in the piazza watching the movement at the barn 
 in astonishment; p,nd, as the foremost entered the stables, 
 lie hurried down, and in almost breathless excitement he 
 accosted theparty : "Oude raornint men ! Gude mortiint! 
 . t dush dis mean ?" lie was informed that we just 
 v\ aiiL.-J his horses. Betraying feelings of smothered anger 
 and vexation, he exclaiiiicd : "Mine bosses ! Mine bosses ! 
 ^y? jou shoust can't hav tem agin. Vy, ven you tarn 
 Jlomc- Guards* had tem afore you, you shoust keep tem 
 vnn, veek over dc time, and ven you did pring deni home 
 n^it der ^^aeks all sore and skint up. " Continuing in a more 
 vehement strain, "Ivould shoust so leave old Shackson 
 vould cum tish way and take do last tarn vun uv you Home 
 Guards as tu let you hav mine bosses vun time more. Vot 
 vur you vant tem- cny how?" He was apprised, good 
 bumoredly,- that Jeff. Davis wanted them this time. With 
 emotions of the wildest surprise and amazement, hardl}' 
 awaiting tcwarticulAte one word before he'd catch another: 
 " ShoS' Tavis ! Sheff Tavis ! Mine Got ! Yot ish Shelf 
 Tavis got tu du mlt mine bosses? Mine Got! He vill 
 never send tem pack !" In the meantime the stock was 
 ■ haltered and moving oH'. Old Dutch had seen that his 
 
 • * When o\if forces threatened Pennsylvania from Maryiand the border 
 counties repolved themselves into an organization called the librae 
 Guards, and bad pressed the farmer's teams to transport iheir baggage. 
 
protesfs aud remonstratioDs were unavailing. 'lie imme- 
 diately ran violently towards the houses hallooing to his 
 better half, who was, too, vehemently joining lier protests, 
 exclaiming in an earnest veiit, "old voman ! old voman I 
 plow de hou!" She snatched ^own the old tin instrument 
 hanging at th6 door, and with her liabby jaws inflated to 
 their fullest tension, she blowed most lustily, striding the 
 piazaa froni one end to the other,- and kept blowing till we 
 were out of hearing. What this strange proceeding meant 
 was a question, unless it savored of the old Scottish idea of 
 winding the' horn when the re^lm was invaded, and her 
 tin" horu reverberations were to call to arms those valorous 
 Home Guards the old man so much derided when his 
 horses wcr^ brought in question; but those modern lords 
 of war did not heed her horu incantations; as this little 
 detacliment, without any interruption, joined the com- 
 mand at Mercersburg, on the turnpike leading from Green- 
 castle to Chambersburg. Ilere a faint resistance was made 
 by» those valorous Home Guards, who retired at, our ap- 
 proach and secreted themselves in an old wood shop at ^e 
 farther end of the town, from which, about fifty yardj^ 
 from the main street, they poured a volley into our advance. 
 The old shop was onslaughted, and without any farther 
 demonstratio^i, the whole party were captured, except one 
 who attempted to escape by jumping out of a window; 
 but a bullet from oue of our carbines took him "on 'the 
 wing," striking him lifeless iii his leap;, whom, doubtless, 
 the sickly sentimentality of his burghers would range him 
 on the calendar of northern heroes. This belligerent 
 party proved to be rathor hard looking specimens of hu- 
 iviaulty, and when they saw our full columns moving up' 
 . dioy betrayed terrible emotions of childish fright, and were 
 surprised atnotbcing dis})atchcd forthwith, and others, com- 
 ing out to the rescue, when taken, even with. guns in their 
 hands, denied having any complicity in the affair. With 
 such spirits as these, it was not a matter of wonder tha^t 
 
old liutch's ''born incantatiou^"' had uo charm. The 
 column here halted a short time, and about 2 o'clock, 
 resunipd the march on the turnpike leading to Chambers- 
 bur^% some eighteen miles distant. On our way we cap- 
 .♦tured St. Thomas, a considerable town, which made no re- 
 sistance. We pursued our march on through'a cold drench- 
 ing rain, swelling our " led-horse'' train as we moved on, 
 which presented the appearance of additional reinforce- 
 ments. ♦ • 
 
 About 5 o'clock, p. lu., wc found ourselves before the 
 city of Chambersburg and demanded its surrender. This 
 inland city is beautifully situated in the midst of a rich and 
 productive valley, on a line of railroad running from 
 Hageretown, Md., to Ilarrisburg, containing about 10.000 
 inhabitants. At this point large quantities of the enemy's 
 army stores were deposited, which rendered it a pri^-e 
 worthy of Stuart's notice. The demand for the surrender 
 was a conlplete thundershock- to the astounded Mayor. 
 The whole population seemed confounded at our presence.* 
 Houses, public and private, were immediately closed. A 
 considerable parleying was manifested by the city author- 
 ities; at which "Gcu. iStuart caused the batteries to be or- 
 dered into position and the cavalry into line for the attack; 
 which demonstration soon brought them to a decision; 
 the terms being immunity to private persons and property. 
 
 All the army stores were taken in charge, "which con- 
 sisted of large quantities of Commissary and Quartermas- 
 ter,Stores, also heavy and light Ordnance Stores. The 
 Quartermaster department was duly drawn upon in the 
 way of clothing, while the horses Were attired in gay- 
 Yankee trappings and our old rusty armor was immediately 
 exchanged for the bright glittering cavalry arms that were 
 tossed in profusion from the. numerous boxes. The city 
 was placed under martial lawi The command was moved 
 out and bivouaced for the night, a short distance east of • 
 the«city. And af'tr-ra most disnsrrf cable cold rainy night, 
 
we (iecauiped i^aily uoxi monuug. and cQ^uitcr-niarched 
 back through the streets and were halted, and in looking 
 round, a lArge Union flag was seen lloating from the third 
 story of a private house; wjiich unwelcome emblem was 
 speedily removed by J. M. Rea, Co. C, and Ed. Misen- 
 hammer, Co. F., of the North Carolina Cavalry; which, 
 however, eventuated in a little issue. On accosting. the pro- 
 prietor, he demured to their admittance, which was imme- 
 diately forced, followed closely by thd surly proprietor to 
 the last llight of stairs, where he was joined, from*an adja- 
 eent room by another grim determined lOoknig personage ; 
 where surly's suspicious move^nents were arrested by Rea: 
 cooly giving them to understand that any interference on 
 their part would be readily met: and in the face of these 
 two devotees tlie Ihij: ^vas torn down, but thev failed. Jack- 
 sou-like, to seal their devotion with their blood. Doubt- 
 less these two characters were as brave in nerve as our 
 prototype martyr, but that indwelling determination • fal- 
 tered,' as the caiise was not the same which tlioir favorito 
 emblems bespoke. 
 
 The observer would meet many a scene calculated to 
 keep his attention in active exercise. At every corner 
 could be seen groups of old and young, conversing in an 
 undertone, evincing symptoms of the deepest mortification. 
 The sight of the new blue clothing that dotted every com- 
 pany in the command, and the bright U. S. weapons dang- 
 ling at our sides, was indeed a sore tax upon their pride. 
 But, notwithstanding this, not the least insult was offered 
 us; an assemblage of elderly men were overheard in a dis- 
 cussion, asserting that if they had just known dnr number 
 was no more than they now proved to be, tliey never would 
 have surrendered, and that it was a disgrace that could 
 never be wiped out ; while souk; were chafing with wrath- 
 ful expressions that our audacity was the most unparalled 
 recklessness and that certainly before nigl^^ the telegraph 
 would welcome our capatnre or destruction : and the 
 
Mayor pubRcly cxpressod' liimself, iis 
 
 were not captured "before 'we i-e-croi 
 v/oukl be a stigraa upon ilie union av. 
 l-e effaced. A j'ounij Caroliuiiiu 'dre\. 
 ver.crable one of these old street dcclaiii.v.i.'-, v.Lo ,\ ao liuLer 
 nc-parring of bis ana{liemas,agai)ist the rebels, aud^eli- 
 qnircd of bim "wbon he thought we w^ould have pLac6 ?" 
 '^ ith au assumed air of pomp6sity, h'fs said, "Sir, not. 
 until this accursed rebellion is crushed." '. ""WeUsii'," re- 
 plied the first speaker, '^ do you, wii.h all' 'th6 evideiied of 
 the past eighteen monies before you, answer mtj calKlidly — 
 think .really that that matter can be done ?!' • '" Will-a " 
 hesitatingly, "we think-a-so," turning ii^' a time of exhor- 
 tation, " we don't then expect to treat you as conquered 
 subjects, but wc are willing to throw the vail of charity- 
 over all this, and regard you as erring brethren, .and ^vel- 
 come you again into the glorious old Union as "brethren. '•" 
 "Erring hrcthrcny" .indignantly, inte^rnptt'd the yoiing 
 Carolinian, with his eyes flashing fire, sarcastically, "bretli- 
 ren! don't, pray, call us brethren, blinded old hypocrite. 
 Go and view our desolated homes and wasted fields, in the 
 vandal traclv of your 'union restoring armj-,' whidh pro- 
 claims such sentiments of brotherliood a helli&h mock- 
 ery!" 
 
 "And, uoYv' sir," he continued, "you crui'c gain^^.ay this 
 conduct towards us, your hrdhrcn.- Let me ask, ha\'c'not 
 you and your citizens, and their property, "been iii oiir 
 power since yesterday, and has either^ sufiered Ifro in our 
 presence?" Turning nervously round, he remained 
 silQut. " No," promptly responded an intelligent looking 
 middle aged gentleman of the group. *' Truly,' levery one 
 of us, and all we have, have been and are yet in your power, 
 and we can scarcely realize the fact that no one within 
 the bounds of this city complains of an unjust act at the 
 hands of your soldiery; and justice demands that we "tes- 
 tify that you have demeaned yourselves more like gentle- 
 
men to our Qitizeas- .than our owi, 
 
 lhroiU|;li." "Good- sir," lie continued, •'.'ulLow -i 
 
 tlie question, wLy it is 3^0'ur soldiers^ thus p' ,, ,,. -• 
 
 so strictly to the principle!? of good C03 
 
 the strin,gest discipline of your officers T'. IJe Tfa3 an 
 
 swered, "simply because we are g.eutlepaeii r * "i - ^ 
 
 observe the same abroad." This latter fact 
 our mind the causQ of the difierenee of the valor bctweeir 
 the northern and southern soldiers, and thatm ' ' 
 is the basis of true courage, ©ne liglit'ng 'v^ ' 
 vigor for their liberties, and the other wiLk indolence aiid 
 neglect, for the power of his oppressors. ■ Officers and nien 
 from the same grades of society, contending for their equr> ■ 
 rights, on e as much impressed with the principle as the other. 
 And, in this connection, let -it be said, should an officer, 
 who, under the garb of military discipline, become so in- 
 difi'erent to tlie principles of equality as 'to assume an 
 unwarrantable relation of arrogance toward his men, he, 
 most assuredly, is an enemy to himself and ibe cause. In 
 the first place, when this war shall have passed away, with 
 our independence, established, and the days of ".ahouldfir- 
 straps " numbered with the things ,of the past, society 
 will sink backinto,its foroaer peaceful chauncl-^this. unjust 
 bearinjr will never be forgotten — it will be far better for 
 such an one had he occupied the position of the humblest 
 private in the ranks. And, in the secoud place, it. tends 
 to promote an unprincipled aristocracy, contrary to the 
 genius of our institutions. 
 
 But to return to the narrative. On the streets could be 
 seen many able-bodied young men "cutting the gent," as 
 in peaceful times ; and if they had but been imbued with that 
 country pride that they so boastfully assume, thCir morti- 
 fication must have been extreme. AVe captured telegraph 
 dispatches in thcf office at that place, (which had remained 
 as duplicates,) to the Governor, up to a fe^y hours of our 
 arrival, which stated that we were reported to have enter- 
 
ed the State, but that they had no apprehensions that titu- 
 art's "rebel gang" would come that way. and if they did 
 have the assurance to do i?o, they had a rcgimeiri of iirtan- 
 try*und onebatterj' of artillery in reach that would take 
 care of them amply. And, besides, they had plenty of 
 arms, and that the citizens would turii^out, to a man, and 
 o-ive them such a reception, as would scatter them to the 
 four winds. .But when the test canio what became of 
 their "regiment of intantry and battery of artillery," and 
 the boasted reception that was to meet us. at the hands of 
 their '' Home Palladiums," this deponent saith nbt. But 
 it seemed that, "Bob Acre's like," their Valor gently oozed 
 out at the sight of Stuart's little rebel hand. 
 
 EVACUATES THE CITY— J^ASSAGE THRO 1; UK 
 THE VALLEY— CROSSES THE MOUNTAIN AT 
 
 • STEVENS' GAB— PASSES SAFELY OUT OF THE 
 STATE INTO MARYLAND— JOYOUS RECEP- 
 TION — SUCCEEDS IN PASSING THROUGH 
 THE ENEMY'S' FOR?CES DURING THE NxGIlT 
 AND REACHES THE POTOMAC— PERILOUS 
 SITUATION, BUT AFTER A SHARP SKIRMISH 
 SUCCEED IN. CROSSING AND REACHES CAMP 
 ON THE 12Tn. 
 
 About 10 o'clock, a. m., the coninuuid took up line oi' 
 march, turning down the turnpike leading to Gettsburg. 
 After setting fire to the spacious buildings containing the 
 army stores, we retired. The flames wrapped the build- 
 ing, and for an hour, the explosions w'ere tcrriiic, shaking 
 the very earth. Pieces of shell, fragments of timber, 
 brick and stone, rent the air for hundreds of yards around. 
 In moving on, the occasional bursting of a bomb that had 
 resisted the first impressions of the fire, would strike the 
 
49 
 
 car, an4 give a parting salute over the dyiug embers of 
 the charred remains of this proud edifice. 
 
 The march progressed along without any marked inter- 
 est save coiifeiderable accession to the "led-horse column," 
 and astonishing the natives to utter discomfiture. Our 
 approach to the neighboring farm-houses on tlic road was 
 heralded with a gathering in and an irapiediate closing of 
 the doors, as if a menagerie of wild beasts had been turn- 
 ed loose upon the country. To give a further instance of 
 the terror in which we were held by these unsophisticated 
 people: In passing by a neat log house, immediately on 
 Xhe road-side, a full, good humored looking face of an 
 elderly lady, whose features bespoke mingled emotions of 
 curiosity and fear, Was peeping out of a half closed door. 
 Turning to' a very old lady, standing a few paces back, 
 who gave every expression of fright, and seemed remonstra- 
 ting with her to desist from her rashness, smiling with 
 advancing satisfaction, ^'"Why, L will look. Why, aunt 
 Sally, they jist look like our kind of folks. Tho' they do 
 look mighty dirty and devilish, I don't believe they'll hurt 
 a body." She was,- thereupon, assured we would not harm 
 her, but to open the door and take ajook; whereupon the 
 door was confidently opened. She and aunt Sally's cor- 
 poreal dimensions jammed the' entrance to its farthest ex- 
 tent and stood gazing on the passing columns with the 
 most intense curiosity. "We passed through a little moun- 
 tain hamlet called Longtown, at the foot pf the mountain, 
 at the upper end of the valley, through Stevens' Gap, so 
 called from an extensive Iron Furnace at its. entrance, 
 owned by Thad. Stevens, of abolition notoriet3^ His 
 ample stalls lay on the road-side and contributed more 
 generously to the horse power of the expedition than any 
 of his tree-negro-loveism constituents that lay in our route. 
 
 Through this Gap we passed without any interruption, 
 and, enclosed as it was in many places, by steep rugged 
 overhanging cliffs, a small body of resolute men could 
 4 
 
have effectually held us iu check at any of these nature- 
 provided points. At the north entrance uo turned oi¥ the 
 pike, immediately to the right, on a i)rivate country road, 
 and passed iu four miles of Gettysburg, where a heavy 
 force of the' enemy were reported to lic stationed to make 
 a movement to intercept us ; but we completely foiled their 
 vigilance by winding around by obscure roads. Wheu 
 beyond their lines we fell into a public highway running along 
 the edge of Miller's Valley, on the north side of the " Short 
 Hill "' range, passed out of this valley through Fairfield, a 
 small country village, and then across the Short Hills, 
 which passed us over the Pennsylvania State line into 
 Maryland, near Emmettsburg, a pleasant and handsome 
 little village, at the foot of these hills. 
 
 The sun was nearly down. Men and horses, jaded 
 aimost beyond endurance, having been on a continual 
 move for the past three days. ' At this place we expected 
 to meet a Yaukee cavalry force, who were reported to 
 have been there during the day — supposed to be on the 
 look out for us. The commanc^ was halted within a 
 mile, and an advance sent forward. So worn down were 
 the men that this little halt found nearly lialf the column 
 asleep on their horses, but their snatched up repose was 
 .suddenly interrupted by a succession of shouts that rang 
 along the whole line of the advance. The main body took it 
 to be the usual signal for a charge, and as quick as thought 
 every man braced himself in his saddle and the ct)lumn 
 was hurried on to their support. But what an agreeable 
 surprise awaited us. Instead of meeting the Yankee col- 
 umns in deadly strife, the old and young were thronging 
 the streets and hailing our advent with shouts of the wild- 
 est joy ; while clusters of fair women and bevies of spark- 
 ling maidens greeted us with expressions of the most 
 heartfelt welcome. Refreshments and beverages were 
 profusely borne out and distributed into the ranks by' their 
 own. generous hands to our wearied and hungry soldiers, 
 
51 
 
 which seemed to act as a charm to the dull spirits and 
 exhausted .frames of the most way-worn. When one of 
 the troopers would chance to dismount he was caught and 
 embraced by these lovely' ones as a brother, but he would 
 pay the penalty by finding himself minus the last button 
 on liis old coat. The fair little rogues would dart oiF and 
 tauntingly twirl them between their delicate little fingers 
 to their unfortunate companions who had failed to secure 
 a rebel relict. This sudden heartsome ovation from this 
 down-trodden people will ever call forth emotions of pleas- 
 ing and grateful recollections in the bosoms of every reci- 
 pient. For, emerging as we had, 'from a deadly hostile 
 community, where, could even wolnan's looks have been 
 daggers, we would, the last one of us, shared a worse than 
 Siceran fate. And, then, so suddenly to find ourselves in 
 an amosphere of such congeniality, indeed inspij-es feel- 
 ings that can but be imagined. But as the deepest, joys 
 are shortest, we must pass hastily on, with misgivings and 
 heartbodiugs, to leave these noble patriots behind in the 
 tyrant's grasp. 
 
 But let fetters ne'er so tightly bind, 
 
 The limbs of those who would be free ; 
 'T would be madder to tempt to gyve the mind 
 
 Than to stop the rising tide of the sea. 
 
 * 
 
 So long as the tyrant 'tempts to bind, 
 The oppress'd people of such noble soul. 
 ' Tho' he may gyve, they will be free in mind. 
 As long as the changely tide may roll. 
 
 No ! Jet us not when our bright sunny land, 
 
 Is from the vile tyrant's grasp set free, 
 Mock thee, with Maryland ! my Maryland ! 
 
 But ungyve your limbs, as your minds, so free. 
 Then hail thee as Maryland ! my Maryland ! 
 
 The last rays of the netting sun fell upon this devoted 
 little village as we reluctantly turned and bade her a sad 
 adieu. A body of Yankee cavalry had been here during 
 
Jie day, awaiting u[», to a few moments of our arrival, 
 broke and skedadclle'd at our approach, and we were left to 
 pursue our onward march without interruption. We turn- 
 ed to the right oli the turnpike leading to Frcdcricktown, 
 some. 25 miles distant, which road, after travelling ten 
 miles, we left, and turned to the left on a private way, 
 crossing the Mouocacy river twice, and bore again to the 
 left passed through the village of Woodh^boro', shortly after 
 dark, where we also met a warm reception from her sym- 
 pathizing citizens; but not calling a halt we turned to the 
 left and passed through Liberty, a village, eight miles dis- 
 tant from the latter place. IJere (it being dark) we were 
 hailed as Union troops, in pursuit of the rebel Stuart. A 
 Yankee officer, \yho seemed to be at home, on his oars, 
 with hat flourishing in hand, encouraged the passing col- 
 umn, and hoped they would catch "old Stuart and his 
 rebel gang" before day-light; and concluded by insisting 
 upon the officers to light and take some refreshments with 
 him, who, for want of time, asked to be excused, but broke 
 a few bottles of champagne in the saddle with him. He 
 w^as tben politely informed that he was Gen. Stuart's priso- 
 ner, and that there was a position in the "rebel gang" 
 for him. He, however, reluctantly "fell in," and mounted 
 a bare-back "Connestoga pony," and was tilled along. 
 Here we were getting into "hot water," as the Yankee 
 forces were on the move after us on most of the public 
 roads. We here turned dowvi the Baltimore highway, and 
 passed on to within twenty-five miles of the fatter place. 
 Leaving this road to the loft, we bore round in the direc- 
 tion of Fredericktown, but learning thai; a heavy force 
 ■was at that place we left it five miles to the right, and by 
 circuitous by-ways successfully evaded the enemy's pick- 
 ets — passed through Newmarket about 3 o'clock, a. m. — 
 captured the telegraph office and recent dispatches from 
 the government, all enjoining, the strictest watch out for 
 the rebels. Gen. Stuarf passed dispatches over the line 
 
to the authorities at Washington, that the rebel command 
 had gone up in the direction of Harper's Ferry, and that 
 it- was not necessary to send any more troops below.. The 
 wire's were then destroyed and the raih'oad track obstruct- 
 ed. After halting an hour the command wasagain put in 
 ^aotion. Gen. Stuart, however, detached a part of the N. 
 0. cavalry, under Capt. Barringer, and turned, with this 
 i?eparate command, to the right,-, on the road leading to 
 Urbauna, while the main body moved straight forward on 
 the public highway to ITyattstowu, without any incident 
 save the capture of several arm}' wagons moii^ing after 
 their commands, which were evidently on the move for us 
 at th^ different fordings below.— just missing the whole 
 trains, by one hour — thence by a by-way to Burnsville. 
 Gen. Stuart, with his detachment, moved on andreached Ur- 
 banna before day-break. Here he halted for an hour and 
 breakfasted at his former headquarters. This sudden and 
 unexpected -advent was a matter of great surprise and con- 
 gratulation to ■ these sympathising people, whose warm 
 hospitality we had a few months before enjoyed. How- 
 ever rejoiced, they evinced the greatest solicitude for Gen, 
 Stuart's safety, being in the midst of the Yankee forces. 
 One bod^- had just passed down in the direction of Pools- 
 ville and another had camped just a mile above, and were 
 moving behind : thus placing him between the t^^o col- 
 umns. He moved leisurely oft down the Washington 
 highway. At the far end of the town Gen. Stuart and 
 8ome of his officers were riding in advance of the column, 
 when they w^re accosted by an individual running out 
 irom a harnessed-up vehicle, (it wi^s just>light) and rudely 
 said to them : " Hey, my lads, which way this morning?" 
 Gen. Stuart indignantly drew up, and said, " who are you 
 and what are you doing h^re this time in the morning?'' 
 He assumed a more obedient and respective tone, " Why 
 excuse jue Major, I did not know it was really ye, sir. I 
 do hope ye will not think hard of me, Major,a8ljistthought 
 
54 
 
 ye were some o' the bovs i»assing, and so I hailed yfe. You 
 sec these iufernal teamsters got scared that Stuart's rebel 
 cavalry was coming this ere way and so they skedaddled 
 oft' last night and left me and one wagon alone, ye see. 
 Why, these d — d rebel cavalry are ivery whore, and that 
 d — d old rebel Stuart, gives us more trouble than a little. 
 But I think they will stop him this trip, as sure as fate." 
 Here, to his trembling astonishment he was informed that 
 he was Gen. Stuart's prisoner, and to drive out his wagon, 
 which proved to be a well'assorted supply of Sutlers stores. 
 Gen. Stuart, with the detachment joined the main body at 
 Burnsville, having passed through the enem3''s lines 
 without encountering his pickets. 
 
 The command whs moved on cautiously in the direction 
 of Poolsville, where there was a heavy force to intercept 
 us on that road, (it being about six'miles from this point 
 to the river.) But after advancing to within two and a 
 half miles of the latter place, turned off the road and bore 
 round to the right, along a fresh open way through the 
 woods and, fields, where there had never been the sign" of 
 a road before. Skirmishers were thrown out on the right 
 and left, who luckily captured every picket post of the 
 enehiy they came in contact with. The main column 
 moved on slowly, feeling their way, till within sight of the 
 Potomac. 
 
 Now came the feat of the expeditipn, the recrossing, 
 immediately in front of us lay Edward's Ferry, also used 
 as a fording; still four miles to the left lay an obscure 
 crossing, - called Cheek's Ford. The first was strongly 
 guarded by artilfery and cavalry. The latter was supposed 
 not to be guarded at all, or at least slightly, while heavy 
 forces were moving down from Poolsville. 
 « A sudden dash was mad'a by a detachment of artillery 
 and cavalry upon the Ferry ; which had the effect of dri- 
 ving the enemy's guns from his position, Avhile entertain- 
 ing him here, the main body wheeled and moved hurriedly 
 
down to the ford below. The guard on the upper side 
 were all captured. But high c lifts jutting -from the lower 
 side, completely overlooking the ford, .were discox^cred to 
 be lined with the enerny's infantry. With this formidable 
 obstacle in our front, his artillery and cavalry moving down, 
 the river, and a heavy body of infantry moving up behind, 
 every thing indeed, looked doubtful. But the quick eye 
 of Gen. Stuart met this emergency by maneuvering two 
 pieces of artillery on an eminence to the left that over- 
 looked these cliffs ; and a few well directed shell thrown 
 in their midst, cleaned them out, and a body of our dis- 
 mounted sharpshooters w^ere immediately thrown in upon 
 them, driving them entirely off and held the cliffs while 
 our other pieces entertained, theirs furionslj'', also kept a 
 fight up on the upper passage. In the mean time the 
 column was successfully crossed over at this ford, and a 
 few pieces of artillery got in position on the high hills on 
 the Virginia side, so as to cover tlie other pieces in crossing 
 and just as they were. relinquishing their position,' a brig-< 
 ade of the enemy's infantry came double quicking down, 
 but a few well directed shots thrown in their midst sent 
 them skedaddling back in confusion. They again reap- 
 peared reinforced by another brigade, but only in time to 
 see our rear gain the other bank, chagrined and disap- 
 pointed, thus they beheld their so much coveted 'game 
 so completely slip their fingers. Which was indeed a sub- 
 ject of congratulation to the exhausted trooper as he threw 
 his weary form down upon the "green sward " of the old 
 Dominion to rest ; having passed over a most extraordin- 
 ary circuit in the short space of three dnys and a half. 
 Surpassing any former movement, for celerity, on military 
 record. In 1803 it is recorded that Wellington's cavalry 
 in India marched the distance of 60 miles in twenty-four 
 liours. Lord Lake, it is said, with his English cavalry, 
 marched seventy miles in twenty-four hours. Which 'is 
 the nearest approximation to this march of Gen. Stuarfs 
 
from Chambcrsburg, taking all his circuitous windiugs to 
 the Potomac, was ninety miles in twenty-two houi\«, bring- 
 ing successfully ofi with him a cumbersome train of cap- 
 tured hordes. And what is more remarkable, passed through 
 the right wing, around the rear and through left .ving of 
 McClcllan's army, and for the most part tlirough a deadly 
 hostile country, without a single casualty, capturing 400 
 prisoners, destroying a million of dollars worth of Govern- 
 ment stores, and bringing oft" 2,000 head of horses. * This 
 annoying dash has given their own citizens a faint idea of 
 the sv^eets of war. And has taught them a wholesome 
 respect for us, as their most rabid s-heet, tlie N. Y. Tribune, 
 candidly expresses: . "That Stuart's gang of horse-thieves, 
 notwithstanding tlie fact that they all richly deserve the 
 halter, made a favorable impression wherever they went. 
 We all like pluck, dash and boldness, even when exhibited 
 by high-way robbers. The old farmers who lost all their 
 horses, and as firm in the support of the union as the hills, 
 could uot but admire the coolness, bravery and discipline, 
 which characterized their every -movemeut. Compared 
 with Stuart's cavalry, our own sink into insignificance, and 
 seem about as valuable as the crowd of dandy ponies that 
 icallop up fifth avenue every pleasant afternoon." 
 
 We passed through the patriotic old town of Leesburg 
 amid the shouts and congratulations of her citizens, similar' 
 manifestations now greeted our entire course, crossed the 
 Blue Ridge at Snicker's Gap, and reached our Headquar- 
 ters at Martinsburg on the 12th. 
 
 * And 60 sure were t lie old faniiere of Pennsylvania of our capture 
 that they bad come on after tlie pursuing coluiun to prove and Aake 
 charge of iheir horee property. 
 
.•^< 
 
 EVACITATIUN OF >IAETINSBURG, AND WITH- 
 DRAWAL FROM THE VALLEY— CROSSING THE 
 BLUE RIDGE— ENGAGEMENT AT BARBEE'S 
 CROSS-ROADS, GAINS' CROSS-ROADS, AT LIT- 
 TLE WASHINGTON:, AND LAUREL MILLS— 
 HARRASSES THE REAR OF THE YANKEE 
 ARMY IN MOVING DOAVN TO FREDERICKS- 
 BURG— CROSSES THE RAPRAHANNOCK AND 
 OPERATES ACTIVELY IN' THE ENEMY'S LINES. 
 
 Since the events of .the last chapter, the command was 
 quietly keeping up the upper post of the Potomac. The 
 river being the line, brought the pickets of each party in 
 speaking distance of each other. Ar.d as there was an 
 arrangement not to lire at one another dn foot, an exchange 
 of civilities was not of unfrequent occurrence. Such pithy 
 dialogues as the following would occur between " yank" 
 and " sesesh." , - 
 
 Yank. — (derisively.) "How are ye boys— don't you 
 want some coffee over on yer side ? " " 
 
 Sesesh. — (aptly.) "Not. any, thank yee, got plenty 
 from Pennsylvania. ' 
 
 Yank. — (gathering and coming again.) " Don't you 
 want some clothing over there ? '•' 
 
 Sesesh. — " Not a stitch, we got a good supply at Harper's 
 ' Ferry and over in Pennsylvania." 
 
 Yank.— (sneeringly.) " Why do yer fellers wear our 
 blue clothes, y<|u've got a bran new government, why don't 
 it furnish you in its own glorious gnxy ?" 
 
 Sesesh.— "Economy, egad, we got yours so much 
 /heiiper." 
 
 Here.yankee cariosity seemed satisfied at this game 
 and assumed a more respective tone, and then gave the 
 confab a more sociable cast ; the yank finally concluding 
 by proposing to meet half way in the river and settle the, 
 •pending difficulties over a bottle of whiskey, which woiM 
 
be accepted, meeting in a noucbalanco air. to the gaze of 
 the hostile parties on each baiik. 
 
 On the first of Xovember, down on the right, on Fitzlee's 
 Hue, in front of Harper's Ferry, phe frequent pounding of 
 hie horse' artiller}-, gave us notice that the pent up column.'' 
 of McClellau were seeking a vent through the mountains, 
 to make another "on to Richmond." Our main army in 
 the meantime, were laying quietly up in the valley around 
 Wmchester, and by the enemy's demonstrations on the 
 extreme left passes, he was leaving our army to the right 
 and moving in the direction of Warrenton, making "that 
 masterly movement " through the mountain down the 
 north bank of the Rappahannock, that the boastful, para- 
 sitical northern press gavp out was to thwart the " Rebel 
 Lee " and give them an easy occupation of Richmond. 
 This beautiful programme was to be carried out not exactly 
 by fighting, but to beat the wary Lee there by a foot .race. 
 But'if circumstances had placed Richmond as a goal of 
 refuge from rebel bayonets, the gallant soldiers of the 
 " Young Napoleon," doubtless, from their Bull-runish pro- 
 clivities would have won at that game. But as the sequel 
 of events will show, a sad accident befel his novel pi-o- 
 gramme ; that either the Young ISTapolcon had not care- 
 fully examined tlie track before setting his coursers on, or 
 that the new rider, who relieved liim, did not spur fast 
 enough. 
 
 The enemy in debouching from his base through the 
 mountains gave our cavalry active woYk, both to keep 
 their cavalry, which Vas largely superior to us in numbers 
 to the lines of their main body, and from dashing against 
 the flanks of our army that was also on the move. -This 
 called in our cavalry from its lines. On the 3d of Novem- 
 ber we took up the line of march, leaving behind us our 
 good loyal population to be again cursed by the hateful 
 presence of the Yankees ; for no one can hate them so 
 deeply as those who have been in immediate contact with 
 
59 
 
 them. On our first days" march we met with iiothina: of 
 special interest save the wishful looks of many a longing 
 old man or'^iir maiden as we passed along. The command 
 bivauced at the east end of the valley beyond Berryville. 
 The. next day we crossed the Shenandoah river at an ob- 
 scure ford at the foot of the Blue Ridge, just below where 
 the Manassas railroad crosses, and crossed over the ridge 
 at Manassas Gap. 'Here tlie enemy's cavalry dashed upon 
 our advance, but 9- few vollics sent them skedaddling down 
 the mountain in the wildest confusion, leaving behind 
 several dead* and wounded. Here we turned to the right 
 from the main road, and pursued an obscure track' along 
 the eastern slope of the mountain and halted late in the 
 night, 10 miles beyond the Gap, at the foot of the moun- 
 tain, ncar^Barber's cross-roads in close proximity to the 
 enemy who were- reported to be advancing from the direc- 
 tion of Snicker's Gap. A strong picket was thrown out 
 during the night, and early in the morning a large force 
 of cavalry and artillery were seen advancing in the direc- 
 tion of the cross-roads with infantry or dismounted cavalry 
 moving in strong columns down the mountain slopes just 
 behind. Our forces to meet him at this point were only 
 Hampton '» cavalry, and not more than three-fourths fit 
 for duty, and a portion of the 9 th Va. cavalry and one 
 battery of horse artiHery with Gen. Stuart in command. 
 Our forces were kept concealed behind the hills till about 
 11 o'clock when the enemy were seen advancing slowly 
 and cautiously towards the crbss-roads. Their approach 
 to this point was through a wide lane with a stone fence 
 running on each side. At the cross-roads stood an old 
 store house and some other dilapidated buildings, and on 
 all sides were undulating open fields, checked off with 
 rough stone fences. The following disposition was made 
 of our little force : One section of artillery on the right at 
 the., cross-roads supported by a squadron of the North 
 Carolina cavalry, another in the center and another on the 
 
60 
 
 left supported byw portion of the Georgia cavalry, tlio re- 
 maiuing four squadrons of the North Carolina cavalry in 
 advance on tlie left, and the South Carolina cavalry on 
 extreme left flank, the 0th Virginia on tlie main roail 
 leading b.y the store house with a small body of dismounted 
 sharpt?hooters under Lieut. J. M. Morrow, posted behind 
 the buildings at the cross-roads, and also a small body of 
 the Georgia cavalry as sharpshooters on the extreme right 
 flank. Our batteries opened vigorously upon the enemy's 
 advance which elicited a warm response from theirs. 
 The duel was kept up an hour and a half. In the meantime 
 the euem} 's sharpshooters were creeping up under cover 
 of the stone fences leading from theircolumn to the cross- 
 roads, and also behind some cross-stone fences on the left. 
 The battery at the cross-roads firing its last r6un'd of am- 
 munition, was with its support withdrawn. Their cavalry 
 on seeing this, came dashing down the lane to follow and 
 capture the piece, but a well directed volley from Lieut. 
 Morrow^'s little squad checked their advance, and continued 
 pouring it into their confused ranks, and drove them back. 
 They however rallied and completed the charge upon the 
 buildings, when- the sharpshooters retired after again 
 emptying a good nura-ber of saddles, with several of the 
 party wounded. Immediately at the cross-roads the Vir-* 
 ginia cavalry met and drove them back under cover of 
 their sharp-shooters. 
 
 In the meantime the eneuiy's cavalrjr had advanced on 
 the advance squadrons of the N. C. Cavalry on the left, 
 where Col. Gordon gallantly met and was driving them 
 before him but run into an ambuscade of the enemy's , 
 sharpshooters behind a stone fence, where a number 
 of our men were captured ; retiring he was charged by 
 the Yankee cavalry, in which the sabre was used quite 
 freely, driving them back a^ifin, and following them up 
 vigorously recaptured most of our man and bore (Jff a 
 number of theirs. The South Carolina cavalry came to 
 
ol 
 
 their support and hold the position^ After this an artillery 
 duel was kept up briskly for two hours, when all our 
 wounded was taken otf and the command withdrawn with- 
 out any interruption to the IVont Royal turnpike, and 
 bivauced for the night at Gains' cross-roads. Our loss 
 was ascertained to have been fifty, killed, wounded and 
 missing. 
 
 The next* day there were some skirmishing of the other 
 cavalry on the left, but our command was not engaged. 
 We bivauced the ensuing i^ig^^t in the same place, in a 
 thiok timber, behind, some hills — a most bitter cold night 
 without axes to^prepare firewood^ — the Xorth Carolina 
 cavalry being the farthest down the road on the advance 
 position. The next morning found the snow falling thick 
 and fast, and continued until the afternoon. About three 
 o'clock, while shivering around our stinted camp tires, call- 
 ing down anything but blessings upon the head of Mars 
 for introducing such a cruel modus operandi for settling dif- 
 ficulties between mortals, the ominous cracks from our well 
 known carbines at the nearest picket post of the last named 
 regiment, and the rushing in of a courier gave brief notice 
 of the untimely approach of the enemy. Everj^ man' to 
 his horse and down into the road dashed. Our pickets 
 \tere falling back hurriedly, and was now at the edge of 
 the camp ; a large body of their dismounted men were at- 
 tempting to flank and surround us on the right, and a 
 heavy body of his cavalry was advancing up the road. 
 Col. Gor(^n met the emergency by placing the cavalry in 
 the road and throwing a body of.di8mount6d jnen out on 
 the right under Lieut. Slier, who boldly and vigorously 
 met and drove them back from hill to hill, and held them 
 against their main body until a piece of our artillery was 
 brought up, when they were finally driven back, and re- 
 treated precipitately down the road. Their artillery was 
 used quite freely, but without any effect. This regiment 
 was the only troops engaged. No pursuit was ordered, as 
 
iii: 
 
 the repulsed was too strong for the repulsing party, the 
 other regiments of the brigade beingsituated some distance 
 up the road, and tlie onset being so sudden, did not come 
 up in time to make pursuit. The enemy had several killed 
 and wounded, while the success of this spirited little affair 
 was not purchased without loss on our side. Lieut. J. S. 
 Siler, of Co. K, from Macon county, • X. C, fell while 
 bravely leading the dismounted skirmishers in the last 
 charge. In hira his regiment lost a valiant and noble soul ; 
 ijool, brave, generous, and kind^his men loved him like a 
 brother. A few of his' men, nearest him when he fell, bore 
 him oft, while the remainder fought like tigers until the 
 affair was over. Sad, indeed, was the scene when his 
 weather-bronzed men wept around his' lifeless corpse, as his 
 warm blood crimsoned the fresh-fallen snow. But sadder 
 — far sadder the home scene — when that manly form lay 
 before his devojed friends, a fallen sacrifice for liberty. — 
 Father, mother, brother and sister, your country's altar 
 could not have had a more worthy sacrifice, and may you 
 and yours live to enjoy that sacrifice. 
 
 " They who for their country die, 
 
 Shall fill an honored grave ; 
 For glory guilds the soldier's tomb, 
 
 And beauty weeps the brave." 
 
 On the enduing day, November the 8th, the enemy with 
 a strong force of his cavalry made a sudden dash imon the 
 camp of the Georgia Regiment, which was situated some 
 three miles from Gain's cross-roads,' on the turnpike near 
 Little Washington. They evaded the pickets at the cross- 
 roads, and came in a by-way from the right, (a mile and a 
 half from the camp), where a small body of men under 
 Lieut. Wm. Dial, of the Georgia cavalry with only ten 
 men were picketing, who gallantly met the onset, falling 
 back slowly to a narrow lane, stubbornly contesting the 
 
ti.3 
 
 ground, bore up band to band witb their pressing assail- 
 ants. The command at the camp heard it and were hur- 
 •rving out to meet the alarm ; Co). Dellioney putting 
 spurs to bis borse left the column behind and dashed up 
 into the melee^ and hand to band with bis brave boys, near- 
 ly all of whom bad been cut down, was delivering his blows 
 right and left when an athletic Yankee trooper assailed 
 him just as be was raising his dripping sabre from its vic- 
 tim. His new antagonists blows were dexterously dealt, 
 and an instant parry saved bis head; a quick heavy blow 
 partially warded off fell broadside and deadened bis 
 sword arm, causing it to fall helpless by his side — one 
 more deadly thrust at heart, but luckily, a silver cased 
 flask in the breast coat pocket turns the weapons sharj) 
 point, and it glides by, only gi-azing the skin. Exaspera- 
 ted at his foiled attempt, the furious trooper, with knit 
 brows and compressed lips was raising the final blow at 
 the leugtli of bis powerful arm — the column comes thun- 
 dering up in hurrying tread — outstripping the foremost 
 ■ dashes a small boy on a little keen black charger; his 
 darting eye catches bis beloved Colonel's awful dilemma, 
 and with upraised gleaming sabre, arrests the fatal blow, 
 by cleaving the confident antagonists head in twain, and 
 half raising it for another stroke a pistol shot sends the 
 noble lad too reeling from bis saddle, dangerously wound- 
 ed.* The last one of the gallant ten had. fallen, killed or 
 
 * "We deem it'worthy td state that this noble boy, Jiminie Clanton, is 
 the son of a highly respectable aud influential citizen of Augusta, Ga., 
 scarce sixteen years old. He was dangerously wounded in the body, 
 but has since recovered. Ilis devoted father on hearing of his situation, 
 hurried on out to visit him, and repaired to the place where poor 
 Jimmie lay in the most precarious situation. On entering the room, 
 the solicitous parent seeing his suffering boy lying stretched out on his 
 back; after saluting him, not even waiting to inquire of his wellfare, 
 but looking anxiously into his pale features, " My boy — my boy, tell 
 me, were you shot facing the foe or with your back to him." Jimmie 
 fhowing the wound in front. " All " right my brave boy," with his 
 venerable face sparkling with joy. " IM with far greater pride hurried 
 you with that wound in front than for yoti to have saved vour life by 
 runniog. 
 
tJ4 
 
 wouuded. Hand to hand the supporting part}' furiously 
 took up the rencounter. Old U. S. reojulars had been 
 met, but Southern impetuosity was too much for them ; 
 they began to yield and give ground, when a body of our 
 dismounted men gained their flanks, when they broke ; 
 here our artillery came dashing up and completed the 
 success and sent them scampering down the road at a 
 most inconvenient speed. They were puTsuotl a short 
 distance, but were called oft on account of the weakness 
 of the pursuing party. The enemy's loss in killed and 
 wounded and captured was seventy-five, our loss was'twen- 
 tj'-five killed and wounded. 
 
 From this point Gen. Hampton assumed the aggressive. 
 He made two successful dashes on the enemy's position at 
 Laurel Mills, fourteen miles above Culpepper C. H., suc- 
 ceeded in routing and driving them entirely from that 
 region, killing, wounding and capturing a large number ; 
 which rid the farmers of the presence of these notorious 
 scamps who were committing every species of depreda- 
 tions, from negro stealing down to robbiiig the roost of 
 the last old hen. Thus giving more evidence of the thiev- 
 ing brigand than soldiers 'fighting for principle. 
 
 From daily reconnoisances it was found that the whole 
 force of the enemy 'were rapidly moving on down, and on 
 the night of the 17th, Gen. Hampton with a detachment 
 from the North and South Carolina cavahy, proceeded 
 cautiously toward his camps, which were found to be va- 
 cated. The reconnoisance was pushed on across Broad 
 Run to within eight miles of Warrenton, where their 
 pickets were discovered, and driven in, and after skirmish- 
 ing with and harrassing their main body a good part of 
 the day, rbtired back across Broad Run, losing one killed 
 and three wounded ; the enemy's loss was fifteen killed 
 and wounded. Early next morning another reconnoisance 
 was made in the same direction and all the camps were 
 found to have been deserted during the night. We kept 
 
t)0 
 
 on their track through Warrentou ; here Gen. Stuart slept 
 in the identical bed Burnside had slept in the mght be- 
 fore, occupying for his headquarters the house where the 
 young Napoleon had turned over his command to Burn- 
 side. ■ Here the celebrated Black Horse cavalry pursued 
 and captured in the farther side of the town apart of their 
 rear guard. We followed closely on their heels. The 
 conduct that characterized their track through the coun- 
 try was enough to demoralize the soldiers of Peter the 
 Hermit. Farms wantonly laid waste, houses pillaged, 
 not a living domestic animal nor a grain for bread left for 
 these unfortunate people ; nevertheless, our presence 
 would seem to cheer them into a forsretfulness of their 
 situation, which augers that uo earthly power can ever 
 shake their faith from our ca use. We bivouacked near 
 Warrentou Springs and next day made a reconnoisance 
 out north of the Springs, when it was ascertained that the 
 enemy's tdrce was moving oii from the direction of the 
 upper fords of the Rappahannock, down through Faquier 
 and Staliord counties in the direction of Fredericksburg. 
 Our command then bore down and crossed the Rappahan- 
 nock at Lawson's !^ord, and thence moved on to Brandy 
 Station and went into camp in that vicinity." . 
 
 Here our Brigade Avas posted and held the upper lines 
 of the Rappahannock in front of the enemy's extreme 
 right, picketing -and guarding the different fords. From 
 this point Gen. Hampton made frequent arfd successful 
 raids within the enemy's lines. On tbe last of JjTovember 
 with a detachment of four hundred men, ho crossed the 
 Rappahannock &ud penetrated into Faquier and captured 
 an entire Yankee cavalry camp, securing and bearing off 
 a large number of prisoners, the camp cavalry equip- 
 ments, without the loss of a single man. He made several* 
 daring and successful raids, penetrating as tar as Dumfdes 
 and Occoquan, surprising and destroying camps, capturing 
 luany prisoners, large trains of wa^rons and sutler's stores. 
 5 
 
bb 
 
 which geiierally proved rich and valuable, which would 
 give the boys a gay time over the spoils. Candies, syrups, 
 pickled oysters, lobsters, smoked beef tonj'ues, Westpha- 
 lia hams, coftec, sugar, lemons, oranges, plums, nuts, aud 
 in fine a little of everything that a well assorted confec- 
 tionary on Broadway would' contain, and then it is hardly 
 thinable " Thomas and Jeremiah," brandies and wines 
 of the most approved brands. Out of these fine brands 
 was culled and gaudily painted cask, labelled in the most 
 fancy characters, "A Christmas Present to Gen. A. E. 
 BuRNSiDE," which was placed under special deposit for 
 our General's side board. Doubtless the donor of this 
 miscarried present, would, under the regime of Abraham 
 1, be bastiled for instilling spii'it into the rebellion. On 
 one of these sudden dashes into Occoquan Gen. Hampton 
 captured the notorious Virginia traitor and spy J. C Un- 
 derwood. These raids were made during the most rigor- 
 ous season of the winter. Traveling day and night amid 
 the severest storms of sleet and snow, which was borne 
 cheerfully, as our noble and beloved commander, sacrifi- 
 cing every pleasure, never failed to share with us the ; 
 most extreme priva'tions. These annoying raids so serious- 
 ly aftected the enemy's communication, that the line be- 
 tween Alexandria and Fredericksburg was suspended. 
 The enemy attempted several times to force a passage 
 across at these fords above, but in evx^ry instance wer(> 
 successfully met and driven back. 
 
67 
 
 STUART'S RAID IN BURNSIDB'S REAR— CROSS- 
 ES TKE RAPPAHANT^OCK— MAKES A DECENT 
 UPON DUMFRIES AND OCCOQUAN— MEETS 
 AND DISPERSES THE YANKEE CAVALRY 
 MOST HANDSOMELY— CAPTURES A LARGE 
 TRAIN OF WAGONS AND SUTLER'S 'STORES 
 —CAPTURES BERIOiEY STATION— PRISONERS 
 AND SUPPLIES. 
 
 The f)attle of Fredericksburg had been fought under 
 the regime of its new-fledged General, who had, in their 
 own favorite phrase, "met a damaging repulse." He 
 had stolen back with his shattered forces across the river 
 on his pontoons, which had he Ciesar-like, burnt them be- 
 hind him, his beaten demoralized army would have been 
 completely gobbled by the wary Lee. But he had suc- 
 ceeded under cover of night, in doggedly dravting them 
 back again, and he lay cowering between the Rappahan- 
 nock and Potomac, which presented an opportune occa- 
 sion for a mischievous prank in his rear by our '' light 
 dashing dragoons." Accordingly a little over a week after 
 this event, on Christmas morning, December 25th, that 
 season once the signal of joy and mirth, the weather-beaten 
 trooper, if he had." any anticipations on that event, they 
 were blasted by the bugles importunate notes, summoning 
 ■' boots and saddles." In all the camps he could be seen 
 <-heerfully busying himself in packing bis haversack, ad- 
 justing his full compliment of catridge rounds, belting his 
 nabre and slinging on his carbine, in pursuance of an or- 
 der of the night previous, to be ready early with five days 
 rations en route for some point unknown. About 10 
 o'clock the whole brigade moved off in full trim in the di- 
 rection of the Rappahannock, where we joined the other 
 cavalry of the whole division with its accompanj^ment of 
 two pieces of horse artillery, and bivouacked for the night 
 on the south bank. Early next morning crossed the 
 
68 
 
 river at Kelly's and Bovnnan's fords, moving up ou the 
 Elktown road, 'with Gens. Stuart, Hampton and the two 
 Lee's at our head, betokened some trick of more than or- 
 dinary import ; the brigade of eaoh stretching along the 
 narrow road a considerable distance behind. Passed 
 through Elktown, and penetrated as far as Cedar river 
 without any interruption, when after dark the command 
 w?.s halted and bivouacked on this side below Brcutsville, 
 ' dnd decanlpod early next morning, crossing at Bowman's 
 forc^. .?avins; Brcntsville U) the left, thence recfossing 
 
 Tc.tion of Occoquan, and when 
 (.:.„ . 1. 5 vi' ^xi^ ,i:..r place Gen. Stuart detached the 
 •rigades of the two Lec'S, turned to the right.and moved 
 down upon i)ir;nfries, where some recent* camps of the 
 enemy had been established since Hampton's last raid a 
 woqk before, leaving Hampton w^ith his brigade to move 
 on Occoquan, where a body of the ^enemy's cavalry were 
 posted, and attack the two places simultaneously. One 
 column after moving bn a short distance, the advance met 
 a small bod}'' of Yankee cavalry, and after an exciting- 
 chase captured the whole party ; then moved up to within 
 three rnilcs of Occoquan and halted. Soon the booming 
 oftfaunonfrom the right gave us notice that Stuart was 
 iit work On his point ; the command moved rapidly on, 
 and when aboct within a mile of our point the enemy's 
 cavalry m'^>t the advange, and after a few sharp cracks they 
 broke and fled, the whole column in full chase after them, 
 chasing them through OccoqUan, killing, \voundirig and 
 captnriirg twenty-five, and driving the others across .the 
 river, some breaking down the river in the direction of 
 Dumfries, and capturing a train of twenty wago-ns, mules 
 and a good lot of sutler's wagons fell a welcome prey tf> 
 us again. We will relate a littlq experience with these 
 unfortunate victims : 
 
 The first was a short chufiy black lager-beer Dutchman 
 toiling with a heavy laden two-horse vehicle, just turning 
 
69 
 
 out of the road to take up camp. Our advance dashed up 
 and' hailed him to surrender. The astounded driver drop- 
 ping his lines, with broad amazement over his round feat- 
 ures, and with 'a, despairing look exclaimed, '-' Veil, veil, 
 do rebels isli got mo. Got tarn sich a peeples. ' Vot for 
 ish our army vort any how, if dey can't keep vuu tarn 
 leetle pit uv rebel hosse ofi'vot lectle guds a body ish gut 
 in de behind here; vy dey aint vort vun copper zent, to let 
 you leetle pit uv men vip tem off and cum vay pack here 
 and take our leetle tings from us tish vay." With a deeper 
 grin of despondency, he continued ; " every ting I ish got, 
 dm' it goes," " veil," extending his hands with open digits, 
 " der ish vive fingers on dat hand and vivc on tish, and I 
 ish goin to home and go to vork vid tem hands, and vat 
 leetle I git, I vill stay der mit it de rest of mine tays, afore 
 I vill risk vun cent in tish tarn concern vun time more ; if 
 old shoe Hooker would give his poud agist de rebels and 
 old Linckhou tu poot." Three other vehicles with their 
 rooling stock had halted behind. From the formost, an 
 Irishman, the driver leaving his boss, a merchant like per- 
 sonage sitting on the box, was accosted by oilc oi' our 
 ofiicers riding up, "Well Pat I am glad to see you." '; And 
 sure ye've missed it, its Mike this time. And faith ^ptiii 
 ye've a right to bay glad since I've brought so nicely intu 
 yer hands, three sich loads as those." . " Have you any 
 boots?" he impatiently asked, "Ah, an plase yer honor, 
 a fine lot, but as yer feet is kinder like me own, its out- 
 grown the rest of yer body, (the toot of the interrogator 
 being unduly unproportionate,) I doubt ye could be fitted 
 out ,o' this lot, but if ye'll say so, I'll take yer measure 
 now and have ye a pair made to order, and whin* we come 
 Hgin, I'll deliver them. Ye've dun so well this time, ye'U 
 l>e afthar prowling around here agin, and as we've disposed 
 uv the stock so easily this timo. we'll be afthar driving to 
 the same market agin. " 
 
 The wagons were hurried oil amid the dolorous sighs of 
 
70 
 
 the ruined sutlers ; Mike lively cracking his whip and 
 jesting to the contrary. 
 
 The command held this place till 10 o'clock in the night, 
 and then retired about 'eight miles back on the road we 
 come, where we joined the other brigades, who in the 
 meantime had made a successful decent upon Dumfries, 
 killing and capturing one hundred and fifty of the enemy, 
 charging and driving them from their first line of camps, 
 which were held and destroyed, and canonaded a large 
 body of infantry for two hours ; bringing off forty army 
 and sutler's w^agons, with only the loss of 6 killed and 
 wounded. Here at a late hour in the night the conlmanTl 
 halted and rested till morning. In the morning it was 
 ascertamed that a large force of the enemy's cavalry was 
 pursuing us. Gen. Stuart wheeled the column and led it 
 back to meet them and after advancing about three miles 
 met their advance. The enemy anticipating our move- 
 ments had drawn up three brigades in line aci'oss an ex- 
 tensive old field fronting the I'oad, ajiproached by a steep 
 hill, the road passing up this hill through a deep cut. — 
 Gen. Stuart with the 1st Va. cavalry i^his old reo;iment) in 
 advance with the other columns in supporting distance. 
 The enemy's advance was charged and drove straightfor- 
 ward in and just as the end of the cut was reached Gen. 
 Stuart gave the coijimand, " At them my boys and give 
 it to them in tierce -point.'' And at it, with that develish 
 yell, across the opeii field in the face of a perfect shower 
 of leaden hail, the gallant Virginians dashed — clash went 
 their sabres, delving into the enemy's ranks they plunged. 
 The first shock had scarcely subsided whei^- their front 
 line broke* plying the onset with additional fnry, the sup- 
 port too gave way aiid the confusion became a rout, and 
 broke into a wild flight ; their Hying columns glutting the 
 road— ^parties indiscriminately breaking through wood 
 and field ; the continual pop of our pistols and clash of 
 our sabres ; pinning the hindmost up ; blockading the 
 
u 
 
 road with horse and rider ; every step marking the x^&d 
 w'lih a bleeding body. This exciting chase was thus kept 
 lip for two miles, driving them on through their eanipvS, 
 below 0<;coquan city and never stopped till within the 
 lines of a large body of infantry, who were moving up 
 Irom Dumfries, and after entertainiug this body with sev- 
 eral rounds of shell, the command withdrew ; killing and 
 wounding some 200 of the enemy, with the loSs of 16 kill- 
 ed and wounded. Crossed the Occoquan river and pro- 
 ceeded to Burke atation on tlie Orange and Alexandria 
 railroad, capturing the telegraph and operator, and some 
 supplies. Here Gen. Stuart opened communication with 
 old Abe and elicited several respectful responses ; when 
 he concluded by remonstrating with him respecting the 
 inferior qualities of his mules, in the following dispatch : 
 "• President Lincoln, the. last draw of wagons I've just 
 'made are very good, but the mules are inferior stock, 
 scarcely able to haul off the empty wagon, and if you ex- 
 l)ect me to give your lines any farther attention in this 
 quarter, you should furnish better stock, as I've had to 
 burn several Valuable wagons before getting them in my 
 lines." ■ ~ • - . 
 
 (Signed,) J. E. B. STUART. 
 
 A. Lincoln. 
 
 Destroying the telegraph and obstructing the railroad, 
 moved on all night in the direction of Fairfax, but finding 
 a strong force had been concentrated at that point, passed 
 immediately around it, evading their forces who were on 
 the move to intercept us, and bore round up to Vienna, 
 and swept on round the enemy without any interruption 
 during the day ; crossed Bull Run and bivouacked near 
 Gainsville ; thence through *Warrentou, where a body of 
 Yankee cavalry came across to intercept us, but the 
 ubiqitous Black Horse alone met and dispersed them ; 
 recross^ed the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs, and 
 proceeded leisurely to camp, and reached it on the 31st. 
 In this raid Gen. Stuart doubtless carried out his most 
 
cherished plans. CapLuriui; 300 prit^oiiors besides killiDg- 
 and ■vvo.imaing al least 100^' Securing apd carrying ftffa 
 large quantity of valuable property, and. inflicting eerious 
 damage upon the cnoiny in destroying his caiups aiitl sup- 
 plies. Thus ends our crude and inperfect sketches of the 
 •liunible part we have borne in the summer, foil and M'in- 
 1er campaigns of 1862. •' 
 
 And to-night as we lay down our pen, the chilling >vin- 
 try winds chant a sad requie^ii to the partiufj year that has 
 entombed so "many fond hopes.* AYe hear the lone step of 
 the sentiiicl on his weary round; as hi% steady tread rustles 
 over the incru'sted frozen ground ; he breatlies in silent-c 
 against the cutting blasts, and fond memory carries him 
 r< rln^ once happy fcen OS of ik'Uci'I'iiI association. 
 
 ir< 
 
 ■ ilia rnuskct lalls eliUin, u..- i.i>_c ...«i... ..uu giiin. 
 * Grows gentle with memoriee dear," 
 
 ILis r'-veries- break and his heart litters a silent jn-i'yer 
 lor peace. Ah I how many hearts at this •moment are" 
 iinxiously throbbing fur that much- coveted blessing. Vet 
 !>car up ;'^ God in his own good time will deliver us, and 
 ; mid ihi.'. dark frowniug clouds of war a iull gleam of hope 
 cers through the gloom,, reflected from a just and holy 
 cause, still encouraging us to strike. 
 
 Strike — as ye have strucic befor'^ 1 
 Strike — as ye have struck, qhcc more 
 Strike — as patriotic 8ira§ of yore ! ■■ ' 
 
 Determined }J»he free I ^ 
 
 Those sore tiials may rhn'throiigh another ^eaV, or even 
 a series of year.:. Souls are tried in the crucible of suffer- 
 ing, and the hotter tii6 ci ucible the purer the metal. And 
 when the long pent np beams of peace burf^t forth, they 
 will shine but'the brighter; and when ^'^e do come to sit 
 down under the green tree of peace, the holicrwill be the 
 spell. Yes, every \)ure impulse of heart, every holy emo- 
 tion of the sdul and every fond hope of the future conspires 
 us •() stnkc on with redoubled blows. 
 
 • ^ " To strike — lor ou5- "altars and our lires '. 
 
 For the green graTes of our sires ! 
 God and our native land H'