The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-11-04
ELEVENTH vOLUME---NUMBER SAL.

drove back the enemy's cavalry upon the column
t OF infantry advancing to occupy the crest from
which the cavalry were driven. Quick ms thou1 ht
Lees Sharpshooters sprang to the ground, and
| engaging the infantry skirmishers, held them in
check till the artillery in advance came up which
under the gallant Pelham, drove back the enemy's
| force to his batteries beyond the Monocacy, be-
tween which and our solitary gun quite spirited
hire continued for some time. This answered in
connection with the high crest occupied by our
piece to screen entirely my real movement quick
ly to the left, making bold aud rapid strike for
Whites Ford, to makemy way across, before the
enemy at Poolesville aud Monocacy could be
aware of my design Although delayed somewhat
by two hundred infantry, strongly posted in the
cliffs the ford, yet they yielded to the moral
effect Of few SHELLS before engaging our Sharp
shooters, and the crossing of the canal (now dry)
and river was effected with all the precision Of
passing defle in orIll. A section of artillery
being sent with the advance and placed 10 posi-.
ton on the Loudon side, another piece on the
Maryland height, while Pelham continued to oo-
cupy the attention Of the enemy with the other,
Withdrawing from position to position until his
piece was ordered to cross The enemy was
marching from Poolesville in the meantime, but
came up in line OF battle on the Maryland bank
only to receive laundering salutation, with evi.
dent effect, from our guns on this side. / lost
not man killed on the expedition, and only
few slight wounds. The. enemy's loss is not
known, but Peham's one gun compelled the enc
my's battery to change its position three times
The remainder OF the march was destitute Of in.
terest. The conduct of the command aud their
behaviour towards the inhabitants is worthy Of
the highest praise; few individual cases only
were exceptions in this particular.
Brigader-General Hampton and Colonels Leo,
Jones, Wickham and Butler, and the officers and
men under their command, are entitled to my
lasting gratitude foI their coolness in danger aud
cheerful obedience to orders. Unoffending per.
sons treated with civty, aud the Inhabitants
were generous in protfers OF provisions on tba
march. We seized and brought over large
number of horses, the property of citizens Of the
United States
The valuable information obtained in this re-
as to the distribution of the enomy's
force, WAS communicated orally to the Command
ing General and need not be here repeated 4
number OF public functionaries and prominent oft.
zens were taken captiyes and brought over as
hostages for our own unoffending citizens whom
the enemy has torn from their homes aud confined
in dungeons in the North One or two of my
men lost their way, aud are probably iu-shs hands
1f the enemy.
The results Of this expedition, in moral and
political point of view, can hardly be estimated,
md the CONSERVATION among property holders ia
Pennsylvania beggars description.
l am specially indebted to Captain B. 8. White.
C. S. cavalry,) and to Mr.. - aud Mr. -,
whose skilIful guidance was of immense service 10
ne. My Staff are entitled to my thanks for uu.
irng energy in the discharge of their duties.
enclose map Of the expedition drawn BY
captain W. w Backford, to accompany this re-
'ort. Also, copy of orders enforced during The
march.
Believing that the hand of God was clearly
in the signal deyeranoe of my COM
nand from danger, and the crownipg success st
ending it, ascrbe to Him the praise, the boUor,
nd the glory.
l have the honor to be, most respectfully, your
bedent servant, j. E. B. STUART,
Maj. Gen. Comd'g Cavalry.