The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-03
A BRILLIANT EXPLOIT.
Reut Of stuart's Famous Rebel Cavalry.

upon the heels of the brilliant dash upon
Beaver Dam, and before the exuberance and
generalization have ceased, another affair,
equally daring in its conception and surpass-
ingly successful, has instilled enthusiasm into
the ranks and opened the eyes of rebeldom to
the new order Of things As our cavalry re-
turned from Beaver Dam on Sunday evening
it viii be remembered that the rebels followed
them up to within short distance of Fred
erieksburg. Finding that they coald not
overtake US, they proceeded down towards the
Bowling Green road, where they surprised
party of the Third Indiana Cavalry, captur-
ing Lieutenant and seven men.
On Tuesday evening, at four o'clock, Lieu
tenant Colonel Fitzpatrick started out in pur-
suit of the enemy, believed to be lurking in
our vicinity, with one hundred and eighty
men of the Harris Light Cavalry, under Ma
jor Davies; one hundred and twenty of the
Third Indiana, under Major Chapman, and
Companies and E of the Brooklyn Four
teenth, under Captain Mallory. Sixteen
miles from Fredericksburg, at the junction
of the Bowling Green and Newmarket roads,
the command bivouacked for the night, and at
two o'clock next morning Col. Fitzpatrick
pushed on with the cavalry, leaving the in
fantry to guard the front Of the Mattaponey,
and 20 asst as reserve in an emergency.
Mount Carmel was reached at daylight.
Here it was expected the rebels were en-
eamped, and preparations were made
for surprising them; but no enemy could
be found. Hearing that the rebels passed
along there this morning, Colonel Fitzpatrick
sent Captain Seymour, with fifty men, to am
bush them; but the party had proceeded but
short distance before they suddenly came
upon the enemy. The command immediately
charged upon the rebels, who broke like sheep,
and, rushing down to the Nerth Anna river,
ahapdnDad hOrsnS oh
thing and plunged pell nell into the stream
Following them across, the pursuit was eontn-
ued until Fitzpatrick came upon them, drawn
up in the road in columns of platoons, with
dismounted men, armed with rifles, depleyea
as skirmishers, in the fields to the right and
left. Although having an inferior force, Col.
onel Kilpatnek determined to attack them. A
number of men were deployed as skirmishers,
and the column drawn up preparatory to
charge. In the meantime Colonel Fitzpatrick,
Major Davies and Captain Walters rode up
towards the enemy, only three hundred yards
distant, and opened conversation, the rebels
inquiring what he wanted, to which the Colo
mel replied, "What does it look like2" Re-
turning 10 the column, the skirmishers under
Major Davies and Captain Waters commenced
to advance. As yet not shot had been
fred. Presently the rifles and carbines
opened along the line, the enemys balls
whistling over our skirmishers heads, while
now and then rebel reeled and fell before
our deadly carbines This continued several
minutes, the cavalry maintaining their position
in the road. One shot, intended for Col Kill
patrick, passed through horses head, killing
him instantly, and, striking the colonels left
side, fell to the ground On the skirmishers
slowly but surely pressed, both sides cheering
each other, each confident of victory. Soon it
became evident that the enemy must retire,
and in moment the rebel commander was
heard to order, "By platoons, left about
wheel" Hardly had the rebels turned their
horses heads when Major Chapman and the
Indiana boys were upon them, dismounting
men, capsizing horses, and driving the enemy
heller skeiter toward their camp. In after
them went our cavalry, hurrying them down
| toward Hanover junction, where they retired
behind reinforeements, when our men fell back
to the abandoned camp. Here portion of the
cavalry fred q railroad train loaded with
grain, a number of wagons, tents, baggage,
commissary ard medical stores, and other val
liable property. While the handful of men
were fastening the work of destruction, q large
| body of Stuarts cavalry appeared at q short
distance. Had they charged they would have
utterly snnihilated our troops, as they out
num- bored US three to one; but, hating mo-
ment to reconnoiter, Col. Fitzpatrick determined
on bold strike. Sounding the rally, his scat
tered men closed up behind the platoon which
the colonel had suddenly thrown across the
road, while Msjor Davies was sent with Skin
mishers to flank the enemy. Stealing off to
the right, Major Davies had succeeded in
getting on their flank and almost on their rear
before being discovered.
| Opening brisk fire upon their flank, the
| whole command wheeled and fed, followed by
our cavalry, who, after chasing them down
| the railroad as far as was deemed prudent, re-
| turned, first, however, building a number of
fires along upon the track. The party then
returned to camp, reaching Fredericksburg
| last night at IL O'Clock, having marched seven
/ ty-four miles in twenty-four hours, routed a
vastly superior rebel force, composed prlnci-
pally of Stuarts famous cavalry, destroyed
several thousand dollars worth of property,
| cut down the telegraph line, and captured q
large number of horses, together with several
prisoners. Majors Davies and Chapman, and
Captain Walters, did remarkably good service,
and were highly complimented by Col. Kilpat-
rick. The cars have not yet commenced rum
ming on the Central Railroad, and this affair
will be likely to hinder the repair of the road
20 great extent. A Richmond paper, found
| in rebel camp, stated that Gen. Stuart was
building bridge across the North Anna river
over which he intended, with two thousand
uouf w COk1AA1is 0c PI0untiOus III buLs ulT0CbIOn
Col. Fitzpatrick left word for Stuart that he
need take no more troable about the bridge, as
we should give them all they could attend tc
on their own side.
This dash cannot fail to impress the rebels
with the fact that the Department of the Rap
pahannock is about to prove rather q trouble
some neighbor, and, unless Stuart's men exer
else more courage, their laurels will very soor
have faded. A portion of Ashbys old com
mand was also in the fight, as we are informed
by prisoners, and when the rebel authorize
learn the inferiority Of our force, they ma,
possibly reflect upon the probability of Yam
kee being equal to at least one rebel.
The Chin csc in California