Daily national Republican., 1863-05-18
LATER FROM RICHMOND.
THE PURSUIT OF SLOVENIAN.
Operations of Rebel Cavalry.
CRENsHAW WOOLEN MILLsBURNED


account of the operation of stuart's and Lees
cavalry agrees substantially with the report of
General Averilli
[From the Richmond Sentinel, May 1871
We are able to lay before our readers to-day |
an authentic and complete account Of the
operations of the Confederate cavalry from the
time Of Hooker's crossing the Rappahannock |
till his return whence he came.
Prior to the transactions which we propose ,
to sketch, Major General Stuart, with two
brigades Of Confederate cavalry, was posted
between Culpeper Court House and Brandy
Station. Gen. Fltzhugh Lees brigade con-
sisted Of the First, Second, Third, Fourth and
Fifth Virginia regiments. Gen. W. II. F.
Lees brigade comprised the Second North
Carolina, and the Ninth, Tenth, Thirteenth and
Sixteenth Virginia regiments. The last two
regiments, however, had been detached for
picket duty above and below Fredericksburg.
Major Beckman, with three batteries Of artil-
lery, also formed part of Gen. Stuart's force.
The enemy's cavalry, under Gen. Stoneman,
were posted at or near Warrenton Junction.
Their force, as has since been ascertalned, con-
sisted of four divisions, commanded respec-
lively by Generals Buford, Averill, Pleasanton,
and Gregg. The aggregate force numbered
twenty-eight regiments and from twelve to If
teen thousand men, or about three thousand
five hundred men to each division.
The various fords on the Rappahannock were
/ piCketed and defended by dismounts from our
own cavalry.
On Tuesday night, the 2sth OF April. Stone
man arrived at Kelley's Ford, about six miles
| from Brandy Station, and crossed his whole
| force, not at the ford ITSELF which was guard
| ed, but slx hundred yards below on the pontoon
bridge laid down by Hooker's infantry. The
Thirteenth Virginia regiment, Col Chamblss,
was sent forward to reinforce the pickets and
skirmished with the cnemy's cavalry through
out the next day. Stuart's main force mean
LII .lWn.. .H=-E
Ing for that purpose strong position between
that point and Kelley's Ford. But the enemy
not taking that direction as was expected, at ?
, p. m. on Wednesday Stuart moved down to
4 Willis Madden's, on the road from Kelley's
Ford TO Germapna, and there struck passing
column of the enemy, consisting Of cavalry.
; infantry, and artillery. BuChanan's artillery
opened upon them; but they were so eagerly
| pressing forward for the crossing of the Rapi-
dan that they did not stop to reply. We here
captured about thirty prisoners, representing
the three corps that were passing.
Stuart now took FItzhugh Lees brigade and
Joined Gen. R. E. Lees army to bear part in
the approaching grand battle, meanwhile the
Second North Carolina regiment, Lieut. Col.
Payne, had commenced skirmishng with the
enemy's advance at MaddCns and had fallen
back before ii to protect wagon train that
was passngtO Lee. Successful in this, 1t had
to find Its way back to the brigade, which, af-
ter a cirCuitohs march, It Joined at Cupepcr
Court House. At this latter point, Gen W. IL.
F. Lee, now left alone In that quarter, concon-
trated his force on Wednesday night. 1t con-
sisted of the Second North Carolina, and the
Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia, with two pieces
Of artillery.
On Thursday morning, squadron being
left to watch the enemy, Lee moved to Rapidan
Station, whittier the squadron slowly followed
pressed hya heavy force of the enemy. Thurs
day night found the two forces confronting
,4Qnh al a the ppnOsifp LnpEg Of . lao pa,
.au. our cavalry dsmouuted and occupied
The rid pits. and the fighting lasted all night
mi rn" newt day. Captain Harris battery Of
. -four Luu- reinforced Lee on Friday evening,
"Arn y. speedily Grove the enemy from hs
position.
Friday night intelligence reached Lee that a
column Of IA" enemy was ut Louisa Court
house. He al once burnt the Rapidan bridge
and fell hpcktO Orange { COurl-hOusu. and thence
, 70 GnriOn-Nillc on Saturday morning to cover
that important point. The enemy in his front
at Rdpidun. dr-pairing eI forcing a Iassagr.
. had. 70 seems. already left lOr RncCOOu'a Ford.
Il ten MlI,- nciow. where they vrrnJ. . Crn-siI,r.
Is At GOrIon,yillr. the Smith Nirguia cavalry.
g Colonel BrNlc. was Immediately sent out to r,-
II cOnrO'rr. lie met the enemy, three regiments
a strong. near Trcyilian's depot, and immedi-
IL atcly charged. The enemy made no fight, mt
II fell rapidly back four miles to their main hody.
In the pursuit several Of them were killed and
wounded, and more than forty prisoners.
t. from three regiments. We had one man
wounded. B.alc then f,ll back slowly before
the uultcl enemy tin Joined Wy General Lee.
Petition q. then llnau for BATH" nnl arld I'LL
% -uuIown. hut the enemy retired.
Saturday night our men had their fret sleep
{ lUTiu- tLr week.. Next m0mUg nj = O'C'pch
e. int lli-cncc was received that the enemy werC
Du the canal at tolumhiI. L'' Instantly sci
1uI for Palmyra. twenty-five miles distant, a,
an Jli-ihl, point ir""l which to fail upon hi.
= column. whether it should mOrc NJ the Rlyun
m for Charlptlr~N He. or across the James fDl
ll Furmvilly. Ou reaching Palmyra. wa,
IT, learned llll 'uc runmN were rlill at Columbia
~ Lee aI rurc lt.-l,.' III. lat the Yankees tool
1n the ll.rn ni left bCiJr, hc reached there will
Ir start of -,'v, raj hDur. lie struck uhur trai
two miles from Columbia and followed all nigh
." in lh.d.rrctiun Of RIcllnuui. reaching lladrn'
H. Cru~- Roads on Monday uummg, where Il
Sc learned that IL. r.rulr, hwl joined stUncman'
main column at J 'Unpsnn' Crossing.
H. Meantime the enemy had learned that It.
.H was in mutiOn, Out wilhOuD showing whu
- path he had followed, n regiment had bee
e. thrown out to the west and southwest to piCkt
for him, while he got round to the east. Upo
&C. this regiment posted at FIcming's Cross Road
Lee now determined to fall. II proved to b
Us the Fifth United States Regular Cavalry, III
same of which Gen. Albert Sidney johnson ha
been colonel and Gen. Robert Z. Lee, lieuter
ant colonel.
Lee sent forward two companies of the Mint
u Virginia., unutT Nal. W hlltT, 10 engage II
'u fathers old regiment while the command pr
pared TO support the attack. The enemy hrOk
of but soon formed again. Maj. Waller agai
charged, when fierce hand to hand fight eI
sued, and sabre crossed sabre In what warrior
Ist would call beautiful style But again the cnt
my broke discounted and routed, before OF
,o main force could get up. Besides the kiIlC
w and wounded, Waller captured Capt. Owens
Commanding the rcgimcnD, a lieutenant, an
rd between thirty and forty prisoners.
70 The fitig,6d condition Of our horses prec!ud=
- pursuit. Our men had rode sixty miles, nigl
" and day. SIOncman, tOO was within five mile
approaching with his whole force Lee thcr,
ed fore, continued his journey 10 GordOnsviIlr
IN reaching there at 81 O'Clock p. m, on Monday
re after quadrilateral march OF scVenty-siY mile
since Sunday morning.
Lee took position to cover GordonsvillC dul
n. ing Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursda
10 captured twenty odd prisoners who were r,
III. trIug towards the Rapidan. The enemy hayln
destroyed the bridges on the North Anna, an
the stream being swollen, he was unable
hc rrurs IN pursuit. lie then moved to otLC
,n' roads hut found the cavalry had all passed.
t,a Heavy LOss by Fire One hundred an
hfiy Operatives thrown out Of tm
plOymrnt.
Hs The Sr"''"! -n,7 u Drrcf account rru Gr