Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-03-20
From the sixteenth.
FAIRFAX STATION, VA,
March 18th, 1868.

March 18th, 1868.
Mr.. EpIToR:-All is quiet at Fairfax
Col. Stoughton has made forward move
ment,-the first of the season. About one
year ago Manassas was taken by single
Yankee, aud we sincerely desire that the
Colonel may have equal success. Although
| do not fancy his style. and presume that
he fancies it still less, yet l am Stoughton
man, and of course am ready TO whip the
first one who says that he is clad the Colo
mel has been captured for ! consider him
a brave and loyal man, and possessed of
talents and requirements equaled by few of
his age. No doubt il is considered pure
careessness on his part, in having his head
quarters so far from his command Blu
campaigning in Virginia has proved fatal
to most aspirants to military glory upon the
sacred soil. Indeed, the commanders who
have not made fatal mistakes in this de-
partment have been so few, that he can con-
sole himself with the fact of belonging TO a
very numerous class whose names are found
in the catalogue of blunders which have
brought upon us but series of calamities
instead of victories.
| have heard il talked in camp, many a
time during the past few weeks, that Fair
fax could be surprised tho General and Staff
captured, and horses stolen and all be GU:
of our reach before assistance could be rem
dered. Therefore we were not surprised
when the thing was done. But other Gen.
erals have made their headquarters at Fair
fax, when their commands were al dis
tance, and no doubt are equally to blame
with Col. Stoughton, if any blame attaches
to him. Tie fact is we have been exposed
al mary points during the past two months.
When regiments are scattered over large
space, not within helping distance of each
other, rebel cavalry can have il all their
own way, when they come in such force as
they did two months ago. and the only won
der is that they have not visited US before
While'the Col was spending the evening
at Fairfax Station with some friends, some
ten days before he was captured, spy Wis
tied his headquarters, representing himself
as Federal Captain. The same man was
recognized among the rebels at the time of
the raid. They crossed our line which is
some six or eight miles from the Court
House, with the countersign in some places,
in others it is presumed they crossed with
out Being noticed by our pickets, who prob
ably on SO rainy a night neglected their sdu-
ty, as is too often the case. On arriving nj
Fairfax, some of them took off our guard
and posted theirs instead. while others went
to the quarters of the officers and called
them cut, very unmannery act. to be sure.
but they all escaped except COL Stoushton.
Col. Wyndham, commander of cavalry was
away in Washington. Col. johnson Of 9th
N. T., escaped at side window in his night
clothes and crawed under barn, waiting
until the rebels were gone, when he started
in pursuit of them with cavalry which had
been stationed about two miles from the
Court House, to the number Of 200.
Zimri Messenger of Sprinfeld. VT. who
was acting as orderly at the telegraph office
was taken and placed upon horse and
made TO lead five other horses, two of which
were the Colonefs. He made bad work of
riding and leading. purposely l presume.
and berg careless Wiiha, let 90 the Colo
nefs horses, one of which was found the
next day and brought back to the Court
House. Finally, after riding a couple of
miles, he got changed on to horse which
was saddled, and having learned that there
was John in the company, andtI.ere being
a little excitement in the rear, which took
the attention of those around him, he started
back towards the rear of the column. when
on being asked, I" Who goes there 2" he
said, =" john and that be was going back
10 help Capt Moseley who was the lei der of
the rebels. SO ne passed on, but soon turn.
cd away from the column and scampered