Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-03
altogether.
SUCCESSFUL RECONNAISSANCE OF GEN. FIT7.
LEE NEAR FALN0UTH-POSITION OF THE
ENEMY ASCERTAINED-AWFUL SCATTERING
OF FEDERAL CAvALRY-OvER ONE HUNDRED
PRISONERS TAKEN, &c.
Correspondence Of the Richmond whisl
CAMP OF GEN. FIR. LEES CAVALRY,
CSCNTY, Va, Feb. 26th, 1868.


|, in common with many others, read with regret
editorial in the Richmond Examiner, some weeks ago,
which was calculated to prejudice the minds of the peo
pie against of the service and which abOunded
in errors Of the grayest character We did not for
the good opinion of the Examiner nor did sc desire its
recommendation. But did feel some pain when We
reflected that the writer whO perhaps had not been in
five miles Of battle field during the war; might induce
the belief on the part of of the people at home
that We who volunteered at the first blast of the bugle
we who have been in scores of encounters with the
enemy and have exercised sleepless vigilance the
outposs-we who have led every advance and covered
every retreat Of our armieswere neglected. of du
ties false to every sentiment of honor pillgers
aud punderers terror to nothing but the helpless and
unprotected of our people. This gave PAIN be-
cause it was a reflection upon our hoa0r-that which
every solder and true values than life. But
thinking that the assertions made would be best refuted
BY actions no response was made far as the writer of
this is informed As an act justice the mnch abused
Cavalry" request the privilege of occupying small
space in your columns, with brief account of Gen.
Fiz Lees reconnaissance to within five miles of Fall
mouth, Stafford county.
He left camp last Tuesday morning, with small por-
ton of his command, and Wednesday, about IL the
enemys cavalry pickets were drvenin by Col Drake OF
the lst Regiment who pressed on, followed immediate
" by Col Munford Of the ID and Lieut.. Col. w. K.
| Carter OF the sd Regiments We came upon the
reserve Of the pckets which drew up line OF battle
threw out skirmshers, &C. But little firing DONE
General Lee went right A. them with drawn saOres.-
/ They wheeled about and TO the woods Pressing
them closely they scattered, Coli Drake left the road
while Col Muaford, moving forward rapidly upon
the 4th Pennsylvania drawn up IN line Of battle Down
| upon them the I'd rushed, followed by the Sd. The
"brare" Yankees stood till got in pistol shot
| when breaking by squads, some went down the read
and several hundred scampered for the woods the
left While the I'd pursued Gen. Lee held the Sd in
serve Soon after the rally sounded, and our reg
| ment reformed We were then within few miles OF
Gent AVeri with FIVE brigades cavalry (Federals and
still nearer 70 considerable innntry force. The object
of the reconnaissance being accomplished, and having
waited hour more began so make preparations
to return. The LIST and Sd meanwhile hemmed in some
Yankees, and they out Of the woods and surren
dered at discretion. Lieut. Withera of Sd Pennsylys-
MIA surrendered with sergeant and thirty OF his
own and LIST Rhode Island regiments Lieut. Col Car
ter Presently another party Of fifteen twenty came
out aud surrendered to Col Drake. These, with wha
the st and I'd regiments had caught BEFORE made about
one hundred men. We started back n body Of Yam
Zee cavalry following slowly at great distance After
we had left the open fields and entered large body o.
woods the Yankees up suddenly and charged oul
sharpshooters cheering Justify. Gen1 Lee ordered
Col Carter of the Sd who was in readiness to chsrgC
EN- At once with a shout" This done Immediately
The Yankee line looked very defiant till our boys go
in thirty yards of them then broke before, but die
not scatter After chasing them several hundred yards
capturing the hindmost We were recalled by Genl Lee