Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1863-11-12

/ CONVERSATION ccuiQ De distinctly heard
by as. Our situation was extremely critical !:
any accident-the accidental discharge of q pis
tols-woud have disclosed our position, and
then, IN view of the overwhelming force of the
enemy, nothing awaited us but destruction or
surrender. Stuart gave his officers and men to
understand that surrender was not 10 be thought
| OIL, but that the enemy was to be fought to the
last. A council of war having been called, it
was sresoived, as the best thing that could be
done under the circumstances, TO desert the
nine pieces 0: horse srtillery, and for the cayaI
| ry IN six columns to endeayor to cut their way
| through the eneny., But after some reflection
Stuart resolved not to abandon his artillery
ard struck upon device for informing Gen.
Lee, who was a. Warrenton, of his situation.-
He callsd for three volunteers TO undertake
desperate enterprise. Crockett Eddins, of this
city, and tive other young men, Immediately
| stepped forth to undertake ything their Gen.
erai might order. Stuart ordered them to put
on infantry knapsaeks, and. shouldering mus
kats To advance in the darkness to the road
| fall into the enemys column aud, crossing it, to
make their way to Warrenton, and say to Gen
Lee that he surrounded, and he s'mast send
some OF bis people to hel him out." Eddins
and his two gailaat comrades obeyed orders,
and reached Warrenton in safety.
The last division Of the enemy halted and
bivouacked near Staart, and within $50 yards
CT his positon--so close that could hear the
Yankees pouring out oats to feed their horses
During the night, two of Meade's staff strag>
ged into our lines and were taken prisoners
Oae of taem a gay young fellow, said TO Stu
art, ''Ail right, General. sop with you to
night you dine with Us omorrow," intimatng
that Stuart would, by that time be prisoner.
AT daylight, Wednesday morning, Stuart
was informed, by the cracking of our skirmish.
ers' nuskets, that Gen. Lee had received mis-
message, and was sending 'sorne of his people"
to help him. As Lees advancing columns
attracted the enemy's attention, Stuart, from |
the opened them wit h grape and canis
ter The enemy were much disurdered by the
canEonaoe from unexpected quarter, and
taking advantage of the confusion, Stuart lim-
bered up his guns aud, with cavalry and artllls.
ry dashed through the hostile ranks aud rslon |
ed Gen. Lee. The enemy suffered loss OF
$50 killed 10 this affair. .
That evening, Hills corps reached Bristow
Station just after Msades army had passed
that point. What appeared to be small force
of the enemy was discovered behind long en- /
barkr krnent of the railroad, and two brigades of
Heth's division were ordered to dislodge them. [
Then followed the battle of Bristow, which has
already been mentiened in these columns
What appeared to be trihiug force of the sne
my turned out to be two full army corps lying I
in ambush to gobble up any incoEsiderata brig |
AIDES that might attempt to dislodge them. An
hours experiment convinced our men that a +
formidable force was in their front, and they
withdrew We had 800 or 400 men killed
and wounded in the fight. The enemy admit
a severe loss, but they left but few OF their
dead upon the field. Before the main body Of
our army could get up the battle was over
That night our men were drawn up in line of
battle, but when the day broke on Thursday
morning the enemy was gone. Our forces fol.
lowed them az far as Manassas Junction.. and
resting here day, began rstrogade move-
mens towards the Rappahannock. Our caval- F.
ry, on Thursday, crossed Bull Creek, near the
foot of Ball Run Mouatain, and made a recon
neissancs as far as CensreviIle, where they
were driven back by the enemy's infantry.
Thus ended this famous retreat and pursuit. I
Our army returned to the Rappahannock, hav-
ing lost IN the campaign about 1000 men kill. |
ed, wounded and prisoners, and having taken
near 1000 prisoners. Ofths enemy's ioss in
killed and wounded we have no means of max
ing On estimate. During the pursuit our troops
sever made over twelve miles a day. The res {
suits of the campaign are important. We took
) large number of prisonsrs aud horses, ascer-
bained Meade's army TO consist of not more
han $4,000 infantry, destroyed the railroad
from Manassas to Rappahanneck Station, and
removed Meade's headquarters from the Rapi.
Jan to the Rappabannock.
During the campaign, our cavalry did spleno