The New York herald., 1863-07-18
Opinions Of General Stuart and
Other Rebels.
Explanations in Regard to the Retrea!
from Gettysburg.
The Way in which the Retreat
Was Conducted,
&C., &C.. &s.


Stuart will not enter into the details that led to my
capture, 10 the trivial circumstances
nected with that event Without further PREDATORY
maTks-other than TO state that is not my desire
intention TO give my views OF the rebel army its
condition. &C., but simply those Of the rebel leaders,
win proceed with what may be termed
THE NARRATIVE.
Major Brown, who commanded the rebel outpost or
dered TO be taken at to the headquarters o
General Stuart, and 10 him ! went. Tho General wa.
round the Hagerstown road (this was on Monday
las having his headquarters the open air In the
OF Maryander's cottage Notwithstanding the owner
Of this property was a Marylander-even while Genera
S was there--still his property was much abused
GENERAL STUART.
l found General Stuart courteous and aiiable. He
was at dinner, Teasing property coniscated
from Maryauders or Pennsylvanians. He ques
toned me very particularly regarding the mill.
tia, and particularly the OF their equipment.
In regard to this latter, asked him why he so nqu
sitive? He replied by saying that If attacked by the
militia--of which he expressed no fear whatever-he
wanted to make approximation towards the value Of
the property likely to fall into his hands.
THE UNION
1t my earnest belief that the rebels did not fear the
advancing militia forces and that they would have been
only too glad to have attacked them had been for
tho
MOVEMENTS OF GESRREL MEADE.
Regarding General MS forces and movements could
there much anxiety if not little fear for
the entire of the rebel plans in the crossing Of
the Potomac river. But as the afternoon wore away
and the Unionists did not make general attack
the same merely keeping up "a heavy skrmsh-The
rebel generals-many Of whom saw-became more and
more animated their remarks, until at last they broke
outpartcuarly General stuart-n laughs and remarks
Of derisop at the easy manner in which, they sly led
IL, tho Yankees could be fooled. tYes,' said General
Stuart presence Of Generals Rhodes and Ftzhugh Lee
he Yankees, instead Of attacking actually throw
ing kind Of intrenchents and they boast that
they are not afraid Of us and pressing for fight
Well they'd better come on, and they'll find out whether
your half starved rebels have not learned Yankee tricks
as well as other things" On
MONDAY AFTERNOON
there were not twenty i've thousand rebels side OF
the Potomac there thirty pieces OF artillery
In my teegraphc despatch printed in Wednesdays Hs.
RALD referred to the manner Of the rebel crossing
Therefore il is not necessary for me to do 40 again nv
main object nov being TO give what excluded from
that despatch because OF the inability OF the telegraph
operators TO get IL oil.
removed his headquarors TO point two miles this side
of wiamsport Here he continued to conduct the rebel
retreat General Lee the Virginia sde conducting
matters there Gen. Lee had gone over, with his staff
the day previous, and TO Gen. Stuart assigned
chief command on this side.
THE RsnKIs RERsArrN0.
Every movement in retreat was made in the best OF
order. Command after command was withdrawn In the
quetest possible manner.
AN ATTACK.
Towards evening" as previously stated In the HERALD.
General Fitzpatrick mado an attack on the left Of the
rebel position, the same being protected by commanding
Sorticaons. This attack well met by the rebels,
Tho latter sustaining cavalry charge and making one
In return. This attack tho left met by General
Robnson forces consisting Of brigade Of cavalry
and two or three pieces OF artillery The artillery was
put position the Hagerstown road Two thirds Of
Robrson cavalrymen were dismouned and placed be.
hind the earthworks to make the Unionists believe
that infantry still remained IN full force there. At
one time il seemed though the rebels would have
fall back and their retreat be discovered AZ this time
there was a great deal Of excitement along the rebel
lines The led horses we're removed towards and on by.
road leading to the Wiiamsport pike and what prisoners
there were near were taken away in the same direction
in degree OF haste While this gong the
left Johnston's forces and rortion of Stonewa jack
sous old command were in position 10 the right and left
Of the wiamsport pike. As tho Union cavalry ceased
10 press Robinson led horses were brought back
again 10 the old position
MONDAY NIGHT
about eight O'Clock, all tho prisoners, under
strong guard, were put upon a march, amid tor
rents OF rain, darkness, and over road worse
than any met with In Virginia, ~
The Wiamsport pike, and from there 20 Wamspoft.
ON arriving at the latter place found General Stuart sit
ting a rail fence lie called II headquarters The
lantry was passing at the time and notw outstanding the
rain many OF them singing gnyly, and king alb
surd and witty remarks In the distance, towards Ha.
gerstown, burned long line OF well liz camp dres, these
Illuminating the sky for miles around yet little did the
Unonsts know that these camp fires while they helped
10 deceive them also helped light the very path the
rerea,ing rebel army AS was for the second time
veycd into the presence Of General stuart remarked
general you ordered that should be treated with the
most distinguished considerations and is this treating
with such confederation marching through mud and
ran over road almost impassabic at this time for
1r bcasU "Weln replied the General, 81 cannot say
that II L., but what meant by treating you with the
most distinguished consideration was that going 10
great honor TO get there, seeing that 30
many of your country men have been trying long
and so bard 10 roach Richmond, aud have yet
got there only as you are going-as prisoners" After
further remarks In this strain commenced To
nam 70 y mofs ms ssn S po @ n
Gan great generals swear, don't theyS" asked l.
II" replied General s., edo not swear and yet think
great military there is IN the country y
Ihereupon his a. A. @. remarked;-"Thc General does
not drink smoke, chew nor swear and besides this be
Il member Of the church" After further
the General ordered that comfortable quarters
be provided for me- Ills wishes promptly complied
With, and I was escorted 10 house auter slrong
guard Here | renamed until daylight next morning.
VISIT AND LONG oosynsArioy.
During the night was visited by AZ aid dc camp "a
Why the rebel army fo back from tne ne ehborhood oi
Goltyso and many other things whole Of bis
crossed into Maryland with tho intention OF going
Washington or TO Harrisburg, and were wonderfully
surprised TO find the manner In which the Yankees
uere deceived, and our plans thereby facilitated.
THE FIGHT AT GETTYSBURG
was an unexpected event That w. We had not foresocr
that light would take place there We knew that there
must be nght the two forces contact
and we had provided for such battle This they did Al
Gettysburg and hence the fight That was indeed
bard fought battle. Our men fought with deepcta,,
resolution. The Yankees commenced TO move from Get
iysburg several hours before we did and was 10 lind on
Aiar three days fighting we had unexpectedly accumu
lated large number Of killed and wounded. These VI
10 attend 10. We also had 10 look out for
ultion Being many miles away from our base OF sup
Plies We concluded 20 fall back This became also
10y VA, We might protect our tram OF wounded; Gsa
our ttaiu q captured property B true we could bav
seui these trains 20 the rear but we could 20
% lar weaken The main army as TO send stronl
e0"ueh guard 70 protect them on their route 4
the ryet, and necessary defend them there. Anohe
thng We did rot know how long before the Potomac
would pe unordaes and what would be the state OF th
welu.er GENERAL Ice ma very prudent man. II wou,
have beon folly Tor HIM 10 have continued his marci
tntoesh ~ eheny county leaving river NJ times i'm
passable between hlm and La bac Of SUPPLIES with an,
Likelihood oi AZ r1cfnlic humber og battles What a,
you Nolu nave oeen the consequences had Genera
Leo penetrated a. far AZ ever he could frtrh
battle. and then found himself hundreds az rr,les
away and without ammunition, II va eenIs ba,s
got ammunition regularly would h,eo 80, ~,
rherever we wanted %. Even az IA %. ".n' ~
oud have done this, but u not deemed uruacn, y,
w. there Is another thing you must take nto esns,so
Ioh. As we advanced, 80 Il became necessary te sce
pad for communication, regards supplies open H. e
lpeth 10 protect this long road. II would have taken
rry heavy force for t not possible cor the Yapk
A. A.gn and