Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-08-15

there esys1 ssS est qsssHeh about hoafa~kfogs cay
~ nsht -.abeut Tators OF forage They Marched nse
nnr yhsn posblc greEIcs tho horses here and there
and estps what they eold 6nd when rateha gave out
For nice days The ctvalry division rcithet rested nor
slept except by matches, or in the saddle. Man flesh
and horse Ash cauld do no more.
It Q force reached Gettysburg on the second day Of
the battle -Thursdly-s were joined by jenkins
brieade. Gen. jenkins was wounded in an engagement
ON that day With the eDemys cavalry at Hun,erstowr
on our left wing Or Friday, Gen. Stuart met, aud, af
ter bloody and obstnate contest, drove back the
emys Whole forco Of cavalry on their extreme left
This sanguDary combatfor such it may be called from
the cosc and obstinate character of the encounter the
men fighting sRbre 10 sabre-cost US many valuable
lives Among the wounded was Gen Wade Hampton,
one Of the hravess and most efficient commanders in
the service who was twice severely wounded on the
head with the sabre and shot through tie hip. His
brother, Col. Frank Hampton fell on the s.h oil June,
in the FIGHT ntar Brandy At sunset on Friday, at Get
tysburg The cavalry held the ground they had occupied
all day and their dsmouuted shapshooters maiataiEed
their position.
When the army moved, in accordance with the move
ments OF the etemy, toward HagerstOwn, the cavalry
guarded It's tanks and were engaged frequently from
Getiysburg TO WiIiamsport Gen. Lee having
reached HagerstoND, the cavalry took post in
'front.' toward BoOnsboro', ard for four successive
days fought the enemy's advance force, hoidiI 6
i in CHECK until General Leos arrangements for offer
inc battle were complete These contests were probably
unknown even tie infantry resting quietly in their
camrs tsw IN les away; and imagine they are wholly
unknown to all VINO did not participate in them. Your
correspondent has seen good many battles, but no
harder fighting than done there by the cavalry,
artillery and dsmounted sharpshoOers of the division
Their loss heavy but the enemy were checked and
driven back more than once When General Stuart
fell back to Hagerstown General Lee had established
his line was in order OF battle, and remained 50 until
Gen Meade began TO tRtrench.
The cavalry were not allowed repose, however. They
must be "he wicked for there is no rest for them
force vas moved towards Falling Waters, and guard
ed the flank and rear Of the army in crossing. No
sooner had the army rescbed the southern bank OF the
Potomac than the enemy's cavalry crossed in heaVy
force at Sheppard.town where tney we're attacked by
three brgade5 OF neral Stuars command, under Gen.
F,z Lee and after hard contest, driven lack across
the river la lhis in almost every encounter during
the campaign, the eremys loss was very heavy, and,
although our not slight, 1t was greatly exceed
cd nv that OF our opponents.
Since General Lee r,crossed the mountsns the cav.
airy have been engag in almost daily contests win
the envy, aud have completely held them in check
OF these ncessant encounters III spite Of the oody
character, nobody h ars anything except from vague
rumor The world is fond biz battles, ike Gettys
burg that pays attention 10 skTmisaes aud picket
fshng The importance, however, OF this v'g ant OPP
position t every point 10 tue enemy's advance ca!
scarcely be exaggerated Ii resting the infantry were
but this IS the least part of the service performed
The results achieved by the cavalry Division in the
expedition TO Pennsylvania were important Railroads
we're ST eyed captured, Washington aud B2,ti-
more completely demorslzsd," aud Gen Mcade's
commune ions With the Capital cut at every poat
Gen. S,uirs command was directly in rear Of the
Federal array between IL and its base OF supplies; and
not Only did this greatly cripple the enemy, but be was
Obliged 20 detGch ueay his cntrs force of cavalry TO
oppSss tie invaders. Looked at thus from military
p3nt Of view, the expedition was most important and
Successful one achiey NJ g'ee results, and worthy Of
the braiu-N hu-ever th,t may be which devised it,
Viewed hersise, the march extraordinary, and
W. inquest onabiy I've in history rs among the most
rem,rkabl, cavalry movements on record. The force
Gro sea vide aud deep river followed by artillery
advanced throrgl the enemys country for nine days
aud highs fighting every day nearly and without stop
ping to rest penetrated to the heart of Pennsylvania
arrived in time to take unfortunate part in the battle
of Gettysburg guarded the tanks Of tie army il
moved back projected its crossing the Potomac; re-
pulsed the enemy hen they appeared on this side GOV
cred our rear when the army crossed the MOUNTAINS
and is nov fighting every day.
Tae loss OF the cavalry during these operations has
been heavy, amounting killed. wounded and prisoners,
90 nearly one-fo fourth of the entire command
But important work was dore-and it was well dom.