Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-04-24
PUBLISHED DAILY ~
EDGAR SNOW DEN. JR.
nz~ OFFICE-No. 1o4 Ring street street. over
< opas formerly Frenchs) Book Store.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

rrorrosnonaence of the Bait. American.
CAMP NEAR BEALEroN, Va, April 18th,
,say The Cavalry Corps Of the Army OF the
potomac was ordered to be ready, with all its
ava;ah)e force, with eight days ratlons and
sight davs' short forage on pack mules TO
march at dayligh on the 18th inst Whittier
wa were to 90 was kept profound secret
W. moved off as ordered our ranks Of tours
stretching for miles on the winding way, and,
with their bright armor and white graln-sacks,
looking like some h1ge checkered and glitter
mo serpent crawling among the hills. The
first day we reached White Oak Church, and
bivouacked in the woods The next day We
made Bealeton, near the Rappahannock, few
miles from Freeman's Foxvile, and Lawson's
Fords
4 squadron of the lst Maine Cavalry was
Immediately sent to secure Freeman,s Ford:
but Just as they rode into the river squad
ron of Confederate cavalry dashed out OF the
woods, down to the river, jumped from their
horses into their rlfe-rits, and opened ire
upon them. At the same time the Contederates
brought their artillery to bear upon our men,
and thus secured to themselves the ford. The
Regular Battery M was rushed to the river,
supported by squadron OF the lst Maryland
Cavalry, under command OF 1t Col. Deems.
\ brief artillery duel followed, but It amount
ed to nothing, and we were ordered back into
eamp,a Bealeton: :,
spain, Gen. Averll having the advance. But
;t had been raining all night, was still raining
IN torrents. the river had risen and was Still
rising rapidly, and it was not deemed practl-
cahle to cross: SO we were ordered to 60 into
camp in the Woods near the river.
After dark It was discovered that small
stream had SO swollen as to cut off our commu-
nication with Gen Stoneman's headquarters.
During the day the Confederate cavalry had
been into Bealton and captured few OF our
straggers. Gen. Stoneman, with his staff and
BODY guard. was cut off, with his right flank
entirely exposed to another Confederate raid
The lst Regiment Maryland Cavalry and
squadron of the 18th Illinois were ordered to
cross the stream and report to General Stone
man. Under the guidance Of an Alde-de-
Camp they came to the Young river The
night was dark: the rain fell in torrents. We
could hear the food laundering by, but could
not discern it's banks. All hands halted. 1t
took more courage to cross that stream than to
fight battle. Col. Deems called for a volun
eeer to lead the way; but no man stepped tor
ward At length our gallant little Major Rus
gel rode to the head of the column and ask ked,
What are the orders?'' To cross that
stream" replied Colonel Deems swell: said
the fearless Major, 1t any man can cross that
river | can,' and be dashed in, closely follow
ed by Col Deems.
After two unsuccessful attemps, their
horses plunging, and whining, and sllorting,
IN the darkness, they succeeded in reaching
the opposite bank and then shouted to their
men to follow. Two squadrons followed, or
rather attempted to follow some OF their horses
aoatlng down stream, some turning back: some