The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-03-08
THE REFUSE OF THE RAIDERS NEAR
CHARLCTrESVTLLE.

A gentleman who was present, and wit.
messed the repulse Of the enemy's advance
on Charlottesville, furnishes us with some
particulars Of the affair.
About IL o'clock, on Monday, the camp Of
the Stuart Horse Artillery was aroused BY
the cry the "Yankees are coming p their ad.
vance being then at Rivanna bridge, one mile
and half distant. Uader ordinary circum
stances all would have been confusion, but
In this instance nothing Of the kind was per.
ceptible Officers and men seemed to vie
with each other in GOODNESS and promptness.
1t. Thomson, Of Chew's artillery, With two
men were sent to find ont the exact where
abouts Of the enemy. Others were ordered
to gather mp the horses, and all preparations
were made as if for parade 1t. Thomson
found the advance guard Of the enemy with
In one mile of the camps, and hurried back
to assist in saving his guns. As the horses
were all loose when the alarm was given .
great deal of time was necessarily taken up
in getting them together. But Capts. Chew
and Breathed did not wait for this. Each
wheeled o gun into position and opened on
the enemy, whilst other guns were being
"hitched up" and gotten of. It was only
this determined resistance that saved then.
It was impossible to get of the caissons, as
horses enough could not be found to pull
them. a.s f.-
When all this cannon were gotten ready
they retired slowly to the neighboriDg hills,
and continued to shell the advancing column,
while an opportunity was afforded the men
for getting some of their baggage, which
they had been compelled to neglect to save
the guns. The cannonading was kept up for
half an hour or more, when Capt. MOOrman,
commanding battalion, ordered the guns to
be withdrawn, under the impression tha.
the enemy were fanking him.
Now that no resistance was offered q
squadron Of Yankee cavalry, which had been
thrown round on the left, made its appear.
ance, and, finding the camp clear, dashed in
tents, huts, and stabling of Capts. Chew and
Breathed, whose camps were nearest them.
They also destroyed q caisson and forge for
Capt. Chew All this was done in sight Of
the hills on which the artillery was first
placed. Suddenly q volley was heard in the
camp-now brilliant with "bon-fres" Of va
Gated quarters-and the vandals who had
tracaP with great rapidity. Chew aud
Breathed ordered a charge simultaneously.
They drove the enemy about three quarters
of mile, when they made a stand in Dr.
Cookies orchard, but the impetuosity of the
artillerists could not long be withstood.-
The enemy broke and fled in utter confusion
across the river to their reserves, two regi.
mcnts. The enemy having been defeated
anu v..ssn Usns s1s Isg sss1.rsa 20 .ae.s
Capt. Breathed dispatched fen men to Char
lottesyille to bring out arin3 for his squad, it
being his intention to follow up the Yankees.
About duck the men returned with the arms,
and Capt. B. Ito whom Capt. Chew had par
TALLY resigned cOmmand) started in pMsuit
battery, with eight men had pushed ahead
and 0vertaken the rear guard Of the enemy
at Earleysville, which he charged, killing two
men and wounding Yankee Captain.
1t. Thomson's force being added to that of
Capt. BIS increased the command to about
twenty-five men. This was the number Of
nlen that followed up the refreshing enemy,
with whom they came up at Whites Mill,
sixteen miles from Charlottesville, where
they had gone into camp. It was Capt. b.
intention to attack them, but q courier ar
rived from Gen. Stuart, directing him not to
attack, bat merely to watch-sO he retired
mile or two and camped, putting out pick
cts to watch the enemy's movements. They
commenced moving about 12 o'clock at
night, but all did not get OFT till daylight. At
an early hour Capt. B. was on their track.
About 8 o'clock he fell on their rear guard
and drove them on the main body. He con-
tinued to follow rapidly, and when within
two miles Of Stanardsville came up with
them again. 1t. Ford, with two men, was
in advance, and came on them suddenly in
bend in the road, but nothing daunted by
the odds against him he held his ground
until Capt Breathed came up, when the ene-
my were driven back in such haste that they
were compelled to abandon a carriage, con-
tanning negro woman and three children,
they were taking off After this it was im-
possible to come up with them again.