The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-19
rRIAL oF rs. - -.
Rebel Letter.

A rebel mail has been captured
Among other letters is the following.
which IS by no means devoid Of interest.
inasmuch as it gives US the details Of
the death of General Stuart, and also
shows the weakness of the rebel caval-
ry against our own. II is q genuine let
ter, written by BsltimOFean in the
Maryland line, Hugers battery
CAMP HANOVER CoUSTY, May Il, 1864
GAR Coz: We arrived here yester-
day, after a hard tramp after the
Yankee raiders To-day week ago we
left Hanover Court House and went to
the junction. Arriving there we found
the Yankees were at Beaver Dam The
next day we heard they were coming
to the junction, and all day we had our
pieces in position, first on one road and
then another, but night coming on and
no Yankees coming We csrnped at night
at Taylorsville, three miles from the
junction.
The next day( Wednesday I'VE left the
Maryland line at the junction and went
with Stuart's cavalry after the Yankee,
whOwere then near Ashland. Hurrying
the column upwe headed them near tho
Yellow Tavern, six miles from Rich
mond. Both parties were soon in posi-
ton, and about eleven o'clock we open
ed the engagement by firing at an sd
yaneing column of Ysnks with our bat
terry, and soon big and little balls were
flying around without being particular
who or where they struck. But the
Yankees fought a little too stubbornly
for our cavaliers, and we had fall back
about one mile About three o'clock
we again opened on the Yankees, and
after firing for near an hour, they made
charge on our battery. They had to
come across an open space Of about
eight hundred yards, and they did
come-On, on, yelling like demons
and never halted till they arrived at
the battery, capturing two pieces and
thirteen men. The piece / was with
was captured, but run for 10
and escaped. We emptied more
than one Yankee saddle while they
were charging US, but they were too
many for us, and our cavalry support
being of no account, We could not save
our pieces. IL was then that General
Stuart was rnortally wounded. He was
trying 70 rally our men Cavalry when
tiye or six Yankees attempted TO cap
ture him. He discharged his pistol al
them. killing two and WOunding three
others.
lie was about loading his pistol again
when two of them fred at him from
distance, one of the balls entering his
right side and coming out Of the left
and one of the noblest spirits Of tie war
fell, and not long after he breathed his
last among friends who, with the whole
country, win deeply mourn his los.
Wednesday night we marched to near
Meadow Bridge, and Thursday morning
after sunrise we were again at work on
the Yankees left and rear, and the
Richmond force in their front The
Yankees again drove our cavaliers back.
and this time they got possession Of
both ends Of q road, where our caissons
and one disabled piece were 50 We had
to take TO the ChickahOminy swamp,
where We remained until the next day
at twelve o'clock. The Yankees came
verY near US, but did not capture either
pieces OF men. Our loss during the trip
was twenty-four wounded and captured.
Among those captured was cur captain.
have a very poor opinion Of the fight
ing powers Of our cavalry. In every
instance where an equal number Of the
enemy would advance upon them they
would quietly fall hack, ~ II il were
their duty 10 do 50. Tell Miss Fannie
say never marry q caFalryman.