Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-03-03

was yery dark. Custar whc followed with the
thousand men who composed the remnant OF
his command, got lost in the thick gloom
For some time they endeavt REQ TO lIuncer
through deep and muddy rayine, into when
they had straytd; but when they thought OF
the two pieces OF artillery, all hope Of getting
through with them was given up. Stednian,
with his five hundred men, continued on
their course, which luckily for them, was
correct, and about four o'clock Tuesday
morning they reached our infantry 7lckefs
outside OF Madison Court House. Gustav, nnd
ing it possible to proceed farther, blvouack co
that night in the woods While he balIed hrs
horses and refreshed the men, Oen: Stuart,
with two thousand eava!rylnen, OF Wlckham $
and Fitzhugh Lees brlgades was marching
towards his rear Next morning, about 9
o clock, Custar marched On toward the right
road. Having found it, and marched upon It
short distance, he discovered that Stuart,
With his ragged but indefatigable followers,
had succeeded in getting into his rear. As
they neared Stannardsylle, which IS about hf-
teen miles from the picturesque little village or
Madison, the rebel cavalry were seen drawn III
line across the road. This meant hostility
For some time the officers OF our little
command were at loss what to DO. HE
raid was to draw the rebel cavalry away
from tie central road to Richmond, but they
had no intention Of drawing theGn SO Tar to
their rear. All that bothered our troops was
the section of Ransom $ battery and that
Slightly impeded their progress. In general
council it was proposed 10 throw these two
Parrott guns into the nearest and deepest
ditch, but Custar, protestlng,- declared ne
would fght his way through. tie ordered
charge, which was led by him IN person lhe
rebels stood their ground mAnlully, but cur
two guns now opened on them and completed
the discontinue that was fast causing their
lines to vaver. They lied hastily, and our
1nen pursued them holly till they reached
another road which afforded us chanc5 Ter
egres. Three rebels were killed in this charge,
and a considerable number wounded. Many
prisoners fell into our hands who succeeded lii
making their escape. We succeeded il bring
Ing off about fifty. These were mounted by
lwus upon stout horses and hurried OF with
the column CoI. Stednan hearing the hnng
IN the direction of 6tannardsyllle, and know.
inc it. must be Custar, started back with his
tired horses and wearied men TO the rellet Q!
the beleaguered party They proceeded TILL
the enemy was met, aid Custar dlscovered TO
be sale, when they also returned IN safety
s'The expedition was highly successful The
divertion created In favor of Fitzpatrick COULD
not have been greater. Three large mills were
destroyed, rebel cavalry camp burned and the
inmates routed. Six cassons were blown up
the bridge across the Raveuna river destroyed,
and over fifty prisoners captured. five hull
dred I horses were captured, but the men ez.
changed their worn out horses FOR The newly
captured ones, which reduced the number ol
surplus horses brought into camp to about
three hundred and fifty. All this was accom-
plished without the loss OF q man, oeSega'
were injured, but none lost to the command
The account furnished by the Assoclateu
Press dispatch, states that after the chafSe Ga
the camp near Charlottesville, zen: Cuss&1
o ..c T.: &; o,aal fnnoa onn0sed bE Infantry;