Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-31
DAILY LEADER.
-IAWAR -ANEGD0TE.
How Jeb. stdart lost his Hat and
Cape.
Correspondent of the New York

How Jeb. stuart Lost his Hat and
Cape.
A correspondent of the New York
World writing evidently from a rebel
stand point, gives the following graphic
aeeeunt OF a narrow escape of General
Stuart from capture by Federal cavalry.
He has narrated the capture Of Major
Fitz Hugh by Federal cavalry, and con-
tinues:
Let us return now to the small party
asleep OF the porch of the house in Yer
Ediersville. Theydid not awake until dav
-aroused by the noise of hoofs upon the
road, and concluding that General Fitz
Lee had arrived, rose from the porch, and,
without his hat, walked TO the little gate.
The column was not yet discernible clear
ly in the gray of morning but in some
manner Stuart's suspicious were excited.
To assure himself of the truth, he REQUEST
ed Captain Mosby-the famous partisan
afterwards-and Lieutenant Gibson. who
were with him, to ride forward and see
what command was approaching. The
reception which the two ENJOYS met with,
speedily decidedthe whole question. They
had scarcely. approached within pistol
shot Of the head of the column, when
they were fired p and a detachment
spuFred forward from the cavalry, calling
upon them to halt, and firing upon them
rs they resreated., They were rapidly
pursued, and in a few moments the Fede-
raj cavalry had Numbered down upon the
house, in front of which General Stuart
was standing " &
The General had to act promptly. There
was no oree within many miles Of him:
nothing herewith to make resistance;
flight or instant capture were the alter
natives, and even fight seemed impossi-
bic. The Federal horsemen had rushed at
full gallop upon the house; the horses of
the General and staff were unbridled, and
the only means of exit from the ward
seemed to be the narrow gate in front,
scarcely wide enough for a mounted man
to pass, and right in face of tie enemy.
In addition to this the little party had
just been aroused; the General had eveH
his hat and cape upon the floor of the
porch; SO complete was the feeling of Sc
and when Mosby was fired on he
standing bare-headed at the gate.
What followed all took place in an in
slant. The general and his party leaped
Dn their horses, some of which bad been
bridled, and sought for means of
One of the staff officers darted
through the narrow gate with his Bride
Gins hanging down beneath his horses
eet, and disappeared UP the road followed
~ a shower Of balls. The rest took the
cnce. Stuart, ~bare-headed, and without
rs cape, which still lay on the porch,
himself upon his unbridled horse,
eized the halter, and digging his spurs
ntO his sides, cleared the palings, and gal
9ped of amid a hot fire. He went on I'M
il he reached a clump of woods near the
iouse, when he stopped to reconnoiter.-
The enemy did not at once follow, and ]
Dom ms point of observation the General ]
nd the modification of witnessing the ]
Of his hat and cape. The Federal J
avalrynien dashed up to the porch and
the articles which they bore off in
riumph-raising the brown hat looped up {
With a golden star, and decorated with its i
black feather, upon the points of i
heir sabers, and laughing at the escapade L
fhich they had thus oceasioned. f
Major Fitz Hugh, at the head of the v
lain column, and beside the Federal Col C
witnessed all, and burst into laughter 0
nd sobs, such was his joy at the escape of
is General. This attracted the attention
: the Federal officer, who said:
[" Majer, who was that party?" I
"That have escaped ?"
" Yes
The Major lOokedagain and saw that on
fleet "Skylark" Stuart was entirely Z
ife by this time, and unable to contain his
exclaimed: =
" Do you really wish to know who that !
as, Colonel? ~ =
II do" y
" Well, it was General Stuart and his n
afr y
I" General Stuart " exclaimed the Off !
r; "was that General Stuart" y
" Yes, and he has escaped" cried the g
-erjOyed Major. :
d" A squadron therel" shouted the Colo =
j in great excitement, 'pursue that par ;,
at once. 1t is General Stuart !" .,
The squadron rushed forward at the =,
ord upon the track of the fugitives to se- !"
re their splendid prize; but their adj T.
nee did not afford the General much I'M y
Long experience had told him u
at the Federal cavalry did not like the :,
pods, and he knew that they would not II
far for fear of a surprise. This ~
ga was soon shown to be well founded -
lie Federal squadron made Il very hot :,
of the party until they came to the \,
pods; then they contented themselves by y,
ing and advancing very cautiouslyA
even this ceased, and they rapidlyr re- 9.
rned to VerdiersviIle, from which place ',
e whole column hastily departed in the =,
Of the Rapidan. The Colonel ~
rried off Major Fitz Hugh to serve as a h,
ide, for he had lost his way, and STUN y,
I'd thus upon Verdiersville. If you wish II
laugh, my dear reader, go and see Ma r
Fitz Hugh, and ask him what topo- .,
information he gave the FEEDER q
commandment. 1t very nearly caused ~
e capture of his command; but he got n,
ok safe to Pope's army, and took u
end, the Major, with him. NJ