Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-04-24
21i9fellang.
LIFE II TnE CONFEDERATE ABHY,
From the Memoirs of Major HerOs Won BOrckc,
Chief Of staff to Gen. j. E. b. Stuart,
the great cavalry leader.

On the 21st we had a visit from Curtis
Lee, son of our Commander-in-Chief, and
aid-de-camp to President Davis, who
wished to inspect the battlefield and the
town of Fredcrickbnrg; and at his re-
quest General Stuart and l gladly ac-
companied him on the expedition.
had thus the first direct opportunity pre-
sented to ofleisurely inspecting the ruins
Of poor Fredericksburg, which, with its
shattered houses, streets ript open, and
demolished churches, impressed me sad
" enough. The inhabitants bad nearly
all deserted the place, the only visible
exceptions being here and there a wretch
cd pauper or aged negro, to whom no re-
fuge elsewhere was open, creeping noise
lessly along the silent street. The brave
sol,i RS Of Barksdales brigade, however,
who had so nObly resisted the first at
tempt Of the enemy to cross the river,
we're re established in the town, and com
fnrtably installed in several Of the large
buildings nov abandoned. The firing of
TIE pichets having once moro ceased, a
network of friendly relations lad begun
again to connect them, and an interchange
of communications also Of the necessa-
ries Of lie recommended. To carry on
these the most ingenious devices were re-
sorted to, at some of which / was vastly
amused. On reaching the river we be-
held quite little feet of small boats,
from three to four feet in length, under
full sail, with flying pennants, crossing
backwards and forwards between the
shores Of the river, conveying tobacco
and Richmond newspapers over to the
Stafford side, and returning loaded in ex-
change with sugar and coffee and North
ern journals. The diminutive craft we're
handled with considerable nautical skill.
and rudder and sails set so deftly to wind
and stream, that they always unerringly
landed at the exact point of destination.
Some days afterwards, this free trade
movement having outpassed the limits
which were Judged safe or convenient, a
sudden embargo, in the shape of a severe
and stringent order, was put upon the
friendly traffic of foe with foe, to the mu-
tual and unmitigated disgust of both
sides.
Next day, under favor ola flag of truce
sent by the FederaIs to negotiate an ex-
change of prisoners, I received a message
from Baron H.. an ex-oficer Of the Prus-
sian army then serving on Burnside's
staff, appointing a rendezvous at Freder-
icksburg. Although l set off at once, l
found on reaching the town that H., i'm
patient of waiting, or giving me up, had
returned to the other side of the river
Vexed to have had my ride for nothing,
[ was, in no very good humor, turning
my horses head towards home, when |
fell in with Major Fairfax of Longstreet's
staff and the officers bearing the flag Of
truce. After expressing their sympathy
with my disappointment, they invited me
over to the other side, the truce not hav-
ing yet expired l replied that | should
not be justified in complying vie their
invitation, as | had not, like Major Fair
fax, any business to transact, and should
be running the risk Of remaining longer
on the Stafford side than | desired. Ny
cautious scrupIcs elected hearty laugh
and, pledgin5 their personal honor for
my safe return whenever l chose, they
again pressed their rather extraordinary
invitation in manner that would have
been very uncortcous to decline. On
reaching the opposite shore, Fairfax and
I we're soon surrounded by a circle Of
Federal officers profTcring every mark of
politeuess and hospitality, the latter be-
ing manifested by the production of sew
eral bottles Of wine and whisky, which
were soon in brisk circulation Mean
time number of ordorlies had been des-
patched in search of H.; but after an
hour of fru;tless waiting l returned with
Fairfax, first emptying, as we took leave
Of our temporary hosts, last cup to the
speedy restoration of peace. On arriving
at headquarters | was greeted with good
scoldng from Stuart at my escapade an
old fox, he said, should never under any
circumstances trust his head in the lions
mouth.
Twas entirely restored to equanimity,
after dinner. when | heard from my host
that Major NJ, Longstreet's quartormas-