The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-12-16
TEN YEARS AGO.

On the 18th of October, 1868, the |
Provost Marshal Of Williamsburg,
Lieutenant w. W. Disosway, vas shot
dead hy Il soldier. named james Boyle,
whom he bad ordered under arrest for
disorlcrly conduct. The murderer
was Immediately seized, ironed, aud, !
pending his trial. confined IN Fort
Magruder, an extensive earthwork /
about mile below the town of Will |
iamsburg.
About this time word was brought
to the headquarters Of the Union ar
my that Richmond was practically de
fpnseless. The regular troops, it was
said, had all been sent to the front,
aud only few home guards kept
watch over the city. 'ai.
An attack was Immediately deter
mihed on, and the scattered troops
were drawn together for that purpose.
A brigade of infantry, three batteries
of artillery aud four regiments of cav
airy comprised the expedition. They
were moved cautiously, and rendez-
voused IN the woods on the road lead.
| ing from Yorktown to Williamsburg
Then they pushed on, "A general order
| having been read to the troops inform
ing Them that they were to move on tn
Richmond.
There were the strongest reasons for
believing that by being cautious, bold
aud expeditions the cavalry could en-
ter Richmond, liherate the prisoners
confined in Libby aud Castle Thunder,
capture President Davis and The off
GERS OF his government, seize the treas
ury, destroy the vast deposit of sup
plies, burn the bridges across the
James, and otherwise weaken the de.
feuses of the city. Certain officers anu
squadrons were assigned to perform
certain portions of the work OF de.
struction, aud Capitol square designnt
ed MS the general rendezvous, when the
work should have been thoroughly
accomplished. On the 2d or Sd OF
Febroary,, the murderer B.yle, whose
trial had been for some reason delay
; ed, escaped in the night from his prs
on at Fort Magruder, through tho con,
nivance of. Que of his guards, Search
) was Immediately made in all diree.
tions, and every possible effort made
{ for his recapture. But all exertions
r were frLitiess. e,..
IT, the meantime the expedition wa,
: pushing oA to the point of its destira
a tion. To divert the enemy's atteptiol
4. General Sedgwiek's CO ps had beer
thrown across the Rapidan aud hac
$ engaged large portion of Lees ar
! my. and the raiders" We're utmolest
ed. At daylight on the morning q
the 7th of February the infantry
e reached Baltimore Cross Roads. wher,
!. they made brief halt for rest. A
s the same time, however, the extrem,
cavalry advance had reached Bottom
{ Bridge, within thirteen miles of Rich
? mond II was intensely dark wheI
- they reached there, and careful re
u connoissance showing that the bridg
had been stripped its Planking il wa
t resolved to wait until daylight. 1h
strictest orders were issued again light
i'll ing fires ar making unnecessary nOise
J.. and pickets we're thr0wn.out in all di
rections, The condition of the hridg
If caused the more sagacioGs officers II
little uneasness They saw in il a
evidence that the expedition had bee
discovered. in which event surpris
was impossible and success doubtful
}. The army rested on their arms as pa
/. ti,ntly as possible, waiting aud watc!
q ing for the first shimmerug of dawn
!" full of confidence aud hope. But alas
n by the dim light Of the the coming
'. day the outer pickets discerned lo"I
e line of shadowy figures filing dow
Z, the road, on the opposite bank of tn
e stream, and taking position to oppos
the passage of the bridge. An OF,
Is earthwork, which had been thrown uI
by Mcclellan during the Richmond
campaign Of the year previous, sool
Ie shielded them from view, aud, as M
i. enemy could be seen through the mist
| which hung over the little valley, ,wheI
the balance of the army came up th'