The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-03


% knew that as soon as our conference
eaded he started 4 courier to him. Colossal
siaekford. Of General Stuart's star, recent
ly Informed me tllat Stuart rode oyes to
General Lees headquarters that day to cor
suit with him about it. The plan agreed
upon was to leave two cavalry brigades
Jones and Robertson's), under the COM
mand Of Brigadier General Beverly Robert
son, in front of Hooker, about Middleburg,
to observe his movements and keep up COM
munication with the commanding general,
while Stuart with three brigades should pass
through the Union army into Pennsylvania.
Az Hancock's Corps was holding Hopewell
and Thoroughfare gaps in the Bull Run
mountain, the route selected for Stuart to
60 was through Glasscock's gap Ia few miles
south Of Thoroughfare), via Haymarket,
through Loudon and Fairfax, to Seneca ford
on the Potomac. The part assigned to me
was to cross the Bull Run at night with my
small force by brldle-path, and uniting
with Stuart near Gum Spring in Loudon
take command of his advance guard. Hook
er's headquarters were then at Fairfax Sta
ton, with his army spread out like fan
over Loudon, Prince William and Fairfax
counties; his left at Thoroughfare gap, his
right at Leesburg, and his centre (Fifth
Corps at Aide, with Pieasonton's cavalry
corps in front All the roads were filled
.,,:tt, 1, :.,.,,o,co .,,nr1v .fro;rc
HOW IT WAS THwARTED.
With his transportation destroyed and
communications broken Hooker would be
seriously embarrassed in his pursuit OF Cen.
Lee, or probably forced to fall back TO de-
fend the capital against this threatening
demonstration. while the Confederate army
was foraging in Pennsylvania. The origi-
nal plan of Stuart was thwarted by an event
which he could not control and which no
sagacity could forsce. 1t was obvious that
Hooker did not intend to initiate any move
ment, but would confine himself to cover
ing the capital and observing his adversary.
1t was all important for the success of Stu
arts plan that the status qno should be pre-
served until at least he could get partly
through Hooker's army. when it would be
too late for Hooker to do anything to de-
feat it. AS have said, when this expedi-
ton was resolved upon General Lee, with
two army corps, Longstrect's and Hills,
was near Berryville, in the Shenandoah
Valley. Before daybreak on the morning
of the 25th Stuart debouchcd through Clan
cocks gap in the Bull Run mountain and
moved on the route before indicated toward
Haymarket. Now it so happened that on
the very afternoon when Stuart withdrew
his three brigades from Pleasonton's front
to start on his expedition to his rear, Gen.
Lee moved his two corps to the Potomac,
Longstreet crossing at Wiliamsrort and
Hill below Shepherdstown. The route of
march of Hills Corps was in plain view Of
the signal station on Mary land Heights, and
Gen. Tyler, the commanding officer, imme.
diately telegraphed to Hooker what was go
ing on. 1t now became necessary for Hook.
crossing of his various corps at Edwards
ferry, near Leesburg, OH the Goth, the cav
airy being ordered to cover the crossing.
About the time, therefore, that the head Of
Stuart's column debouched through the Bull
Run mountain on the morning of the 10Th.
Hancock broke up camp and moved north
ward.
HANCOCK's UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT.
When Stuart reached Haymarket he found
the roads all occupied by Hancock's troops.
and as Hancock was not so polite as to give
him the road, Stuart opened on him with
artillery. hancock kept the right of way
and spent that night at Gum Springs, near
where l expected to join Stuart. AS soon
as Stuart discovered Hancock's movement
he sent a courier to inform General Lee Of
it. With my own detachment on the same
morning crossed the Bull Run near Aide.
having narrowly escaped capture by a reg-
ment of infantry which General Meade,
whose corps was lying near by, had placed
in ambush right in my path fortunately
they fired upon and captured two men
had sent about a hundred yards in advance,
and thus giving me the alarm | flanked
them and went on. l heard the cannon
aiding about Haymarket and hu: ricd to meet
Stuart. When l got to the Little River
pike, about eight miles below Aide, which
was to be my point Of juncture with Stuart,
| struck the head Of Hahcock's column. His
divisions were marching on every road. |
spent the day and night riding about among
Hancock's troops, and with great difficulty
extricated myself from the dilemma in which
was placed. / could not find out where
Stuart was nor he where was, so the next
day returned to Fauquier, and went on to
Pennsylvania, passing through Smokers
gap, in the Blue Ridge, where I stopped to
get ammunition for my command from
Jones' cavalry Brigade, which had fallen
back to that place after Hooker had moved
to the Potomac.
Stuart had been compelled to make a wi
der circuit than he had originally intended
and passed through Brentsville and Fairfax
Courthouse, crossing the Potomac at Sene
ca on the night of the 9th. But for the I'M
expected movement OF Hanccck's Corps
Stuart would have crossed the Potomac OIL
the 25th in advance of Hooker. Thence III
moved north. toward the Susquehann;
| (where he expected to meet Lee, through
Westminster and Hanover. 1t is charged
| that this expedition of Stuart's, by whc
| for several days the Union army became in
| terposed between him and the Confederat
army, deprived General Lee of all infor
nation concerning the movementSeof tn
| Union army, which iG was the duty OF hi
chief of cavalry to supply. On account
this ignorance Of the Confederate general Q
the movements of his adversary, Gen. Het
! states that Gen. Lee stumbled into the fgt
at Gettysburg. Now if General Stuart be
fore starting, submitted his plan to Gener;
lee, and he approved it, then Stuart is es
onerated from all responsibility for its il
| fluence on General Lees plans, unless