The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-26

We don't know sWnat tulb wv - -.
However, be has certainly made 9 poln'
that we did not make.
q DARING FEAT.
-,,r : !. !. oUs RIDE AROUND MCCLELLAN
lively STORY OF ONE OF THE MOST
poMANTfC INCIDENTS OF THE WAR-AS
ADVENTURE FULL OF DANGER AND
ruN-yEB STUART IN THE SADDLE.
YJohn Fsen Cooke In philadelphia Weekly 11mes'
Smart set out from his headquarters Gus.
OF Richmond, at about moonIlse On ., .ne
night OIL think-the LTD OF June, leoI'
Beyond the city be caught up Wltn nls COZ
nmp. which consisted OF about n!teen nun'
dred horsemen and two pieces OF artI'ies ~
unfler command OF Colonies FltZhugn Lee,
William a. +. Lee, and VIII T. Martin, OF
Miasissippi. and the force proceeded norm
ward to the vicinity OF TaylorsViile'
where the men went into biVouac.
A. this sketch aims to record sucn
incidents as took place on the Ia.
nous march, will mention that, tired out
.. he was. Stuart rode on the same night TO
hickory Hin. the residence OF Colonel WIZ
Iiams Wickbam, end fell asleep In bis chair
while he was talking. It was afterWard
ascertained that Federal scouting party
had passed the house during the night, anu
Stuart thus narrowly escaped capture
They did not stop, however, ana the Gene
raj returned to the cavalry bivouac, from
which he advanced early IN the moi mug III
the direction OF Hanover Courthouse.
There could be very little doubt tBat q
heavy picket perhaps the enemy 10 force
would here be encountered, anu this was
found to be the fact. Scouts sent 10 au'
vance OF the column returned WIN tue re-
mort that the Courthouse was neia Dy
snnadron Of Federal cavalry, and CoioDel
Fitz Lee was sent round to the right to cut
them off, while Stuart charged them In
front. The charge was made without delay,
and the southern horsemen swept at
palIop down on the little village, whose
ancient courthouse, In its grassy yard,
was the scene OF Patrick Henry's first
great speech 10 the parsons case" Inc
men uttered shouts as they charged, aud
the startled Federals-numbering about one
hundred and fifty--ran hastily to their
horses, and retreated ut full gallop. Stuart
pressed on In pursuit without drawing rein
at the village, but the pursued went faster
than the pursuers, and were soon out OF
sight, unmolested by Colonel Fitz Lee, who
had been directed the wrong road. Inc
pursuit was then discontinued, and stuart
advanced steadily on the road leading 10
sold Church." which passed by place
called Hawes's Shop.
STUART STRIKES THE ENEMY.
At the Tottapotemoi, sluggish stream,
crossed by rustic bridge. the ena.Iy was
met with in some force. The picket at the
bridge was swept away at once, but IN
field on the other side considerable Dooy
OF Federal cavalry was seen, drawn up III
line OF battle. They were at once charged
by Colonel William 81. F. Lee, who was IN
advance, and a sharp engagement followed.
It did not last long. The.enemy gave way
and retreated rapidly, leaving num-
Der OF dead aud NOTWITHSTANDING
the latter Captain Royal, command
ing, though be was not captured. Inc
bloody blanket in which be had been
Wrapned was found at his headquarters
tent. I was informed. The Confederates
lost oniy one l,erson, but the loss was seri-
Gus. This was Captain Latane, OF the Essex
cavalry, who was shot and killed. His
death produced great sadness, and Stuart,
in q general order after the expedition,
called on his men to "avenge LataneI"
The body OF the poor fellow was buried
inter nigbtfall by friends In the vicinity,
two ladies being present, one OF whom read
the burial service. r.
Stuart was now in high gee and sent me
back to hasten up his artillery and open on
the enemy. Against this order remon-
strated, urging that it would prove an alarm
gun, and the order was countermanded.
Meanwhile Colonel FitZ Lee had pushed on
to the Federal camp near Old Church,
where large supplies OF boots, pistols, car
bines, and other stores were appropriated,
and the tents set on fire. Stuart had
halted his column and was rejecting.
Old Church was the point. it seems, which
General Lees orders directed him to
reach, il possible, after which he was to
be guided by circumstances. How "cir-
cumstances" were generally regarded in
different light by Stuart than by other
men. and the. circumstances here were
these: The alarm had been given, no doubt,
BY the Federal fugitives, and the presence
Of southern cavalry near Old Church was
known. It was obvious, therefore, that a
strong force would probably be sent to cut
them of on their return. What was to be
done? The Pamunkey could not be crossed;
it was too deep, and no boats were ut hand.
To attempt to pass around the Federal army
and cross the Chickahominy below seemed
madness; but the movement weuld be
daring, brilliant, and might succeed. Know
Ing the country perfectly, and our exact
situation, watched Stuarts face with 1n-
terest, -curi0us to ascertain what he was
going to do The first words he uttered,
after musing for moment, put my doubts
entirely at rest. ~ +.
"Tell Fitz Lee to come along" he said
Ito me; ST am going to move on steadily
with my column ;.
:" Moving on'' meant complete circuit
OF McClellan's army, with u view TO cross
below.
"Well," I said, "my own opinion is !,
that the quicker we move now the De'teI.
"Right," was Stuarts reply; go TO Inc
head Of the column and tell IL to move on
at a trot."
The order was delivered, and also tnat -
Colonel Fitz Lee, who SOUNDED " y,
horse" and followed-the movements W
his men somewhat FASTENED, no douOt, ~
the report that one OF the burning tents
contained large quantity OF power. ,,
re1Oined Stuart at the head OF the coiu .ili,!
and was soon convinced that ne haa luils
resolved to ride around the Federal army
II was. neck OF. nothing. In tWehty-ioui
hours the whole command would DC aea.
or eant,Ired. or would have escaped. otuaf
had niainlv determined TO take the chances
and ,yas moving steadily toward the 1ort
R,ver rs,Iroad. onnecting the Federal army
v,ith ,ts haze at the $ w hite-House iandine
on the Pamunkey. 5s5s1s. 81 @
!. = AI.aE ALARM AND SOME FUN.
~ Everytl,,ng was now on the Q2i1 piue. a