Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-10-29

"Reminiscences OF the War.
The following interesting account
Of Sheridan's cavalry attack on
: Richmond, and its repulse by Jeb,
Stuart, is taken from Mr.. Davis
history of the "Rise and Fall of the
Confederate Government: -
Meantime, because of the warn
ing wiiichStuart had sent, Gen Ran
sasn was summoned to Richmond,
to resist an impending assault by
Gen. Sheridan on the outer works
north of the city. Taking the two
dispoSabse brigades of Oracle and
Fry, and a light battery, he hasten
ed forward, arriving at the fortify-
S cations on the MechanicSville tllru-
pike just in time to see a battery of
artillery, then entirely unsupported,
4 repulse the advance of Sheridan.
i During the night the clerks and cit
j liens, under Gen. Ct. w. Curtis Lee,
had formed thin line along part of
the city. AS the day advanced,
Gracie's brigade was thrown in front
of the works and pressed forward
to feel Sheridan but it was regard
ed as worse than useless with two
small brIgades to engage in an open
country many times their number
of Weli-app0inted cavalry. Sheri-
dan showed no purpose to attack,
but withdrew from before our de-
fences, and the two brigades return
ed to the vicinity OF Drury's Bluff
the approach on the south side Of
James River, by force, under Gen.
Butler, being then considered the
most imminent danger to Rich
mond.
After the battle of the Wilder
ness, on May 4th and 5th, as here
after narrated, Gen. Grant moved
his army toward Spottsylvania
Courthouse, and Gen. Lee made
corresponding movement. AT this /
time Sheridan, with a large
force of United States cavalry, pas
sed around and to the rear of our
army, so as to place himself on the
road to Richmond, which; in the
absence of garrison to defend it,
he may not unreasonably thought
might be surprised and captured.
Stuart. our most distinguished
cavalry cOmmander-fearless, faith
full Stuart-soon knew of Sheridan's
movement, perceived its purpose,
and with his usual devotion to his
country's welfare, hastily collected
such of his troops as were near, and
pursued Sheridan. He fell upon
Sheridan's rear and flank at Beaver
Dam Station, where a pause had
been made to destroy the railroad,
some cars, and cOmmiSSary stores,
and drove ii before him. The route
of the enemy being unmistakably
toward Richmond, Stuart, to pro-
tect the capital, or at least to delay
attack, SO as TO give time to make
preparations for defense, made a
detour around Sheridan, and by a
forced march got in front OF him,
taking position at Il place called
Yellow Tavern, about seven or
eight miles from Richmond. Here,
with the daring and singleness OF
purpose which characterized his
whole career, decided, notwith-
the great inequality be-
tween his forces and that of the foe,
to make a stand, and offer persist ]
ent resistance to his advance. The
respective strength of the two COM
mands, as given by. Col. Heros Won
Borke, chief of Gen. Stuart's staff, !
was. Stuart, eleven hundred Sher-
idan, eight thousand. While en- s
gagged in this desperate service, !
Gen. Stuart sent cOuriers to Rich 7
mond to give notice of the approach
OF the enemy, so that the defenceS
might be manned. :
Notwithstanding the great dis !
parity of force, the contest was OBJ .
stinate and protracted, and tickle
Fortune cheered our men with sew !
eral brilliant successes. Stuart, !
who in many traits resembled the q
Murat, like him, was al 7
ways a leader when his cavalry I
charged. On this occasion he is =
when he'was wounded I
10 have been quite in advance, to U
nave fred the last load in his pistol, Y
md to have been shot by fugitive
whom he found covering under a a
ence, and ordered to surrender. The !
theaVv battaliOns" at last prevail >
ID. and our line was broken, and i
)ur chieftain, though mortally u
still kept in his saddle, .
INVOKING his men to continue the y
light. Our gallant chieftain was =
brought wounded 10 Richmond, a 81
lobIe sacrifice on the altar of duty.
Long accustomed to connect him
My with daring exploits and bril-
iant successes, there was much sur
rise and deeper sorrow when the -
ews spread through the city. Adj ~
nired as soldier, loved as man, ~ =,
onored as a Christian patriot, to ~ ~
yhom duty to his God and country 10 -
,as a supreme law, the intense N
nxiety for his safety made us all az ~
brink from realizing his imminent np
anger. When l saw him in his II, i,
lst hours, he was. so calm, ana ha' hH
SO strong, that l could =" ~
OF believe that he was dying, until %, 90
le surgeon, after had left his bed -. -
de, told me he was bleeding i'm nv
'ardly, and that the end was near. y, ~