Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-07-23
GENERAL LEE.s ESCAPE.
An Kncident OF tho PenEnsular Can
pafgn OF 1869.

Il = =
paIgD OF 1899.
While the army of the Potomac
lay at White House landing, on tht
Pamunkey river, in May, 1862, a
provisional brigade, c0nsiting of the
9th (Duryea's) and 18th New York
volunteers. Ist Connecticut heavy ar.
lfillery (acting as infantry, RuSh's
| Pennsylvania lancers, and Weed
ems 1stl Rhode Island battery,
We're formed to operate upon the ex-
treme right flank OF the Union adj
vance upon the peninsula. Toward
the latter part Of the month this de-
tachment occupied Old Church, a
small hamlet on the Pamunkey, sit
uated few miles north of Hanover
Courthouse, this latter place, being
twenty miles in the same direction
from Richmond, ON the Virginia
Central railroad. The main body
ofthe army marched directly on the
rebel capital via Bottoms bridge,
on the Chickahominy. The move
ment to the right was expeditiously
carried and so secretly that it prov
ed complete surprise to the people
living along the line of march. The
arrival of troops at Old Church was
the first intimation the people of
that vicinity had of their approach.
a short distance from the church
lived relative of General Lee, at
whose house the wife and daughter
of the confederate chieftian were
stopping, and upon arrival a guard
was Immediately placed around the
premises and every precaution ta-
ken to prevent communication with
the enemy on the part Of the distin-
guished ladies or the friends. The
perturbation of the occupants OF the
mansion was so great as to attract
attention, and cautious inquiry
among the coIored folk developed
the fact that Gen. Lee himself was
shortly expected on a visit TO his
family. This piece OF Information
set every one on the qui vive. Gen.
G., X. Warren, commanding the ex-
pedition, caused the guard to be
doubled and videttes to be stationed
upon every road and bride path
leading to the dwelling, and kept
scouting parties patroling the sur
rounding country, whose duty II
was to arrest all persons attempting
to pass the lines. Everything work
ed splendidly, and there was every
reason for expecting the capture of
the rebel leader. The bayonet block
ade seemed effectual, and the sue
cess of the plans of the union COM
appeared to be a aquestion of
but few days-perhaps only of a
few hours. 1t was upon the 24th or
25th of May that news of Lees APP
proach was brought to camp. I'm
all were astir. The Ian
GERS were sent out i'm squads, with a
view of cutting off his retreat, the
troops were ambushcd along the
route he was travelling, and having |
adopted every possible means to |
prevent failure, the provisional
brigade awaited the coming OF the |
prisoner, who, unaccom-
panied save by two or three persO-
nal attendants, was leisurely riding |
from Hanover courthouse on the
main turnpike, unconscious OF the
danger awaiting him. 1t was not
far from noon when the Videttes
stationed in piece of woods firing
ing the road saw him coming over !
The brow ola hill, some half mile
distant, and not more than two
miles from where his wife, daught-
Or, and friends sat, a prey to the
most cruel doubts and fears. lie
nad Just begun descending the slope
when a negro sprang out of the
pushes beside the way and accosted
lim. A short colloquy evidently
ensued, and directly after the cav
llcade turned their horses heads
md rode off at the top of their speed.
rhe carefully laid plots and plans
lad failed.
The lancers pursued the flying
lorsemen, but without avail. The
husky messenger, who turned QUITO
le one Of the old family servants at
he beleagued mansion-hadi In some
way succeeded in eluding the vigil
ence of the guard, and, knowing
when the general was expected, had
AIKEN steps to warn him OF the
of his foes, and, as shown
in accomplishing his un-
After that, any further
lttempt in the same direction must
ave proved fruitless, and therefore,
Mrs. Lee and her daughter
o Gaines farm, where they passed
through the rebel lines under flag
# truce, the brigade started upon
he morning Of the 9th TO Hanover
and reached the field in
ime to take part in the battle Of
hat day.