The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-10-19

While the A,n.v Of The 'o.omac lay at
White Housa landing, on the Pamunkey
river, in May, 1862, Il provisional brig
ode, consisting OF the Fifth Duryes's)
and the Thirtsenth New York volun
teers. First Connecticut heavy artillery
acting as infantry), Rush's Pennsyl-
vania lsncers and Weeden's First Rhode
Island battery, was formed to operate
upon the extreme right flank Of the
Union advance up the peninsula. To-
ward the LITTER part Of the month this
detachment occupied Old Church,
small hamlet on the Pamunkey, stu
ated few miles north of Hanover Court
House, this latter place being twenty
miles in the same direction from Rich.
mond on the Virginia Central railroad.
The main body of the army marched
directly on the rebel capital via Bet.
toms bridge, on the Chickahominy.
The movement to the light was expe.
ditlously carried, and so secretly that it
proved complete surprise to the people
living along the line of march. The ar.
rival Of troops ut Old Church was the
first intimation the people of that vicin-
ity had of their approach. A short dis
lance from the church lived o relative
Of Gen. Lee, at whose house the vile
and daughter Of the Confederate chief
tain were stopping, and upon arrival a
guard was placed around the premises,
and every precaution taken to prevent
communication with the enemy on the
part of the distinguished ladies or their
friends. The perturbation of the occu-
pants of the mansion was 80 great
as to attract special attention, and
cautious inquiry among the colored
folk developed the fact that Gen.
Lee himself was shortly expected on
q visit to his family. This piece of in
formation set every one on the qui vive.
Gen. &. K. Warren, commanding the
expedition. caused the guard to be
doubled and videttes to be stationed
upon every road and bridle-path leading
to the dwelling, and kept scouting par
ties patrolling the surrounding country,
whose duty it WAS to arrest all persons
attempting to pass beyond the i.ies.
Everything worked splendidly, and there
was every reason for expecting the capt
ure Of the rebel leader. The bayonet
blockade seemed effectual, and the sue
cess Of the plans of the Union command
er appeared to be a question of but
few days-perhaps only of few hours.
1t was upon the Oath or 25th of May
that news Of Lees approach was brought
to camp. Immediately all were astir.
The lancers were sent out in squads,
with view OF cutting off his retreat, the
troops were ambushed along the route
he was travelling, and, having adopted
every possible means to prevent failure,
the provisional brigade awaited the COM
ing Of the expected prisoner, who, I'M
accompanied save by two Or three per
sonal attendants, was leisurely riding
from Hanover Court House, on the main
turnpike, unconscious of the danger
awaiting him. 1t was not far from noon
when the videttes stationed in piece of
woods fringing the road saw him coming
over the brow of hin some half mile
distant, and not more than two miles
from where his wife, daughter and
friends sat. prey 10 the most cruel
doubts au,i fears. He hal Just beguI
descending the slope when negro
sprang out of the bushes beside the way
aud accosted him. A short colIoauy
evidently ensuea, and directly after the
csvalcade tnrned their horses heads and
rode of at the top OF their speed. The
carefnily-laid plots and plans had failed.