Middletown transcript., 1883-11-02

and his dandy ways, but Stuart was a
fighter. Had he worn a rufled shirt
and a velvet cloak he would still have
been the dashing cavalry leader that he
, was, counting odds as nothing and ever
7 fighting to win.
When Gen. Pope had his headquar-
ters at Catlett's Station, Stuart one day
paid him visit of inspection. Pope
didn't care particularly to see Stuart,
but Stuart had longing to see the
man whose headquarters were in the
saddle, and who wanted his men to for
get the word retreat. With about
J 300 men Stuart one day made hard
ride and a sudden dash. But for a
Federal forager, mounted OF thor
ough-bred running horse, Pope would
have been taken in his tent. As it was,
he had about ten minutes warning and
got away, leaving behind all his papers,
clothing and baggage. Stuart captured
the station and all left behind, and one
of the prizes was new suit of clothes
for Pope which he had not yet stepped
into. His supply of liquors included
whisky, brandy, cognac, champagne,
port and several other brands, and were
used to wash the dust out Of the throats
of the confederates. Pope's razor,
looking-glass, bedding, fine shirts and
other articles of toilet were divided as
souvenirs, and gilt-ebged testament
with his name in was pocketed by
Stuart. Orders had been issued to
treat Pope with tenderness and respect
in case of capture, but it may be imag-
ined that his ride to Richmond would
have been fast gallop and full Of dire
reflections. 1t has been asserted that
Gen Lee reproved Stuart for trying to
capture him, saying.
& If you catch him the federal army
will have a new commander, and he
must certainly be better one.''
Stuart died like hero, but it was
net while leading-his plume waving
to match Custer's yellow curls-his
sabre cleaning in answer to Kilpat-
riek's. Before his sun had reached its
zenith, and before the hero that was in
him had been fairly developed, he died
in the swirl and smoke and clamor of a
cavalry fight-shot down by one who
knew him not and was never known.
During the exciting army movements
of October, 1868, Gems Stuart and
Fitz Lee laid plan to annihilate Kill
patrick, and the result was an affair
which "Kill." never heard the last of
as long as the army held together
Stuart left Lee at Bull Run to demon
strate, and taking single division with
him marched to Groveton, from thence
to Gainesville, on to Aldie, and here
made such fight against whole fed
eral corps that great alarm was sent
out, and the entire federal army was
withdrawn from Centeryille to new
line under the impression that the con-
federate army was trying to pass to it's
rear.
Kilpatrick'S command was sent out
to discover the force, and he soon dis
covered that it was Stuart who had
created the scare. He therefore began
a hot pursuit, just as was expected.
As soon as Fitzpatrick took up the pur-
suit courier sent to Fitz Lee brought
him up from Manassas in rear of the
federals. Fitzpatrick was chasing
Stuart, and Lee was chasing Fitzpatrick,
but Stuart and Lee were the ones who
were chuckling over it. Up towards
New Baltimore the federal headquar-
ters rested for dinner at the farm house
of Mr. Crozier. A fine meal was pre-
pared for the staff, but it was not
tasted. The good wife had just an
nounced dinner when the sound of a
single cannon shot made everybody
pause and wonder. 1t was signal
from Lee to Stuart that he was up, and
Stuart at once faced about.
Fitzpatrick was not left long in sus-
pense. When aware that he was
caught in the trap his only plan was to
turn and attack Lee, and this he did in
hurry. The idea was not to whip the
confederates but to get away from
them. Fitzpatrick was outnumbered
and trapped, and his getting out is re-
corded in war history as "The Buck
land Races y AS he turned upon Lee
there was sharp fighting with sabre
and carbine and artillery. Lee had
signalled little too soon. He was up,
but not massed in Kilpatrick's rear, and
this gave the federals a chance to cut
their way out, but they went out on
the run, and never stopped as long as
their horses could go forward. 1t was
one of the worst defeats Fitzpatrick
ever suffered, and insult was added to
injury by the knowledge that the plan
had beed deliberately laid.
At Buckland's, Stuart was so close
upon Fitzpatrick that Custer's headquar-
ter wagon and all its contents were cap
tured, as was also other important bag
gage, and nothing but sharp orders and
quick fighting saved the command it.
self from capture. 1t was what might
be called continuous fight for miles,
the federal brigades being separated at
5he opening of the fight, and having to
1raw off each by itself, and by different
routes, but all the artillery was brought
off, most of the train saved, and the
oss in killed and wounded was about
equal. Fitz Lee brought up some in
1antry with him, and after passing
Broad Run and falling back to the
of GAINESVILLE, Fitzpatrick
was reinforced by infantry from the
Sixth corps.-M. Quad, in Detroit Free
Press.