Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-18

! CAMPAIGN or srszFEoE'

Eeohlvo movemeuG ~ - - Il
as,ss.. - lees-ssssss IN . rraps
Holm 200 Cooke In PhiIadslphia T'nssl
Iss's plan was TO cross the upper
vstsrs Of The Rapidsn and gain Gene
raj Mseds's hight and rear. II the
FederSi forces retained their position .
hsttls would take place in Culpeper.
n on ia contrary, they retrsatsd,
! continuation Of the flank movement
would force them to the Potomac,
and II General Meade adopted the has-
srdous ltsrnative Of advancing on Rich
mond, In disregard Of Lee, that COM
msrder might advance on Washington.
Il Is known that such scheme had q
this time suggested itself to his mind
General Longstrest is authority for the
statement that 81 Lee at this time ire
quently spoke Of an operation that
should swap queens that is, he
thought Of marching direct upon and
capturing Washington, giving up the At
tempt to cover Richmond -; TO which,
Il il added, Mr.. Davis {" would not con-
sent, The fact that such plan was
considered by General Lee is At least q
curious commentary on General Grants
estimate that he was man oil "siow,
conservative, cautious nature"
The movement began on the 9Th OF
October, when Lee moved with the
corps Of Hill and Ewell across the
Rapidan by the upper fords. The
operations were carefully masked, and
the southern forces, with the exception
ofFitzhugh Lees cavalry division, which
was left to guard the Rapidan, I'D.
vsnced by circuitous and concealed
roads in the direction Of Madison
Courthouse. In this advance the right
Of the column was guarded by Stuart
with Hampton's division of cavalry,
and the whole force moved on steadily
to reach the Sperryville road, descend
ing toward Culpeper Courthouse.
From this moment began one Of the
most rapid, busting, and unresting
campaigns of the war. The weather
was superb, as it always is, in Virginia
in October, and the troops seemed to
drink in the buoyant inspiration OF the
season. Stuart and his cavalrymen
especially were in the highest spirits,
and l had never seen the gay young
in a moro frolicsome mood.
His tests and laughter were incessant,
and his troopers shared his own good
humor, and all through the brief CAM
paign this mercurial spirit accompanied
the cavalry. During many scenes Of
the war the men fought sullenly as if
under protest. On this occasion they
seemed to enjoy it and to make frolic
of it.
Stuart soon struck the Federal out
posts near the little village of James
City. The first opposition was from a
force of infantry, reported by prison.
ers to number two hundred and fifty.
Gordon's brigade charged in front and
Young's brigade, under personal com.
mand of Stuart, attacked in flank,
when the force scattered and re-
treated on James City. Stuart
followed and soon engaged the
Federal cavalry there under Gen.
eral Fitzpatrick, and until evening the
fire of sharp-shooters was kept up with
out ceasing. The cavalry entered into
this sport with zest, and seemed to
relish it with reference to General Kill
patrick. Prisoners reported that the
General had been enjoying himself at
James City, where there was a race
course, by running his favorite mare
Lively just preceding the advance.
This amusement was soon broken up,
but General Fitzpatrick retorted in a
somewhat rough manner. Stuart had
halted with his staff and escort on the
summit of q hill west of the village and
was lying down waiting, with his head
quarters flag unfortunately unfurled,
when q shot nearly terminated his fur
Their connection with the campaign. A
white puff Of smoke was seen in the
woods across the little valley, the
scream Of the shell followed, and the
unwelcome visitor struck in the midst
of the group with laundering explo'
sion. AS it tore up the earth within
two or three feet Of my own head,
had the pleasure of rejecting that
had made a narrow escape, and it i
unnecessary to add that the who'll
group rapidly dispersed.
LEES STEADY ADVANCE.
Lee was mean while advancing steadil.
to attain position on General Meade
flank and rear, and on the next morn
ing Stuart continued to interpose hi
cavalry and mask the movement. A
on the first day interesting incident
marked his operations. General Xii
patrick had fallen back in the diret
ton of Culpeper Courthouse aud StuaI
rapidly followed him, resolved apps
ren.ly to keep everything in head
long movement. Below Grifiinsbur
force of Federal cavalry mad
a stand, but soon fell back, and
little further, near one-House noun
tain, an infantry regiment fell quickl
into line of battle. Stuart greeted tn
sight with ardor. He seemed to loo
on the regiment as prize. He wa
riding in front. almost unattended, b.
hurried up the Jefferson company
under Captain Baylor, which made a
impetuous charge. The shining muske
barrels fell like q single weapon, an
the fire was delivered in the yer
faces of the Jefferson men. The
the horses were seen flounderin
in q ditch which separated tt
lines, the Federal regiment retreate'
and the deserted camps at Stone-Hou;
mountain, with their huge debris {
knapsacks, blankets, and all the spoi
of winter quarters were before Il
troops. The spoils were tempting, b,
Stuart permitted no delay and pushe
on. On this occasion only was theI
the least opportunity, as far as a
aware, to capture stores Of any d
scription. The Federal camps we
bare, and, believe, not single wage
or ambulance fell into the hands Of Il
Confederates.
THE FEDERALs FALLING BACK.
Stuart had pressed on to the Cour
house, and it was even seen that Il
Federal forces had fallen back TO Il
Rappahannock, which the body of the
infantry crossed on the same nigh
The cavalry under General Pleasontc
+. hvouoht nm Tho ro.r .rI ~a.n -o.x<