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

MIXED up - -a~~ ~
prec1inr GeoeraI P1sesoateo, WIN bu.
fSrd. Ma vs. refreshing bsiors General
rits - fton ~ Rapidan, cane down
4, ~ 49, snd q Fits Lee came down
On re rssr Of Buford TIE scene may os
lsirIv described - grand commtngi'ng
Of t6e tragic and comic. Stuart mar
roviv escspsd capture in the hurly.
buriy Of rushing squsdrcns, ana one OF
bis old troopers summed up inc STATE
Of things BY saying that :" General Jso
had cut off more than be could chew"
But the result was in his favor. The
iumbled fighting ended 1t nightfali in
Ire retreat across the rivsr. Of General
Pleasonton, and It now seemed certain
that for the time no further operations
would take place south Of the Kappa
hammock.
WHY LEADERS AT WORK.
Such vas not, however, to be the
case. The interesting game between
the two commanders had just begun,
and each was waiting the development
of his adversary's designs. The result
was a series of movements which were
At the moment incomprehensible to the
southern troops. Lee had continued
his flank movement by pressing north
Of the Rappahannock, and yet on the
same night the main body Of the Fede-
raj army, consisting Of three corps Of
:,f.ctry and n division Of cavalry.
crossed the south bank Of the river
and advanced steadily on Culpeper
Courthouse. What this meant was
inconceivable. Lee was hurrying
to cut off Meade somewhere in
the vicinity of warrenton, and Meade
was apparently moving to cut off Lee
in the vicinity Of Culpeper Courthouse.
The movement Of the Federal forces
has since been explained. Having re-
tired from Culpeper, General Meade, it
seems, came to the conclusion that his
retreat had been premature" He
therefore moved his main body to the
south bank of the river again, and on
the same night was near Culpeper
Courthouse, when Lee, unknown to
him, was at Warrenton. The two able
sdversaies were thus playing at cross
purposes, and an amusing ruse per-
petrated by General Young, Of the
southern cavalry, confused the matter
still further.
Only a handful Of cavalry had been
left by Stuart near Brandy Station,
and this small force of about 800 men,
under General Rosser, found itself sud-
denly confronted by the Federal army
just at nightfall. General Rosser fell
back, fighting as we'll as he was able,
but soon after dark he was reinforced
by Young's brigade from above the
Courthouse, which reached the field
when the Federal pickets were near the
town. Young was one of the most
gallant fighters of the cavalry, and par
ticularly enjoyed rpses. He deployed bis
whole force as sharp-shooters and opened
q determined fire, and still further to
produce the impression that Lees army
was still at Culpeper built fires along
an extended front, brought up his brass
band and ordered music and cheers for
the benefit of his adversaries. No fur
Their advance was made, and on the
same night the Federal forces recrossed
the river. General Meade had discov-
cred that his dangerous adversary was
near in his rear. and rapidly recalling his
troops hurried back along the Orange
and Alexandra eastward toward Ma
nassas.
A race of an exciting character now
ensued between the two armies. Fall
ing to take General Meade at disad-
vantage in Cnlpeper, Lee was hasten
ing to cut him of on the line of the
railroad in the vicinity of Warrenton,
and General Meade was straining every
nerve to pass the dangerous point be-
fore the arrival Of his adversary. 1t
seemed that he ought to succeed. The
retrogade to Culpeper had cost General
Meade precious hours, and unless he
moved his infantry with the speed Of a
horse it appeared impossible that he
could distance Lee. Even if he sue
ceeded in doing so he would be obliged
also to pass the perilous defile at Bris-
toe, on Broad run, before reaching the
strong position on the heights Of Gen.
treville.
To return now to the cavalry who
did the larger part of the fighting from
the opening of the campaign to the end.
Stuart had followed up his encounter
with General Pleasanton in Culpeper
by fastening to Warrenton Springs,
charging across the river in face Of a
hot fire of sharp-shooters, and pushing
rapidly in the direction Of the Orange
railroad. east Of Warrenton. Here an
incident occurred which affords good
example Of the adventurous life Of the
cavalry. As it necessarily attracted
the attention of both armies, it will not
probably be called in question; other
wise doubtless those wise critics who de-
nounce all exceptional events as utterly
incredible would hint, if not affirm,
that the incident never took place. The
truth is that curious occurrences were
rather the rule than the exception dur.
ing the war, and this was one Of the
number. Stuart had pushed on in ad-
vance Of the infantry, and was neal
Auburn, few miles northeast Of War
renton, when he found himself sudden.
ly enveloped by the Federal army. A
courier from the advance brought intel
ligence that heavy column Of Federal
infantry was passing across his front
and nearly at the same moment a sec
ond courier from the rear came with thu
information that similar force had
closed in behind him.
STUART IN A TRAP.
He was now in trap and his posi-
tion was dangerous in the extreme
Nerve and obstinate fighting would dc
much, but could effect little now. 1
his presence was discovered there woult
be little doubt Of the result, as he would
scarcely be able to repulse the Federal
army. There was no recourse but t
preserve complete silence, and Stuar
issued stringent orders to that effect
There was no occasion to enforce the
order, as the men were fully aware o.
their peril, and the column remained
silent and motionless in the saddle
throughout the night. The horse,