The National tribune., 1888-11-29
STONEMAN'S RAID.
Capturing the Rebel Mall at Fishers Hill.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: "The Boy
Spy in Dixie " gives very truthful version of
Stoneman's raid, with the exceptions of a few
remarks in the issue of the 4th of June, where
he makes it appear that we crossed the Rapidan
and Rappahaunock on the same day which was
not the case; because / was III charge of eight
men of my company &C., 9th U. S. Cav.l, in ad-
vance, during the night marching to Raccoon
Ford, on the Rapidan. Shortly before l reach
ed RaCc0on Ford Capt. Keogh (theu staff
officer; since killed while with Gen. CUSTER
joined me, and we crossed the river first about
2 o'clock a. M; TeCroSsed again aud reported
everything clear. | was then given 30 men to
go out about two miles on the other side of the
Rapidan toward the Rappahaunock to do picket
duty. About two hours after sunrise [ was re-
lieved, and about two hours after that we start
ed for the Rappahannoek, without meeting any
rebels worth mentioning In the evening we
arrived at Kelley's Ford, on the Rappahannock,
which river was very high, as well as the Rapi-
dan, from the recent heavy rains so our regi-
ment, under command of Mag. Julius w. Mason
(nOW dead, went out on picket duty again
on the south side of the Rappahannock when
Maj. Mason excused me from going on outpost
duty he telling me to try and find place to
sleep, because l had been keeping watch all
the night before The best place l could find
to sleep was to lie in the water with my whole
body, with the exception of my shoulders and
which l had tied my horse, with nOsebag half
full of oats on the horses head. Next morning,
after daylight, we swan the RappahaunOck
with our horses, and went several miles away
from the river, unsadded and slept all day,
when we saddled up again and went down to-
ward Falmouth to rejoin the army, which
should have captured Lee aud his whole army,
but was badly beaten-under WhOm2 Gen.
Hookerl
To George A. Welton, 18th Mich Cav Pine
Creek Mich, l would say that the brigade of
cavalry which tried TO drive our infantry back
with the saber at Cedar Creek was the Reserve
(so-caled Regular) Brigade, consisting of the
1st, I'd, 5th and 9th Regulars, 9Th Pa. and 18th
N. Y. Cav, who also followed the rebels up to
the bridge at the foot Of Fishers Hill, where
we found the following facts: If anyone wants
to get out of the Valley over Fishers Hill on
the road which runs through Strasburg, a lit
| tie town about two miles, or soon before you
get to Fishers Hill, with team he has to
cross this bridge, which has a stone wall on
each side as a bridge guard. Now as it. hap
pened, when the Johnnies found that they
were whipped, they turned their teams and
tried to cross this bridge apparently all at the
same time; so it happened that one six-mule
team ran with the off front wheel against this
stone wall. The teamster behind had tried to
pass him on the left or near side; by doing so
his off or right front wheel caught the left or
near hind wheel of the first wagon, which
caused in turn the left or front wheel of the
second wagon to come in contact with the stone
wall on the left of the bridge, thereby making,
with the other teams, ambulances and artillery
pressing on close behind, very formidable
blockade; at least, that is what saw with my
own eyes We were there again very early the
next morning, and | OverhauIed some of the
Confederate mail which l found in one of their
ambuanoes, among which was letter from
/ ~ 81 1T
but, after reading the same, threw 1t over the
bridge as l crossed it-like foolish young fell
lows will do
According to the contents of this letter OF
| Gen. Gordon's the Eighth and Nineteenth
Corps need not be blamed for being surprised
and somewhat demoTalized on that ever
memorable day. Gen. Gordon had written
this letter to his wife, informing her of the
great victory they had gained over the Van
KEGS also informing her that they were going
to have great illumination in honor Of said
victory all along tina whole Valley. He also
informed her that he had, with two SquadrOns
of cavalry and 1900 iniantry, marched along
| the ridge of mountain have forgotten the
name but the mountain lay between our left
aud Front Royal; that it had taken him tive
days to perform this, as this mountain had
never been travelled before; that during the
I night preceding this fateful day he had his meU
all safely down the mountain, and after giving
| them little rest he went clear to the rear OF
our extreme left, with his two sqUadrous o.
cavalry in advance, and who had TO represent
themselves to our infantry pickets, when ht
| found them, as belonging to the I'd Mich. Cav
! We had no ID Mich. Cav. there, but our inlan.
| try was ignorant of that fact. We had the 1st
! 5th, 9th aud 18th Mich, forming one brigade
and as Gordon said in his letter. they succeeded
mighty well in capturing our advance and re-
| serve piCketS without firing a shot until they
struck our infantry and artillery camp.-JACoI
BU0H, Sergeant Co. c, 9Th U. S, Cav, Cham
| paign, Ill.