St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-30

and Washington. The main body of Union
cavalry was also at Centerville. But Gen.
Picasonton himself was not far from Aide
Gap, watching it.
June II, "Fitz Lee as he was called. the
present governor of Virginia, was sent to
take possession of Aide Gap, and hold it
with q brigade of Confederate cavalry.
Within easy supporting distance were two
other Confederate cavalry brigades.
Pleasonton says that some kind of PRESENT.
Tnent-he cannot explain it-moved him to
pass through Aldic Gap, on that very day
Gregg's division to find it occupied by Con-
federate pickets. He drove them back to
the main body between 2 and 3 in the after
noon of June II.
On q hill west of the village of Aide, Gen.
"F1tz' Lee was waiting for the Union cav.
airy. Near Aide Gap were two roads lead
ing to Ashby's Gap and Smokers Gap in the
Blue Ridge. Both of these the Confederates
sought to guard.
Immediately the two armies met the battle
began. II began desperately and ragged I'm.
riously until after dark. The Confeserates
had the advantage of position that was to he
derived from q ditch and a line of haystacks.
Alter a bloody fight OF three hours the Fed
eral line was broken and driven back. Then
tie day was saved to the Union cause by tho
gallantry OF Brig. Gen. Hugh Judson XII
patrick. The Union line wavered, stoned
and fell back. Suddenly Fitzpatrick put him
self in person at the head of the First Maine
cavalry and ordered them to charge the
Confederate line on the Ashby Gan road
This they did brilliantly and successfully
The Confederates in turn fell back and XII
patrick's men captured four guns. Severa,
spirited charges mad about the same time
by the Federal tHarris9 light cavalry com
pleted the work, and the day was won for
pleasonton. The Confederates say that
about this time they received orders from j.
E. B. Stuart to fall back to Middleh,,rg
which orders they obeyed.
While Greggss division was thus getting
possession of Aide Gap, q battle was takin9
place also at M~lddleburg, not far away. COT
Dnfie, OF Pleasonton's force, took possession
of that town, only to be attacked BY Stue rts
men and forced to retreat. Next day. J,1ne
la. P~leasonton came on with all his force.
There was fighting again, and for several
days afterward. The result of these various
cavalry fights was that the Confederates
were driven out of Loudoun county. Va. The
cavalry retreated back into the Blue Ridge
mountains.
The possession Of Aide Gap and the Bnl
Run mountains by the Union cavalry was o
very important advantage to Gen. Hooker.
1t pressed Lees army to the westward in "a
Invasion of Pennsylvania and made bis ronfa
longer and more difficult, and insured tl,o
safety of Washington in that direction.
During these cavalry fights east of the R,na
Ridge Gen. Fitzpatrick especially DIS
tlnguished himself. He was a native of Few
Jersey, and was in the flower of his Youth al
the outbreak of the war, having been rrad.
uated from West Point in 1861. He was M.
to the s~rtilleEy arm of the service e
first, but soon found more congenial occ,1ras
ton for his gallant, dashing spirit in The
He was promoted rapidly. At
he commanded a division. n
1855, at the age of 20, he was promoted To
general Of volunteers The wear after
the war closed he resigned from the ~rer11Iar
army. In 1915 be went as minister TO EhiIi
remaining there until 1879. In 1881 this 1rai''
LIANT officer aud accomplished gentleman
died.