Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-08-15
enemy; for the Federals fully expected h

enemy for the Federals fully expected be
would endeavor to return by it to the Con-
federate lines, and they had taken steps tc
crush him. 1e
Here he was being hotly pursued, and
could in no way receive any succor from
the Confederates, for he was wholly cut of
from them by the Federals on the Chicka-
hominy. There was bat one remedy for
this horrible dilemma, and that was to 20
forward and pass around McClellan's whole
army. But how was this to be done when
river confronted him which was swollen
by heavy rains and was no longer fordable,
and the danger was thickening every mo-
ment by an enraged and powerful foe
gathering around him and his command
and threatening them with annihilation and
capture. But Stuart was calm under all
this. saw him as he approached the river
and made observations up and down the
stream, but he did not show any signs of
fear or anxiety as he sat on his horse
stroking his luxuriant beard as he pondered
over the situation. He had in the mean
time dispatched courier to General Lee,
apprising him of his perilous POSITION
After doing this he learned that at a point
below the ford there were the remains of
an old bridge, to which he FASTENED with
his command. Upon his arrival there he
discovered scarcely a skeleton of one, for
the Confederates in their retreat up the
Peninsular had destroyed it. But it oc-
Cured to Stuart that he would under such
trying circumstances make an effort to re-
build it. He placed strong picket in his
rear, and dismounted portion of his com.
mand, and under his eye commenced earn
est and unremitting work upon it. Timbers
were taken from an old warehouse in the
r10 tnh how Sol sNI
the spot where nothing remained but the
debris of the bridge. There were men to
receive and to put them together as they
were delivered upon the banks of the river.
The rapidity with which those timbers were
united by unskilled hands was a surprise
even to those who performed the work.
The bridge possessed little or no architect
ural beauty after being completed, but it
possessed great strength which was more
desirable than an attractive appearance,
and the amateur bridge builders received
the hearty thanks of the whole command.
While this work was going on Stuart had
in his rear threatening and formidable
force gathering to strike him, and this was
the only means of escape.
He lost no time after crossing the same
for he was still in the enemy's country and
could only check his pursuers for time by
the destruction of the bridge, which he
burnt Immediately after crossing with his
He was now in Charles City coun-
ty, but still separated from the Confeder-
ate army, and there was but one road by
which he could escape and that is known as
the James River road which was occupied
at the time by General Hooker with large
Federal force. Stuart passed rapidly through
treacherous bogs and estuaries on the north
side Of the Chickahominy until he reached
a point known as Green Oak, here he left
the Chickahominy and marched with great
rapidity to Brukland on James river, halt
ing an hour or more to snatch some repose
at Judge Isaac H. Christians, in this neigh
borhood. He resumed his march for the
Confederate lines, but without his COM
mand, for this was left here with orders to
move at later hour. Taking q courier
and myself as guide he started at night
for General Lees headquarters, at that
time at Dobb's farm, near Richmond, a
distance of thirty miles. Pause for mo-
ment and think of a general officer separa-
ting himself from his whole command and
riding the distance already mentioned, with
only two men, whole night through
country occupied at the time by hostile
forces actually engaged in scouting and
picketing all the roads, placing his life in
x
art was splendid rider. going at gallop
nearly the whole way, and frequently in the
advance of both courier and guide. There
was point in this all-night ride that was
thrillingly perilous, and that was when he
approached the locality of White Oak
Swamp, for this was occupied by General
Hooker, who held position on the extreme
left of the Federal army, extending within
a short distance of the James river, and
there was but one public highway between
Hooker and the river, and this was the road
this fearless cavalryman was upon and the
only one by which he could reach the Con-
federate lines. Hooker could have closed
this avenue easily had he been aware of his
approach but there was no demonstration
whatever as the bold raider dashed Into the
lines of his friends with laughter and a
merry twinkle in his eye. This feat has
now placed him in friendly and genial at
mosphere ; but he still has fifteen miles
more to ride before he can reach the head
quarters of his chief, and he hurries on to
Fulton, at which point he gave orders to
his guide to inform Governor Letcher of his
safe arrival and also that of his wife. He
then went Immediately to inform General
Lee of all that he had done. This is an in
exhaustible theme, and it is impossible for
me in these remarks to follow this ehival-
rous knight through all of his campaigns
and to give you the fainest record of his
great deeds. followed him from the Pc
ninsula through nearly all of his battles in
Virginia and Maryland. l was with him on
his advance into Pennsylvania, and in that
stubbornly contested battle of Gettysburg,
with him while covering the retreat from
that bloody and ill-fated battle field, and
could give you some interesting incidents of
it all if had the time. There was contin-
uous fighting from the time Stuart crossed
the Potomac until his return to Virginia.
In maneuvering cavalry there never has
been his equal in this country. He could
always handle his command in such a man
ner as to win victory with anything like
equal numbers of men opposed to him He
was man who possessed heart that was
warm and generous, and that could be cas-
lily touched In proof of this will mention
an incident which occurred on the Kappa
hammock while the army was at rest. had
a young man in my signal corps who ap-
piled to me for furlough. But / declined
it, on the ground of his just hav-
ing returned to camp from leaf of alb.
sence of ten days and there were others
who had not been to their homes for year,
and were anxious to do SO. Finding he
could not get my approval, he sent his ap-
plication through an irregular channel, set
ting forth the fact that his object in going
home was to get married. Stuart, without
knowing he had just returned to duty from
home (for the applicant was careful in cou-
cealing this fact, returned the application
to me with this endorsement "Why not
let the applicant go home? Such good in
tentions should not be thwarted." He did
60, and the nuptials were consummated. 1
have known him to lie en- the ground, and
exposed to all kinds of weather, giving as
a reason that he did not want to fare more
than his men. Time, that
great destroyer Of all mankind has greatly
decimated the squadrons he put in the field,
still those that survive revere his memory
and will ever honor his name, for the ties
that biud old soldiers cannot for light and
trivial causes be eradicated. Men who
have espoused common cause and who
have experienced hardships together, who
have touched elbows, and fought under
the same banner, always have mutual re-
gard and esteem one for the other. We have
an illustration of this in those brave men
who followed Napoleon in his victories at
Jena, Marengo and Austerlitz, and in his
at Leipsic snd Waterloo, in his
marches over treacherOug and rTloped roads