The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24

1t was then and there that the great anaconda
of secession and rebellion had its back broken.
When Grant and Sheridan came out of the
West the head of the serpent was, of course,
alive and dangerous but it was scotched.
Therefore the cavalry of the Army OF the 20
tomac earned by hard fighting against supe-
rior force much ofits glory before Sheridan came.
OF course there was not much chance for
the cavalry to operate while we were IN
our Winter quarters. The river served to
separate the two armies as a sort of barrier or
dead-line over which it was dangerous TO ven
tuTe. Yet almost every Winter night large
force OF cavalry was detailed to ride TO the up
per tOrds to watch J. L. b. Stuarts raiders.
When Spring opened at last, almost every
body expected and desired to get out of our
tiresome quarters. Therefore when the order
came TO pack our fiye-days' Tatious may say
that the cavalry arm was rejoiced.
One of the reasons for my not being more
familiar with the Tegimental brigade and corps
history is that / was always on the staff l
only knew of the movements of such regiments
as contained my friends, whom visited while
in camp. On the march | seldom saw any
OF them. We rode along in a loose, dashIng
way, seemingly as the spirit moved the Cen
eral, without any rank formation; the Order
lies bringing up the rear in the dust or mud.
IN this raid / was ordered TO hang to head
quarters closely, IS il was expected that l would
graph lines between Richmond and Lee; also,
to do any scouting or plotting in the advance
TO Richmond, and to signal, if necessary, by
rockets from the rear or otherwise, as would be
found best over the rebels heads, to our army
signal officers in Lees front
THE SLOVENIAN RAID.
We moved of quietly at night, crossing the
river at early dawn at one of the upper fOrds.
] don't remember whether it was Keliy's or
I,,I
partly over it. 1 didn't know exactly whittier
we were bound, except in a general way that
il was TO be big raid behind Lee and perhaps
into Richmond.
Wesucceeded in a remarkable manner in get
ting started without detection. Stuart's cav
airy had been led of on a stern chase after
some Of our fellows. We passed between Stu
arts cavalry and Lees army. This fact is i'm
portaut because the Southern historians assert
that Gen. Lee was not surprised by HoOker's
movement on Charlottesville. lie was, be-
cause Stuart couldn't communicate with him.
] saw at headquarters a dispatch that had
been captured by our advance, which indicated
this so clearly that our officers were cOngratu-
Iating themselves over the fact Of our safety
as we rode along the first day.
That our move was a complete surprise was
also clearly seen by the conduct Of the inhab-
itants. We went along quietly enough for
Z awhile, passing houses from which perhaps we
could only see q few ladies gazing at from be-
hind the screened windows. Atone door stood an
old man leaning on a cane, looking about as old
folks are supposed TO do when a funeral pro-
cession Is passing.
In the quarters Of the contrabands, usu-
ally behind the houses, the sights were entirely
different however. Big fat aunties stood out in
front Of their cabins, but out of sight of the
houses, and waved their bare arms or their
| apronsat US IN happy way; old uncies lined the
/ fences OF stood in the fields with their hoes at
| q present" as We went by; pickaninnies of
/ al sizes and shades ran around laughing, show
ing their white teeth and white eyebalIs, capcr-
/ ing as they do nowadays when a Barnum
/ circus goes along.
/ At the first halt over the river a sort of
! general order was read, or in most cases talked
to the different regiments by their officers, TO
/ the effect that Eve were in The enemy's coun-
/ try on an important campaign" 1t was there
! fore imperatively commanded that there be no
/ struggling, no foraging, except under proper
/ escort and under command of an officer.
Each man was asked TO exert himself TO the
/ utmost to make the movement success. 1t
/ was also explained that the movement not only
| required the greatest vigilance on tne part of
/ every man IN the command butiy was expected
/ also that the powers OF endurance of fatigue,
! both Of men and horses, would be taxed to the
utmost. We must conceal ourselves as much as
possible during the daytime and march at
/ night.
A great deal might be said here Of a personal
| character about Stoneman's great raid that
/ would be new in the way Of war stories. but
am to bring this already-too-long narrative to q
sudden ending.
viii therefore only be able to show in a
general way, and very briefly, that, as far as
the cavalry aGd my personal scouting and sig
/ mailing were concerned, we were entirely sue
. cCs-fUl in the Charlottesville campaign.
We of the cavalry aud Signal Service accom-
plishga ali that part Of HGOkCrs plan that had
been assigned 10 these twin arms Of the service
/ which the General had spoken so aippantly
about
in a word, viii say that Gen. stoneman
passed q large body Of cavalry and artillery be-
tween Lees army aud Stuarts much boosted
cavalry. IN accomplishing this difficult feat
Gen. EOoker's cavalry electualIy cut of Stu
arts communications with his own General
and Of course with his own army, in their own
country This resulted TO L0oker's great ad-
vantage IN that Gen. Lee was surprised by
tGe movement Of HOokcr's army Oh Cbancel
lor-T.lle. Gen Lee ha1, Of course depended on
4 his cavalry keeping him advised Of the move
neHt5 Of Hooker. This important historical
fact seems 10 nave been lost sight Of. Nearly
/ all OF the recent writers on the war are of tiIt
infantry or artillery arm Of the service, which
may account for the way ia which the cavalry
4 is overlooked.
do not pretend 10 be the champion or de
fender Of the cavalry arm; there are plenty 0
other survivors much more competent thal
myself. viii, however, feel that / have re
lieyCd my mind Of a great burden by simpl,
putting on record my experiences and obserya
tiOns ia this direction.
StOneman's force eiiectually destroyed Lee
communications IN his rear Both the tele
, graph and the railroad were rendered useless
except on the direct line between Frcdericks
burg and Richmond That this portion wa
not destroyed is explained, in part in thi
chapter by the discovery, on my tapping tn
rebel wires, that they (the rebels) had defeate
) Hooker at Charlottesville.
EFFECTIVE WORK.
II is a remarkable fact and one worthy q
note, that while We were lost, as il were, in th
j enemy's country, expecting, as a matter q
course, that Hooker with his 10000 me
: would whip Lee ] was able TO advise on
S Generals, Oh tie authority Of rebel official rC
ports taken from their wires, that We had bee
Z | defeated instead at Charlottesville and mus
S quickly look out for our own safe retreat.
}, We rode almost ia sight Of RichmOud-com
r / plcte.y around Lce-and returned safely afte
= ICOkers defeat TO our startHg-pOint
; On the evening OF tie first days march th
j. headquarters rested or bivouached near a eel
g taiu farmhouse. ] don't know where it.
- located, but / am sure ! could find the place If
o were permitted TO ride out that road again.
y hope some day To be able 70 make the ride, tO
e The house and farm seem 10 have been left er
s tirely 10 the care Of two ladies and the colOrc