The National tribune., 1890-05-29

TO be taught by this engagement.
During the winter of 90 and '63, after thC
reorganization of our cavalry, it had been made
part of its duty TO protect very extended
front from Acquia Creek above its junction
with the Potomac to and along the upper Rap
pahannock River. Much of this line was
through denselywooded country. These
forests had once been cultivated land but had
been abandoned as such, and were now thickly
studded with a dense growth of small pines, the
foliage of which was SO dense rs 10 prevent one
from seeing for more than rod or two through
them, and they were threaded by innumerablC
paths
THE ENEMY's CAVALRY
was on the opposite bank of the Rappahannock
right bank-which in the low stages of the
water could be forded in many places. From
these camps it was an easy matter for him tc
detach commands of from two to five hundred
men, send them across the river at various
places, and by the hidden roads which his men
knew so well, concentrate on any given point
on the line, and drive in or capture our pickets.
These forays were numerous during the Win
ter, and very annoying TO our people. Every
inha6itant in this country was in full sympathy
with the cause of the enemy, and no matter
how frequently the posts of our vidots were
changed and the reserves moved, il was but n
short time until the precise location was known
at the headquarters on the other side of the
river.
Women and children rs well as the men took
patriotic pride in giving information as TO
our movements, and We'd with each other in
schemes and ruses by which TO discover and
convey to the enemy facts which we strOvo to
conceal. On the other hand information OF
the enemy's position and intentions could be
procured by us only by personal observation,
and for this purpose frequent reconnoissanCes
were made in considerable force, before which
he always gave way, retiring to his own side of
the river.
Avorell, who had risen to the rank Of Brig
adler General, and commanded a division,
added much TO its efficiency by promptly dis
missing from tho army the officers who COM
manded one of these surprised advance posts,
that OF HattwoOd Church, Nov. 2S, 1862. En-
listed men were frequently court martiaIcd for
abandoning their posts without making proper
and noisy resistance when attacked. Altogether
the responsibilities of the cavalry service were
assuming a grayer aspect. This was the last
perfectly y-successiul surprise of any consider
able body of our cavalry.
Fitz- Hugh Lee, who commanded brigade
composed of the 1st. 2d, Sd, Ath and 9th Va.
Cav, with horse battery (Brethed's), had been
at West Point three years while Gen. Avereii
was there, and they had been warm personal
friends. War, however, found them command
ing opposing forces, aud each brought with his
service all of the skill taught by his alma
mater reinforced, fortified aud ennobled by the
enthusiastic loyalty with which each espouscd
a cause that lac deemed the grandest for which
man ever contended, and against which the
warm personal friendships of a lifetime
WEIGHED AS BUT FEATHER.
In one Of the forays in which Lee himself
commanded. and in which he had been partially
successful IN efecting surprise though Mt the
cost 10 his command finally of n very consid-
cradle loss in killed and wounded, he left with
a Surgeon whom he detailed TO remain within
our lines 10 care for his wounded, a note of
which the following is copy:
DEAR AyERTLL: Please let this Surgeon assist
IA taking care Of my wounded.
ride pretty fast horse. but think yours can
beat mine.
wish you'd quit your shooting and get out Of
my Stale and 20 home.
Send me over a bag OF coffee.
Good-by, FITz.
Gen. Averell had long been considering the
project OF an advance into that portion Of the
country guarded by Lees cavalry, with the
purpose OF measuring strength on a fair field
with the men who, in small scouting parties
led by civilian partisans, had SO successfully
stolen, by paths known only 90 them, through
the pines 10 points in rear Of our pickets,
from which places outposts had been silently
captured and the way made clear for their
reserve posts. He had an abiding faith in the
results Of the painstaking instruction impaired
20 his own regiment, and the better morale
which was everywhere showing itself in all
the regiments Of his diyision-in short, he de-
sired fight for the fights sake.
He wished the officers and men Of his com
mand 10 meet and me8suse strength with
those Of the enemy, that they might practically
TO their own satisfaction their
superiority as cavalry, thus reaping the reward
Of the hard service aud many privations en-
dured through the era Of preparation. He
sought and obtained permission from the Com.
General Of tho Army to take por-
ton 81 his command across the river with this
purpose IN view, promising good results.
Accordingly on the 10th Of March, 1868,
about 1900 men Of his command, including a
battery Of horse artillery, left their camps near
Potomac Creek and marched 10 the vicinity Of
the ford lKelly's) at which 1t was intended