The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08


was eDi0ned. While these dispositions
were making small scouting party from the
Black-hOrso troop had been Sent 90 watch ihc
approach Of the enemy. Unfortunately the
troops lying In ambush had not been In
Formed of this. After considerable de-
lay the scouts started 10 return towards the
mfcdcrate position. The sound Of horses
rect on the hard road in the stiffness Of the
night gave assurance to the infantry lying
under cover Of the woods. that il was the
enemy column. The night was very dark:
having allowed the supposed enemy to pass
q short distance beyond them, they opened
Gre from their ambush. Two of the cavari
were killed. and one wounded. The llowit-
zers were in exact range Of this unfortunate
| fusiiade. aud although the balls whistled
| freely about them. no one was struck. The
| firing was, OF course heard by the enemy.
whose camp was so near that the roll of
their alarm drums notified the Coniederates
1 that they had been discovered.
| By the coming Of day the disappointed
troops were back in camp. saddened and
distressed by The melancholy events of the
night This unfortunate affair east gloom
over the entire command, and IL was moi
until events Of greater importance began e.
engage their attention that its ELECTS had
passed away. With each recurring da,
came repeated rumors Of the advance OF
/ Mcpowell's army. II was now near the
middle OF July, and il was apparent that the
enemy could not longer delay his conten-
plated march Of invasion. The season was
advancing. and it was the universal eonNic-
/ ton in the Confederate camp that not man,
| DAYS could pass before they should Tor tht
/ first time see for themselves what they had
so long been expecting.
SALUTE TO MAJOR-GENERAI.
4 few DAYS after. while the HOwitZe :
were practicing i'm the field, measuring dis
tances and throwing shells, suddenly from
the direction Of Alexandria came the sound
Of heavy artillery, muttcring in the distance
Eleven sullen reports were counted. THIS
was The salute 10 Major General
Winfield scott. cOmmander-in-chiei OF the
United states Army, had come over
from Washington 20 review the grand army
before il should begin its triumphal march
10 Richmond. The IlOwitzers' practicine
soon ceased. and they returned to camp
with the conviction that probably by ia
morrow they would have more serious WORK
on their hands. That very night. the i6lh
If July. one % the tcamsters gave iniorlna-
ti0u that his wife had found ont That the
enemy would advance next morning. Ac
cording 10 another account. a wcll-knOwu
belle in the neighborh0od had gotten posi-
tive information that Mcdowell would begin
his forward movement ON the morning OF
the Eth Of July. This patriotic young lad,
mounted her horse ami, with only negro
servant as "A guide, rode all the night before
90 deliver i'm person the important niOrina-
tion 10 General Bcamogard. Whether this
was known 20 General B0nham or not, We
cannot say. Certain il is the llowllzcrs
went 10 rest in Ignorance of the fact, but
awakened on the following morning 10 real
i've the truth Of the report.
BLACK HORSE SCOUT.
ON the morning of the 18th the COMPANY
Wa, quietly enjoying breakfast little al
Ter day-hrcah. when one of the BlackhOr-t
scouts came by at fun speed. His name was
bowman. a. Gallant a soldier as ever
bc,tTode a horse. lie had only time to an
nounce the coming of the enemy, and 10 say
that he had seen them himself. This was
enough. Coming from such source. We
knew il was true. The Captain. leaving tho
first Lieutenant to see that the tents were
struck. the wagons loaded and sent Ia thc
rear. repaired at once 10 General BOnham>
HEADQUARTERS in the village. lie soon re-
turned with orders 10 occupy the extreme
right Of line Of earih-works that had lately
been constructed ON the crest of the hill ON
our north front. Here the guns,then only four
in number. were put in position. Colonei
BacOn's regiment of south CarOlinians were
our support.
In the meantime all was hustle and eN-
citcment towards the village Of Fairfax
Courthouse small bodies of cavalry were
moving hy different routes as if 10 observe |
the approaching enemy. tOurers Weic
hurrying 10 and fro. and the roll Of drums. |
the call of buges and other warlike sounds |
announced the advent OF serious crisis IN
our affairs. The lIOwiizers were now IN
position behind the light carthworks, the |
CAPTAIN occupying the centre. First Lieu |
tenant Palmer on the right and second |
Lieutenant Edward Mccarthy on the left of
the company.
About sunrise the roar of the Federal |
drum corps could Dee distinctly heard, but
not q man could he seen. Nc
Dlwcll's army was. for the time, hld
from view by a heavy body Of woods. |
Al length few shining objects
were seen to emerge from the deep green of
the forest. and i'm a short time a COuhie line |
of skiTmishers advanced across the held, |
about one and a half miles in our front. |
Under the strokes Ofthe corps Of sappers ana |
miners lanes We're cat through the woods, |
from out Of which deOOuched the blue col |
umns Of the enemy. As they deployed ~
line Of battle a magnificent array Of bay |
0nets stretched as far as could be seen from |
east 10 west At this moment pun oi
white smoke, followed by the scream of a |
shell. discovered 90 our view battery of |
artillery. The shot was thrown at one OF
the small bodies OF Confederate cavalry |
that had been watching the line Of Mellow
ellis approach. A glance along the line OF
the llOWitIers saw them standing a. cooi
and calm as veterans. They evidently eN-
pected TO be soon engaged. defending their
position against the mighty host now adj
vancing upon it. When the Federal line
had approached within a mile the gunner |
on the extreme right asked permission io |
cut a fuse the proper length and allow him
TO open fire. When informed that the Cap |
tain alone could give That order, he seemed |
sorely disappointed. 1t should he remem- |
bercd that the officers on such occasions are |
dismounted, and their horses sent to the
rear.
ENEMY APPROACHING.
The enemy had now approached within |
less than half mile. and had not fired a |
gun. excepting a few shells at the retiring
cavalry. I'm the midst Of the suspense con- |