The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-27
4 REMARKABLE VICTORY.
Wilson's Defeat at The Stanton RlIsf
Bridge In 1854
4 BATTLE WHICH SAVED LEES ARMY.
Two Hundred and Fifty Hastily Organized
Copfsderates whip Twenty-Five hunoreo
reder.is-valuable Contribution
For The Times.l

which peryaded all classes and ages ana
se.es Of yirginisns during our long and
severe trials that the history Of that war gives
us.
This most interesting narrative OF 1t was
given me ton years or more AGO by mat aple
and excellent yirginisn gentleman, Colonei
Tom tlournoy, then residing In Danvhle:
several tunes no told me he would write 1t
ont for record in the Office of the southern
Uistoric.l Society. Unfortunately for history.
he in the struggle for maintenance whicn hsd
then fallen upon US all died before ne could
execute hi. purpose.
WILSON'S ADVANCE.
Uis story YVES that about tho 1lst or go OF
June. 1864, he wa, OF his home IN Hallla1
county. Va, when about midnight he was
aroused hv the barking Of his dogs and by
one of his negro men, who told him a strange
man had came 10 the quarters" asking for a
fresh horse 10 enable him TO carry m impor-
tnnt dispatch. Tho Colonel saw the courier
and learned that a heavy column OF saerai
was moving along the Richmond and Dan,
vile railroad, breaking 1t up: that they
would soon reach tho Stanton bridge,
then guarded by q company OF Confederate
infantry under command OF captain
Farrinholt, who was sending out cour;
iII' met. to cop lngU.' Of 'h Bearing arms.
III B4CA NhHRREN
Colonel Flournoy went at once to the county
town and sent out couriers with ORDERS,
signed by General Lee. for all men and boys
and Confederate soldiers on furlough 10 re-
pair at once TO the defense Of THIS important
point. Prompt response was made by all
whom the .unmons reached, and by June
2sth near 500 men, armed with shot-guns ana
pea rides were on the spot.
MoTLEY ARRAY.
Some were aged men. too old Tor held ser
vice: some wers boys, too young, ana 8 ie"
were Confederate veterans on furlougn De-
cause of wounds or sickness.
OF this last class were Colonel flournoy
and Colonel Eaton Coleman.
Colonel Flournoy got together a small party
OF horsemsn and pushed forward to recon-
noitre the enemy aud report his progress:
Colonel Coleman assumed tho ommhn OF
the forces at tho bridge and prepared its de-
fenses. He vas a clever engineer aha vet
eran Of several years active service.
He moved $50 men across TO tho end OF the
bridge nearest the enemy. The river bank
was .tesp and high. This he cut down to
about four feet, throwing al the eartn as
removed down the bank. and showing no
fresh earth in front. His Cmmand were
| ordered to crouch down carefully concealed
until the enemy should arrive at point blank;
Then at the word they would rise. take good
aim and FIRE.
The rest of the command was held in reserve.
under Colonel FlOurnOy. on the right bank
~ ths river. where feld-works had long ago
been constructed upon the bluff some twenty
feet above the bridge. This work was armed
with four six-pounders which were worked
upon the advancing enemy under command OF
Captain Marshall.
$50 AGAINST 2, 800.
During the morning of the oath Wilson ar
rived upon the ridge. about one mile from
the bridge. He fixed his headquarters in the
- r. NJ loDhoiia hpues UlanCe he
could view the fold IF battle md all It's ap-
prosches, and convinced that he would en-
counter stout resistance he made his prepa-
rations accordingly. g.,
About 4 Z. NJ. he moved two thousand
five hundred dismounted riiemen under a
brigade commander TO make the attack. The
line advanced over the plain, which sweeps
from the base Of the ridge TO the river bank.
No shot was fired. except from the cannon, as
it approached in fine array, until within
about fifty yards of the bridge, and every eye
of the assailants was fixed upon the field
CoIeman's command theforce under the bank
arose. and as one man poured IN thor
UNEXPECTED fire. The centre OF the Federal
line was torn out-Scarcs q man OH escaped
wounds or death-and the whole force soon
fell back TO the hills TO reorgnni,o its attack.
and ,cain advanced. to be repul,ed as before.
By this time night WAS falling and General
Wilson was convinced that be had to en-
counter greater resistance than he could
overcome without great loss OF time
and men. Thi. conviction was strengthened
bv Mrs. McPhail, who told him that tho force
before him had been greatly increased since
his approach had become known. that she had
heard frequent arrivals of the trains from
Dgnvilie and the cheers when they reached
the bridge with enforcement from Danviie
and Charlotte, and that he would probably
find ten thousand men to beat IN the morn
inc.
sIGNAL VICTORY.
The first light of the 25th showed Wilson'S
trains and army retiring from the field In re-
treat upon Grants lines. but he was inter-
cepted by General Rooney Lee. who captured
ALI of his wagon train and 1000 prisoners.
Wilson. with his remaining force. barely
escaping into his " lines.
He left upon the field in his fight at the
bridge over sixty dead. who were buried
where they fell-and his wounded must have
been many more than the usual proportion 70
the dead. for most OF them were from buck
shot from double barrelled guns, every dis.
charge of which wounded and disabled many
men.
The Confederate loss was two killed and sir
or seven wounded. The killed were the Rev.
Mr.. Burke. Of the Episcopal Church. and DIR.
Sutphin, O prominent physician OF Halifax
county. Colonel Coleman was severely
wounded.
Never In the history Of modern war has
such a force achieved such q vlctory-a vic.
tory remarkable for the disparity in numbers,
armament and personnel as for the magnitude
Of its result and the skill with which it was
guided.
Two hundred md fifty men too old and
boys too young for war accomplished it.
under the command of a wounded officer,
who discarded all presidents OF bridge de.
Tense in placing his force with the bridge be-
hind it. and in using the bank Of the river as
his parapet.
The result was undoubtedly the salvation
of the army Of Northern Virgins.
General Wilson led 6.0OO veterans. thor.
oughly armed aud equipped. and was one Of
the ablest and most daring OF the Federal
commanders.
His object in this movement was to cut of
Lees supplies and compel him to retreat.
1t was Wilson who next year lod the last
invasion up Alabama and broke up the effec.
tive resistance OF the field forces in tina,
State. DAbxIY II. MAURY.
Another Account OF the Fight.
The following letter gives another account
of this remarkable battle:
RANDOLPH. CHARLOTTE COUNTY, VAL
August "A, 1891.
General ID. II. Maury:
My Dear General,-+s . Ny brother. then
under eighteen years ofage, was engagedinths