Smyrna times., 1891-08-12
WHOLE NO. 1897.
They Fought 5000 Men.
LESS THAN 200 DELAwAREANs BOIn1v
ATTACKED J. f. b. sTUART's
DIVISION

While one is looking over the field
OF Gettysburg and the operations oftbe
cavalry about that memorable field ba
VIII look in vain for the first fight of
the great battle, and now l chronicle
the fact which has never been printed
before and upon which history is sin.
gularly silent, that the first blow struck
at the foe on his crossing the Potomac
was savage and impetuous attack
upon the division of General Stuart nv
one hundred and eighty men of the
FIRST Delaware Cavalry under the
command of Major Knight. A brief
recital OF this little affair NAV not he
inappropriate:
On the Goth of June, the Delaware
cavalry marched from quarters near
baltimore and took up position at the
5HHC!ioA OF me road leading towards
the Potomac. They were new T -1--,s--
ana as all new troops are, were fnlI n
night. On the morning of the 0Qtb
Ihelr plckets reported the advance of a
oody OF men, but they could not saw
now many. Boots and saddles,' was
at once sounded and the batalion u,os
ready. A vidette had been stationed
on Ihe road just over an adjoining hin
anu now ne came in with the news
Uhat the party only nubered fiftv men
ana were certainly rebels. A consul.
Catlon was held by the officers and n
was agreed to attack the party at once
Draw sabres," commanded the mo,
jor, "TrOt," came next. and The it'll
band of brave Delawareans dasbaJ
down the road.
mere was not room enough for them
10 advance in line of battle. but so
anxious were they to cross sabres with
the foe that they paid but little atten.
ti0n as to how they advanced. Il
seemed 20 be only question of who
should be first. On they-#ant and
with wild cheers they dashed into
their foe, who, it seems, had had no
idea OF their presence. So impetuons
had been their charge that it was i'm
possible for those in advance to halt
nad they so desired, and hence the
hShtlng for time was most spirited
But look See who those $50 men
nave attacked The whole of ]. f r
Stuart's Division now stood before
them. They had attacked Stuart's adj
vance guard, charged clean through IT.
and before they could check themselves
were confronted by the entire com
mand. They were instantly surround
ed and questioned as to their number
They told the truth, but the truth
seemed so bald lie that Stuart would
not believe but they were the advance
OF the Federal army. Who, he argued
mad ever seen a handful of men attack
whole division The idea was pre-
pOsterOus, and he would have none of
It. At once the rebel columns were
halted and thrown into line OF battle
and for some hours they stood and
awaited the advance of the Federals
None made their appearance, however.
and late in the afternoon, Stuart COM
menced to believe the truth.
How many men are there of Won Pn
asked of one of the prisoners.
About 200, " said the man.
"Well," said Stuart, turning to one
OF MS stan, IF 200 men can halt 5000
like those fellows have done us. I
rather think Uncle Bob has a bigger
thing on his hands than he counts on.
Parole these fellows" and riding up
to his bugler he directed the lines to
advance.
1t was fact. The First Delaware
Cavalry, of 1S9 men, had attacked and
halted ]. E. B. Stuart's division
5000 men and held them for four or
five hours, and this with loss of some
eight or ten men in killed and wound
ed. The Delawareans were at once
parolled, and thus commenced the
lighting of the cavalry on this side of
the Potomac
Several members of that little com.
pany are still living and are still
amongst US. 1t is with pride that they
now recall that memorable dav and
recIte their adventures