The National tribune., 1891-03-19
Read Better than Pension - on page 5.
A NICE LITTLE RAID.
When the Islh III. and % n. Y. Cav. Got Within
Sight Of Richmond


Sight Of Richmond.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBuNE: There oc-
Cured one stirring and thrilling event in the
Spring OF 1863 that have never seen any ac-
count Of in any history or paper that l have
ever read, other than that given by the rebel
papers soon after it happened. 1t was the dar-
ing aud hazardous RAID made by the 2d \. Y.
Cav, commanded by the dashing Fitzpatrick,
and the 18th III. Cav, under Licut.-CO. Davis.
IL may be because it did not end as well as was
expected.
On the 1st day Of May, 1863. Gen. Stoneman.
IN command Of the Cavalry Corps, Army OF
the Potomac. decided to turn back from his
raid. lie was then near GordOnsyille, Va, and
about 20 miles northwest of Richmond.
On the night Of the lst Of May Coils. Kill
patrick and Davis asked Gen. Stoneman for
permission to go on, which request was granted.
After n short consultation they agreed upon
the route each should take.
Early on the morning OF the 81 both regi-
mcntS started for different points. Our first
objective point was Ashland, which We reached
latter an all day and allIight march, on the
morning Of the 81. We dashed into town,
captured about go prisoners. two railroad
trains, a quantity Of army supplies, and a rebel
/ mail After destroying the railroad and trains
we left for Hanover Courthouse. Ashland IS
! situated in Hanover County, about l6 miles
I
over Courthouse with but little resistance, aud
took a few rcbs prisoners aud cOnfscated about
800 horses and mules. These came in good
play for some Of our boys were dismounted,
and others soon would have been. We shot
our old played -out horses TO prevent them from
being Tccuperated aud used by the rebels after
ward. We destroyed the railroad and all the
/ munitions of war we could find.
Hanover Courthouse is the Capital OF Han
over County, and about 20 miles from Rich
uond and one mile from the Pdmunkey River.
Gen. Porter, little less than year before we
were there, had defeated tho rebels, killed 200
and captured 730 prisoners. This occurred
May o, 1869.
The next point Of attack was a railroad sta
/ ton called Tunstalls, or Pamuukey. IL was
/ situated about five or six miles from tho Pa
muukcy River We charged into it, but had
to hustle ont again, for it was full Of rebel in
fantry, we'll protected by the railroad embank-
/ ment. We manuyrIcd about for some time,
but on learning that there was q whole division
4 OF rebels there, concluded that discretion was
/ the better part Of valOr," aud so marched away
/ and left them. We lost several men in this
I little fight Pretty soon we were convinced
| that the rebels WcrC after rs. and that we were
\ being surrounded. We dashed for the Pa
muukey River, about six miles distant, but on
reaching il found no bridge or boats 10 carry US
i over One little boat was all that could be
! found.
We made a raft out Of logs, poles and boards,
/ aud with it aud the boat we all managed 10 get
across dry. We swan our horses behind the
/ boat and raft. We were not mOlested by the
enemy any moro that day, and went into camp
| at shutdown for a nights rest, being the Br't we
j had had since leaving Gen. StGncnan near Cor
/ louisville on the morning Of the I'd. IL rained
nearly all night.
ON The morning OF the 9TH we marched carly.
met and crossed tho Mattapouy River about
Z noon. We did not sec an armed rebel all that
day. Went into camp early and rested ell
night Broke camp early on the morning OF
( the 9Th. marched till about 10 o'clock a. m,
when we fell in with the 21 y. Y. Cav. We
mistO0k them for rebels and made ready Tor a
/ fight, but before any shots were exchanged
\ we learned who they were. When We learned
I that they were friends, we gave yell that
must have struck terror into the hearts OF any
1 hidden or providing foe.
] On the afternoon Of the 18th we reached
/ Gloucester Point, which is at the mouth OF
York River, opposite Yorktown, and about 40
I miles southeast Of Richmond. A more tired,
4 hungry aud dirty lot OF boys never was seen
before nor since than we were az that time.
We had but little time to forage, for 1t was
on, on, hurry-scurry from one point to another
/ all the way. We rode 20 miles, without getting
out OF the saddle, at one stretch.
think the soldiers in camp at tho Point
were Delaware aud Maryland boys. They
were excellent fellows l know, and soon mad
/ Us fed and put to bed. God bless them wher-
ever they may be to-day. We lost two officers
and 81 men, killed wounded aud prisoners,
| which was 10 per cent Of our force on this raid.
/ We captured and paroled more rebels than we
had men in our regiment, aud destroyed rall-
/ road property wherever We found II, besides
| Government stores aud munitions OF war Tor
the rebels in vast quantities. We were within
a few miles OF Richmond at one time, and
could see It's towers and steeples aud hear the
bells ringing.
Oh! how our mouths did water at sight OF
such tempting morsel. II we had known
that IL was defended only by n few hundred
home guards, we most assuredly would have
tried 10 take il. We supposed from what we
could learn that there was a force OF 5000 OF
1000 troops in the city. This was not true
for this force had been sent either to Lee oil
South to meet the expected Union force en- route
from Fortress Monroe. IL Gen. StOneman had
gone with Us with the entire cavalry force uu
der his command, we certainly could have takeL
Richmond NJ that time
But have said enough for this time.
have given but a brief account OF this raid
and hope that some one who is more competent
will give Us an unabridged history Of II sOOI
In tho columns Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
would modestly suggest that Maj. $. Bronson
one Of the leading spirits Of the expedition
perform this service. III. GARDNER, Go.
18th Ill. Cav, Eagle, Neb.
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