The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-08-03

60 10 Charlottesville and there engage in the
work Of railroad engineering, which kind Of SER
vice be had performed on the TeTre Hsute, Alton
& st. Louis railroad ere be enlisted In the
Federal service.
Gen. Wlnder had reached the conclusion that
Mr.. Harter was not q Federal scout, but chat be
was quite harmless, Well-meaning young man.
Upon the same train that carried him out Of
Richmond were Gems. Lee, Hill, TallaferrO and
other prominent Confederate officials on their
way to GOrdOngville, where the Confederate
army was quite well concentrated.
Mr. Harter got of the train at GordOnsville
and joined the great body Of officers and men
about the station, and having good opportunity
he approached Geh Hin and volunteered his
services as q scout, telling him he was on his
way to Charlottesville to work as an engineer on
the railroad, and showed him his pass. Gen.
Hill was very much pleased that young man
should leave so desirable position and offer his
services to the COnfsderacy. He promised to
get him horse, and meantime gave him per-
mission 70 ride In an ambulance, for which he
was very graciOusly thanked.
On August 16. this large army marched from
GOrdOnsville to Orange Court House, and on to
the Rapidan river near TO RaccOon Ford, where
they remained on the following day, which was
Sunday, everything about the army being quiet
with the exception that forty eight heurs' rat1OnS
were Issued to the soldiers, with the firm belief
that the next commiSslary stores would come
from Washington.
Mr.. HaFter was enabled by reason Of his close
contract With these Confederate generals to
learn their Intentions with their plan OF attack,
which was to surprise Gen. POpe'B army and
annihIlate It. the Confederate line being within
five miles of the Union army, while Gen. Pope
believed 1t to be thirty miles away.
Early on the morning Of August 1S, while q
number Of officers and soldiers, Mr.. HaEter
among them, were eating breakfast In house
near Gen. HlIps headquarters, q Confederate
soldier, without lc0at or hat, came daShlng Into
the house conveying the information that squad
Of Yankee cavalrymen had crossed the river and
attacked signal station and came very near
capturing 1t, whereupOn, a volunteer company
Of about 100 men went out to surround the
cavalry Mr., Harter followed on among those
who carried the Stretchers, the expectation h&v-
Ing been formed that there might be an engage
ment, and hence there might be wounded and
dying soldiers. Here he seized his long looked
for opportunity to break for the river and swim
across. Coming to the Union OutpOStS he was
furnished with horse and guard, and on he
started with all possible speed to the head
quarters of Gen. BufOrd, which was about two
miles distant. There fresh horses were fur
nlshed, and soon Gems. Mcdowell, Pope and
Reno were made acquainted with the startling
facts. Immediately Pope ordered q retreat
across the RappahannOck river.
Gen. Reno, on the second Bull Run battlefield
said to Mr. Harter:
Young man, but for your timely information
think we would have been captured, and PROB
ably Washington might have been taken.
The following Is In the line Of VerihcatlOn Of
the above statements:
Copy Of letter from Gen. Sigel to Secretary
Stanton.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS,
ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
MAR FORT DRKALB, VA, Sept, 10, 1852.
Hon. Il. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Wash
in0tOn, D. c.
This is TO certify that Thomas o. Harter, a
borBeaAnb III OOmpony ~ rhsS ASoSAAoH" AANAe'N'
Volunteer Cavalry, Was on the lSt day OF July
last, employed by me 10 go on secret mission
Furnished with q citizens OUTFIT, together
with horse and bride, he left my headquarters
at Sperryville, Va, on the aforementioned DAY
with instructions 10 penetrate the enemies hne'
via stauntOn, Charlottesville, StannArdSVille
and GordonSyille, and II possible to report tC
me within three weeks.
On the 18th day Of August he reported at my
headquarters on the Robertson river, near th'
Rapldan, that the enemy was advancing upon u
in great force, where he was encamped, th'
names Of the general officers commanding, the
probable strength Of the enemy, and the con
templdtCd plan OF attack.
Subsequent information authenticated tIe cor
rectness Of Sergf. Harter's statements.