Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02


as he entered Maryland. The report
states that General Stuart, on reaching
the Maryland side. ascertained thai Cen
eral Hooker had already crossed the
Potomac. and that on the day before
Oune 29th) his army was at Pooiesville
moving towards Fredericktown.
General Stuart appears 10 have thought
that his movement was intended to
threaten Washington. He lost much val
liable time I'm pursuing and cap
turing trains coming from that city TO
General Rockers army, but as he moved
northward the Federal army was also
moving northward on his left and sepa-
rating him from the right of the Confede-
rate army. where It was all important
that the. cavalry should be.
The report says. speaking OF the capture
OF a large train coming from Washing
ton: THE capture and securing OF this
train had for the time scattered the lead
ing brigade. l calculated that before the
next brigade could march this distance
and reach the defences OF Washington
II would be after dark. The troops tere
would have had time TO march TO posi-
tons to meet attack on this road. To
attack at night with cavalry. particu-
larry unless certain OF surprise, would
have been extremely hazardous To
wait until morning would have lost much
time from my march to join General
Lee. without the probability Of compen-
sating results. I therefore determined.
after getting the wagons under way, to
proceed directly north so as 10 cut the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad now be-
coming the enemy's main war artery
that night. ! found myself now encum-
bered by about 400 prisoners. many OF
whom were officers"
He then proceeds to state how he
marched northward, cutting the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad at several
points, and remained in possession OF
that road nearly all that day-the 2Sth.
Finding that the enemy was moving
north through Frederick City. and 1t
being important for him to reach Gene
raj Lees army with as little delay
as possible, ito acduaint the command
ing general with the nature OF the enc
my's movement, as well as to place
with his column my cavalry force" ne
proceeded. following a ridge road to West
minister. which he reached at p. NJ.
At this place he had a skirmish with
q detachment OF Federal cavalry, which
he pursued long distance on the Balti-
more road, a pursuit that took him
further away from the army of General
Lee.
Stuart on the right of the enemy
brought on several slxirmshes, which
consumed much more time, the conse-
quences of the loss Of which will be pres
emily described.
Considerable delay was also caused In
an effort TO save the captured wagon
train. Not being able to learn exact
" where the Confederate army was.
General Stuart proceeded as far north
as Carlisle. 1t was not until the night
Of the LIST Of July that he was informed
that General Lees army was at Gettys-
burg, and had been engaged that day
with the enemys advance. He reached
Gettysburg on the "a OF July.
The movement Of General Stuart. as
will be perceived. left the army which
had passed into Maryland with no cavalry,
except the brigade Of Jenkins's and
Whites battalion, which accompanied
General Ewell. 1t could not look for
supplies In a hostile country, except by
the use OF artillery and wagon-horses. Of
which, OF course. but small number
could be spared for that purpose. and 1t
was. as we shall see. entirely without
knowledge OF the enemy's movements.
Let us now return TO the movements OF
the main body OF the army:
On the 22d OF June General Ewell
marched into Pennsylvania with Rodes's
and Johnson's divisions. preceded by
Jenkins's cavalry. taking the road from
Hagerstown through Chambersburg TO
Carlisle. where he arrived on the 9TH.
Early's division moved by parallel road
to Greenwood. and. In pursuance Of In
structions previously given to General
Ewell. marched owards York On the
Gath Longstreet and Hin were put in
motion to follow Ewell. and on the 9th
encamped near Chambersburg. General
Imboden's command, which had been di-
rected TO cross the Potomac and take
position on General Ewell's left, as he
northward. reached Hancock, while |
Longstreet and Hill were at Chambers |
burg. and was directed to proceed 20 the |
latter place.
IMPLICIT CONFIDENCE IN STUART.
General Lee had the most implicit con-