Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08

Il
| but I called him to return to me. q
| Major Douglas only proposed to drive
| them OF. That, Of course. was MAJOR
| Douglass affair, though tho battalion was
fully engaged In It, 1t was claimed tnat
| the charge had saved one Of Stuart
batteries from capture. At least, MAJOR
| Douglas, who was always very gar
| liant officer, claimed that as q result OF
| the charge, and doubtless II was 80. We
| had scarcely regained the road ana re-
sumed the order Of march when the
| regiment was assailed In the rear by
body of cavalry coming from Markham,
| now in possession of the Federals. our
pistols all had been emptied In the re-
cent skrmish Il think l had one shot
lefD. when the new attack was made.
But, without orders except from the
urgency of the occasion, the two sets or
fours, with their sabres drawn, turned
on their assailants, and forced them back
into Markham on their reserves. But
here another difficulty was developed
which threatened to annul the value OF
the successful charge. When the men. on
the return. mounted the hill down which
they had just driven the Federal cavalry.
II was discovered that the road In their
front was occupied by the sharpshooters,
whom Major Douglas so recently had
driven off. There was a stone fence too
on the right side of the road, next to
the Blue Ridge. whilst the other side OF
1t was effectually guarded by the adj
vancing troops of Mcclellan. Here was
dilemma. 1t was soon relieved, how
ever. by one Of the men. who discovered
a gap in the fence, through which the
command escaped, leaving the COM
mander alone with Norman v. Randolph,
but the two speedily followed the men.
As soon as they saw their commander
the men gathered around him again and
discovered that his horse had been wound
ed on one Of his legs, and was bleeding
freely. When the commander had
reached the top Of the elevation across
the road, and in front OF Colonel Strib-
ling's house. the late Hon. Barnes
Kerrick. Benjamin Higgins. and others of
the locality were recognized. From Mr..
Kerrick directions were obtained as to
the route among the hills which would
enable US to return to Stuart. AS we
were descending the decline Of the ele-
walton. which looked westward toward
the Blue Ridge, our leader saw on the
opposite elevation, or hill, only separated
by narrow strip of valley, a body OF
Confederate cavalry, apparently without
an officer He sent Norman V. Randolph
to them with an order to report TO him
In the valley below very promptly, which
they did. What ammunition there was
among the men was distributed, and thus
reinforced and prepared. the command
was ready for business again, and none
too soon, for descending the elevation
over which the Confederates had just
passed a detachment of the Federal
sharpshooterS was seen I'm pursuit, ex-
pecting to kill or capture the Originally
Mt xyh In
stead thirty or more OF Stuarts cavalry
In line to receive them, whose mettle so
recently, they had tried, they reiinquished
the pursuit and returned to their friends.
The wounded animal. as an honored
guest. was left at Mr.. DeButtss residence
In charge OF the patriotic "Secesh' ladies
OF the family. and after receiving the
abundant and cordial hospitality OF MIR.
Henry M. Marshall for the night the
command united with Stuart at the cross
Roads, where, fortunately. the leader had
spare horse In his camp. Stuart was
greatly pleased when informed Of the
affair by his aide-de-camp, and proudly
called those soldiers his regiment of
eight men," l have not the dates, but
can say generally, that, from its organi-
zation to the time when / left It, you
were with me, though then but a boy of
hfteen years. 1 have given the affair at
Markham with some detail because ii was
but an example OF the hourly combats
by which our great cavalry commander
delayed the Federal march, so that Lee
could interpose his devoted army. as a
shield once more between the invader
and Richmond.
A word about myself. AS soon as I
reported to Generals Holmes and Cabell,
In the Transmississippi Department.
YQ 20
to enable me to take command OF an i'm !
portant outpost across the Arkansas |
river, relieving a lieutenant colonel.
nope this loose memorandum will an |
swer your purpose. 1t will at least en- |
able you. as the memories of the great
war grow dim. to recall our double
skirmish at Markham. and the charge
OF "Stuarts regiment Of eight men,"
one OF whom you were.
Your obedient servant and friend
JOHN SCOTT of Fauquier,
Colonel Of Cavalry. Confederate States
Army.
Addendum: The foregoing sketch was
shown to soldier OF my battalion who.
being along In the scenes which II de- |
scribes, reminds me OF some forgotten |
particulars. 1t was squs dron of the |
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry which |
we the Fifth and my eight mem, drove |
which was adjoining the county road. |
In jumping the bars of the enclosure |
Major Douglass horse Numbered and |
FELL throwing its rider and escaped In |
the direction of the Federal cavalry. |
But the activity and courage OF Norman |
" Randolph, who was at my side, re- |
covered the animal, though exposed to a |
heavy hre from the sharpshooters. The |
rederal cavalry attacked our rear, but |
were repealed by a counter-charge. pre- |
venting the capture OF a Louisiana bat |
terry, which, at the time, was In the |
barn-yard. / have been reminded. too. |
that the captain Of the battery thanked |
me for the service rendered him. but |
l was only an officer acting under the |
a,rection ana employing the troops of |
Major Douglas. who was present
JOHN SCOTT. of Fauouler
Colonel OF Cavalry, Confederate States |
Army.