The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-02-27

N1F z1<V SO so!a ies o OF 3ss
wild retreat from
that field. He had much to do with.
troopers mounted upon black steeds,
and he had more to do with starting the
great panic in the Union ranks than any
other subordinate in the southern army.
The real Black Horse cavalry at Bull
Run won cheap glory by chasing the re-
treating mob and spreading terror
among those who got away as we'll as
among the captives Any excuse was
better than none, and SO the vanquished
declared that "masked batteries'' and
the terrible 'Black Horse riders had
given them their Waterloo. The vaunt-
ed horsemen became heroes in the south
and We're rated terrible fellows in the
north. In time it came to light that
Stuart commanded cavalry regiment
at Ball Run and personally led in de-
cisive charge the only horseback fighters
on that field. Moreover, the troopers he
led that day rode black horses. Honors
and promotion followed, and he became
king Of the riding clans in Virginia.
Stuart was al officer in the old army.
He it was who advised John Brown to
surrender at Harper's Ferry. He had
known Brown under another name in
Kansas, and when he told him that his
abolition raiders would be bayoneted if
they showed fight the old man ex-
claimed, "You know, lieutenant, we
are not afraid Of bullets. - The Black
Horse cavalry was in the John Brown
affair also. The escort of Virginia mi
itia guarding the prisoners was taken
from that once notorious command.
Those troopers belonged to a company
formed from the sons Of the r. F. VS.
June IS, 1859, the anniversary Of Wa
terloo A company Or squadron of these
men, mounted upon black horses, was
with Stonewall Jackson when he seized
Harper's Ferry, in 1861. The same band
was at Bull Run in all independent
body, and after the retreat began, har-
assed the frightened soldiers on the road
to Washington.
Stuart's command at Bull Run con-
sisted of the First Virginia cavalry,
numbering about 800 sabers. The COM
panies Of Carter and Hogue were mount
ed on black horses, and at the crisis in
the battle on the Henry house hill, in
plain sight of both armies, Stuart led
these two companies in charge upon
the supports of the Union batteries at
that point. These horsemen struck the
Fire Zouaves and sent them flying from
the field. Owing to the glaring uni
forms Of the zouaves, their flight was
taken for signal that the day was lost,
and the panic rapidly spread among
other troops.
And the blow given on the Henry
house hill was not the only service of
Stuart in the Bull Run campaign. His
First Virginia troopers masked the with
drawal of Johnston's army from the
Shenandoah valley to march to Bull
Run. Afterward they galloped to Man
nassas and saved the day. When he had
become great commander, Johnston
wrote to Stuart, 'How can eat, sleep
or rest in peace without you upon the
outpost?'
In the fall OF 1861 Stuart was made
chief Of cavalry corps comprising six
regiments. His own First Virginia
chung to his standard. In the battles on
the peninsula the Confederate cavalry
play ed subordinate part as a foil to the
few Union squadrons in Mcclellan s
army. In front of Richmond both sides
had long lines to guard, and the cavalry
was scattered on outpost duty. Stuart S
second fame raising exploit was the first
great raid Of the war. It grew out of
his outpost service after Lee took COM
mand Of the Confederate army.
Lee gave Stuart orders to reconnoiter
the right Of McClellan's line and see
how far it extended toward Fredericks
burg, and it's strength. He was not to
fight, but to retreat, in the face of strong
opposition. The commander of the Union
cavalry on the line to be raided was the
father of Stuart's wife, General Philip
st. George Cooke. Stuart's boldness in
what followed may have been a desire
to have laugh at the expense of his
father-in -law. He selected for the expe-
dition 1900 picked men, among them a
large detachment Of his own regiment
under Fitz Lee. Jack Mosby was one of
that band, private soldier
Stuart led the advance with his IA
vorite Virginia troopers. The Union out
posts were driven in, and at the first
alarm their commander, Captain Royal,
Fifth United States cavalry, hurried to
the front. Gathering his scattered troops
Royal made a stand at crossroads.
Stuart, with Fitz Lee s whole command,
charged and routed them twice, finally
driving them beyond their main camp.
General Lees instructions had been
carried out, for Stuart knew that only
a cavalry mask formed the right of Nc
Clellan's army. Instead of turning back
to report, Stuart selected three of the
ablest guides for that region, among
them Jack Mosby, and started upon
his famous ride around the Union army.
The raiders passed toward the rear of
the Union army and crossed the rail-
road which carried its supplies to the
front. A station and a moving train
were attacked. But the grand depot of
supplies at White House landing. only