News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-06-04

7 i So ty, eff you want
& t. to have a good
time, jine the cavalry-jine the caval-
ry" There is story Of one Of Lees ex-
PLOTS in the second Bull Run campaign
which illustrates at once his daring
bravery and his penchant for frolic.
1t will be remembered that the Confed-
crate strategy Of that movement con-
sisted in getting between Pope's Fed
eral army in the Rappahannock and the
city Of Washington; also that the plan
was boldly carried out. One day after
the southern advance guard, which of
course comprised Stuart's troopers, were
well within the northern lines, Fitz Lee
halted his brigade by the roadside to
wait for the reserves to come up. Gen
eral Fields infantry division was the
first to appear, and at the head Of it,
riding leisurcly along-for it was a sui
try August day--the leader and his aids
half dozed in their saddles until aroused
by jolly hail from Fitz Lee. Lee re-
quested the party to dismount, as he
had something to show worth the while.
Slipping behind a huge oak tree, he
soon emerged wrapped in a long mil
itary cloak Of Federal blue and wearing
an old style regulation hat with i'm
mense plumes So masked he strutted
about, making the forest ring with his
peals of laughter.
The masquerade, which he kept up
Soma 4i,,,o zzToJ not mona o1,,11 tba11
the account which followed explaining
how he came by the strange costume.
Under orders from Stuart to capture the
Federal commander, he had dashed into
Pope's headquarters the night before,
surrounded his tent and gobbled many
things, but not the prize he sought. For
once POpe's headquarters were in tho
saddle, and he escaped capture. A sup
per table was spread with good things
awaiting Popo's return to camp, for
Stonewall Jackson had not yet seized
the Federal commissary stores Fitz Lee
and his officers appropriated the edibles,
and, besides the cloak and hat, carried
off $3.50, 600 in greenbacks, Pope's horses
and equipments and other valuable mill
tary property.
Fitz Lees exploits in that campaign
did not end with the night raid ON
Pope's tent. A few days later his brigade
was posted behind Bull Run, near the
bridge, to cover Jackson's raid upon the
Federal commissary stores at Manassas
Junction The situation Of affairs at the
front was a mystery to the authorities
in Washington, but having learned that
jackson was on the march they dispatch
ed Taylor's brigade Of Jerseymen from
Alexandria by train to protect the army
stores. When Taylor ran into Lees
troopers on the hithcr side Of the stream,
he boldly demanded surrender. He told
Lee that Pope S forces were in his Lees
rear and would close up and capture tho
whole command. Lee retorted that his
view Of the situation was quite different
from Taylor's. He flattered himself that
he was i'll Pope's rear. However, as his
troopers were much scattered, he asked
for an hour to consult his officers. Be-
fore the time was up Taylor got impa
tient and charged the enemy calamity
DUOllCW Ill y NGJClu lllo WNlO ullCGNl
marching up to the creek, and Taylor't
brigade met with a rough reception.
Fitz Lee was a feature Of Stuart'i
band from the beginning to the end O.
its career He had served i'll the regular
United States cavalry on the plains, anC
in 1861 came east to recover from ;
wound given him by the redskins. o.
course he followed his state in the war
and at the first battle of Bull Run wa
leader of battalion in Stuart's FRS
Virginia cavalry. There was anothe,
young Lee in the ranks Of those famous
riders, William Henry Fitz Hugh, sol
of Robert E. and cousin Of the hero o
this sketch. Fitz Lee took Stuart's plac
at the head Of the First Virginia cavalr,
when a corps was formed with Stuar
at its head in 1862.
In those celebrated raids of Stuar
around the Army Of the Potomac in So
Fitz Lee was o leading spirit With hi
First Virginia cavalry he burst through
the Federal regulars in front Of Rich
mond and led the way to the rear Of Nc
OlClllu , uluiy' ~ IL SbdOCu vi BOOl lIi
thority that Fitz Lees boldness ON tina
occasion, pushing on into the enemy
lines and drawing Stuart and the res
after him, was the real cause of the rid
around the Federal army. Stuart in
tended to make a reconnaissance only
but Fitz Lees success in sweeping ava
all opposition furnished hint for th
startling ride In the second raid of DC
tober, 1862, Stuart penetrated i'll rear c
the enemy's camps in Maryland an
reached Chambersburg The riding int
the trap had been easy enough. The gel
ting out was another matter. A hostil
army lay between Chambersburg an
the borders Of Virginia, while gather
ing Of the mounted clans along all tn
passes and fords of the Potomac mad
the return most hazardous. Fitz Lee
own regiment furnished the vanguard
Dressed in Federal blue, Stuart, Fit
Lee and $50 troopers rode boldly at tn
head Of the column and fought off a
opposition, actually crossing the PC
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