The National tribune., 1896-06-04

For some reason Col. Spear did not try to
destroy the North Anna bridge, but fell back
to Hanover Courthouse, where that portion
of Gen. Longstreet's train that did not ac-
company the rebel army to Pennsylvania
was encamped. 1t consisted of so wagons
and about 500 horses and mules There
was also a lot Of Qaartermaster's and Com
missary's stores, including several hundred
Bushels of wheat. Everything that could
not be brought away was destroyed, after
which Col. Spear fell back across the Pa
munkey River, and bivouacked for the
night at Mrs. Nelson's plantation
Col Spear established his Headquarters at
Mars Nelson's residence, much to the disgust
of that lady; but when she found that Gen.
Lee was TO he her guest for the night, she
seemed to be greatly pleased, and immedi-
ately got out the best the house afforded for
has supper, and gave linn her best room fer
his quarters.
4 WIS Sergeant of the guard that had
charge of our distinguished prisoner that
night When he gave me my ORDERS Col.
Spear told me could stay in the room with
Lee if | wished, or place a guard in the
room.
did not disturb the privacy of his room,
but kept a sentry outside, while i, with the
room. Late in the evening Lee called me,
and requested me 10 send for the rebel Sur
geon we had captured daring the day. |
gYent for the Surgeon, and found him attend
ing 10 some wounded rebels we had brought
along with us. He Immediately repaired 10
Lees room. where he remained until morn
| ing; a number of his men were not cared
for until our Surgeons had attended to our
own wounded. But Lee of vastly
greater importance 10 the rebels than few
wounded private soldiers
The next morning Lee was dila;ory about
getting ready to start Col Spear fretted
and tuned, feaIing that an attempt would
be made to retake his prisoner; finally he
sent peremptory order for him TO get ready
at once. Lee complained of dlscourteous
treatment, but obeyed the order.
We arrived at White House Landing with
out any mishap, and Col Spear turned his
prisoner over to Gen. Dix's Provost Marshal
who sent him to Fortress Monroe There
he was placed ia the hospital After his
wound healed he was given the liberty Of
the fort until the news came that Capts
Sawyer and Flynn were to be executed in
retaliation for some guerrilla officers whom
Gen. burnside had recently hanged in Ten
neSsee.
There are conflicting accounts as 10 who
ordered Lee TO be confined as a hostage for
Flynn and Sawyer. Chaplain McCabe, in his
lecture on prison lie, states that President
Lincoln gave the order. ] will give the ac-
count current among the men of the 11th Pa.
Cav. at tile time. This is probably correct, as
Capt. Cassell, of that regiment, WAS Buffers
Provost Marshall, aud authority for the re-
port.
Sometime in October, 1863, Butler, the De-
partment Commander and Commissioner Of
Exchange of Prisoners, who had recently
been assigned to the command of the De-
partment OF Virginia and North Carolina,
and his staff, were witnessing dress parade
of the Sd Pa. ii. A, then garrisoning the
post. Gen. Butler saw a rebel officer in full
BrigadieT-GeneraPs uniform not far away
also witnessing the parade. The General
inquired of his staff who the rebel officer
was. He was informed that he was w. III.
+. Lee, son of Gen. Robert +. Lee. He
Immediately ordered Lee to lie ironed and
placed In close confinement in one of the
classmates of the fort.
The next day Butler sent word to the
rebel authorities at Richmond by flag of
truce that as soon as word was received at
Fort Monroe that Flynn and Sawyer were
executed, Lee would be hanged. The rebel
authorities declared The hanging off, and
Flynn and Sawyer We're exchanged months
before Their fellow-officers, and Lee was ex-
changed soon afierward
Now, in regard to the desperate defense of
the South Anna bridge. The story as given
by the Richmond Dispatch is a gross exag-
gerauon. The Union troops captured 125
prisoners, including Lieutenant Colonel
and other officers, and a number of rebels
were killed. The 1lth Pa. Cav. lost two
men killed. One Of ihem-Sergt McFarlan,
Of Co. B-was killed after resistance had
ceased. This caused the killing and wound
ing Of several of the enemy who might have
escaped without harm. Our men supposed
the rebels had resumed hostilities. / do not
know how many of the 18th III. Cav. or the
California Hundred were killed, but their
loss was probably no greater than that of the
nth, as they were no more exposed than was
that regiment, and there were not near as
many men in the two organizations as in the
llth.-STEPHEN TRIP, Captain, 11th Pa.
Cav.