The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22
THE RIDE AROUND
GEN. MCCLELLAN.
Col. Mosby Tells About Gen, Stuart's
Brilliant Feat of War.
THE COLONEL ON SCOUT DUTY.
He Brought Information About nc
Cicllan's Movements Which In
duCcd the General TO Move
on the Enemy.

or Seven Pines, had been fought almost
in sight OF Richmond. the Army Of the
Potomac was lying on the peninsula be-
tween the James and Pamunkey and
sstraddle the ChIckahominy a narrow,
deep and sluggish stream that meanders
between them and ompties into the
James. It's base OF supply was at the
White House on the Pamunkey-once the
property OF Martha Washington-which
was connected with the army By railroad
and telegraph The left wing extended TO
within three or four miles of the James
its front and fanks were supposed to bo
protected by the swamps and the river
The infantry pickcts were in sight Of each
other. cavalry Vidcttcs were not needed
to give notice of the approach OF an
enemy. For tho first time since the war
BEGAN. Stuarts cavalry corps was idle
and behind the infantry. his headquarters
were ON the Charles city road. about two
miles east of Richmond. Men who had
been educated in war by service on the
outposts soon grew restless and weary Of
inaction in the rear.
During the greater portion Of the first
years of the war 4 had been "a private in
Stuarts rccImcnt-tho First Virginia cav
a'ry-and had been made Adiutant when
Stuart was promoted to be a Brigadier-
General and my Captain civilian r.
jones' became the Colonel. but lost my
position on the reorganization Of the army
in the spring OF 1862.
The Confederate government ordered
elections for officers jon an the regiments
tnd thus attempted 10 mix democracy
RIth military discipline. Jones. who was
pne of the ablcsf officers in the Southern
army and "a stern soldier. was rotated
out. Ftz Lee was elected. and wanted
another adiutant. So 7 gave him my res
iguauon. a smile of fortune was really
masked under frown
When our army retired from Centre
vile. two months before. my regiment had
been the rear-guard and ] had conducted
several scouting expeditions for the pur-
pose Of discovering McClellan's move
mcnts which had ELECTED Stuart's com
mendation in his report 90 General john
ston. So Stuart asked me TO come TO his
headquarters and continue 20 do that kind
of work for him. This was the origin of
my partisan life that was far more con-
genial to me than the dun routine work
OF am adjutant According 20 my estimate
the loss of my commission did not weigh
a feather against the pleasure of being
directly under the orders of a man OF
original genius
AN OPPORTUNITY.
ono morning DE invited me TO breakfast
with hIm-none Of the stan were at the
table stuart asked me TO take small
party and hnd out whether Mcclellan was
fortifying on the Totopotomog. This was
creek ON Mcclellan extreme right that
empdcd into the Pamunkey That was
the very thing I wanted am opportunity
for which ] had p'ned. I'm few minutes
my horse was saddIed rode over 10 the
camp OF the FIRST Virginia ana rot three
men from my ola company, who had
marched with me from Abingdon the
year beiore-Pend'eton. Crockett and Will
hams. We started Off as joyful a party
as Do we were COINS To wedding. When
we reached the ROAD Ieddlns 10 lhe TOT
opoiomog ltarhed lndt theIe was a nag
or truce ON tn"l Io'd ln1l uay' NoI WISH.
Ae to Nl7luI' " p-'V'l" l.o'I'H' pu'
I'- "Ii""5 10 '''' '""''o' io' "Nl 'I-
'"I'. we "''eI il'lii'u 10 move ON 4"I'"'l
A'I .H t'"dIu ll""oEtI 'o"I MUSE anu
,Np"It inc I'-loH ai'"s '"e idHlulhty'
%. HahiHb 81 Woe uel'uI I'D the hoItn lhe
next Gay, we got DOWN among McClei-
IAN - ouiposts that had never been dis
turoed since his advance on Richmond.
Ili- h.5dq u"IleIs were rev miles OF az
'N Il"io 'l '-e w i"lt I,oo99 on Inc
',.l-'il,'s "'9 ,-' 49, VIZ i"..''"ts
'''l'' "'' .''N'Y o"" iva "iu1N ~ '"'
pay ~ '"''- ''.',' que i'''o ga '"Pf'S ""a
tAeI .'oIe p1Ialiei ana Hot prIpeHulcuidI T.
I'D his front. Ina formation Us caHed I'D
lt'lHtal language FORMING 'front.' 10 a
NAM
Ihe infantry ou'po7is ana not extend
TO "llnih several miles OF lhe river. or
q c1"Sl', lto.e Instance on ms Ilsh'' 'heIe-
-''' nan COMM ''l,l0'i''o"S "eIe
N'l 'oNtl'u hE nus infantry ieaIHe4
from tlizens that the only protection 10
the Idliioad was thln ven OF cavalry.
OF course III theie were no infantry
lhere would De no ordinations about
mere.
saw now tnat had discovered Nc
CIeIans Vulnerable point-the heel or
Achilles and fastened TO give Stuart the
Information. IL was hot day in June;
FOUND MN sitting out M the 'front.' yard
in Tho shade. All Wre In high glee; news
had just come that Jackson had defeated
Fremont and Shields at Cross Reyes and
Port Republic. Being worn out by long
ride. ] laid down on the grass and related
70 Stuart what ] had learned. and told
nm he could strike a heavy blow at Nc
CIehan communications. Aitcr had
nhished' ne sald write down what you
nave 8Io' ana caHed 70 courier 10
ger MS morse ready. went TO inc Al
Jutant once ana wrote down what /
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