The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22

scout since our interview on my return
started OF and soon struck tho same
road over which had ridden four days
before Just as We got In sight OF the
village squadron OF the enemy came
in. reconnoitred us. and as we simply
halted and did not run away, rightly con-
cluded that a support was behind us and
left In a hurry. one Of the men was sent
to inform Stuart Of their presence. but
they had gone when his column came up.
The column pushed on. and I'm two or
three miles came upon the enemy 8 pick
cts. and now began a running hght OF
rather a fox chase for mile or two. Inc
Ninth Virginia Cavalry. commanded by
W. III. +. Lee Ca son Of General Robert
T. Iec). was in advance. and as we were
ascending a hill one OF the men came
dashing back and said the enemy's cav
airy was coming down upon Us. We coulo
hear. but could not see them ! was SIT
ting on my horse by Stuart. who had
halted 10 close up the column. Latane
squadron was in front. There was an
order to draw sabres; Lee said charge
men" The squadron dashed forward with
that wild demoniac yell which the enemy
often afterward heard ana can never for
get
There was a sharp collision in tho road.
Iatane was Killed: Captain Royal, COM
handing on the other side, was wound
ed. and his squadron routed. IL was
detachment Of the Second u. 5. Cavalry
we had met. Fitz Lee had been a Lieu
tenant in the regiment. lie came on the
ground in a few minutes, and several OF
his old company. who had been captured,
recognized him. We could not stay 20
perform for Latane the last duty we owe
20 tho dead
Not a soldier discharged his farewell
shot
Der the grave where the hero was
buried"
From prisoners. IT was learned that
their camp was about a milo away The
column moved on. When we got there
we found the tents, camp utensils ano
commlssary stores. but Royal and all
| his men were gone McClellan's headQuar-
tiers. surrounded by camps Of cavalry in
fantry and artillery, were only a Few
miles away. We were on their flank and
had simply broken through the shroud
of cavalry that covered his depot and line
Of communication. To have done this and
no more with all the preparations that
had been made would have been a good
deal like the labor of q mountain and the
birth Of mouse II would have been easy
for Stuart 10 have retraccd his steps,
the way was open and could not be occu-
pied by the encmys cavalry, even If there
were no resistance for several hours. inc
Southern cavalry was I'm its prime; the
Northern cavalry were just going 10
school.
II would have been impossible 10 place
any obstacle In the way 10 prevent our
return The danger was All in 'front.' not
behind MS. A mile or SO on one side was
the Pamunkey an impossible river WIN
I'm six miles on the other were the camps
Of Fitz John Porter and division OF cav
airy A man of mediocrity would have
been satisfied with what he had DONE 10
have gone back would have been grand
anti-climax 20 such beginning. But il
he had had no choice between going BACK
or going on there would have been little
merit I'm what he did. While the men were
Numbering the camp Stuart had Few
minutes conference with the two Lees.
7 was sitting on my horse within few
feet Of them, buckling on pistol ] had
lust gotten. and heard all that passed
stuart was urgent for pressing on TO rum
stalls station. on the railroad nine miles
ahead I'm McClellans rear; Lee OF the
Ninth agreed with Stuart
A BIG BLUFF
Stuart decided TO go on. Here was not
only the turning point In the eXpedlloh'
lint an Stuarfs life. If he had failed 10
grasp the opportunity then ne Wouio
never have reached that height on which
bis feme now rests. lie took counsel Of
courage and read his fate in the stars.
inst before ne gave the command 10 move
forward he turned to me and said ~
want YOU 20 ride on some distance
ahead I answered "AI right, but / must
have q guide: I don't know the road'
So two cavalrymen who were tamlllar
with the country were sent with me. Ihat
de,, 7 was riding a slow horse I had bor-
royyed-mine had been broken down IN tho
scout a few days before. We had not gone
Ear before n staff officer overlook us tina
said the General wanted us TO 80 raster
and increase the distance between us.
The reason was he did not want 10 run
INTO an anbuscade. So we went on al a
trot. 1t was important TO reach the rall-
road before dark. and before troops could
he sent there 10 stop us. Infantry did
come on the cars that night but we had
cone All they saw by the moonlight were
our tracks i'm the sand. AS we were jog
cling along n mile or so ahead of the col
uun we came upon a suffers wagon.
About a mile to tho left could be seen
the masts Of some schoOners al anchoI
I'm the river a wagon train was loadlns
at the wharf with supplies for the army.
I sent one of the men back 20 tell stuart
that the woods were fun of game 10
hurry on The suffers wagon was COM
dcmned as prize of war and left in charge
Of my other companion. Tunstalls was
stW two or three miles OIL had never
been there. but the road was plain and 7
logged on alona When Stuart got zap %
tbe sutlcr I'm the road he sent squadron
90 burn the schooners and wagon trains.
believe this Is the only instance in tho
war where cavalry operated on water.
AS 7 turned a bend in the road ! came
suddenly i'm sight of Tunstalls. half
mile off. and a few yards from me was
another suffers wagon. and cavalry
vidette who had dismounted. Just then
a bugle sounded and / saw company
Of cavalry. 10 which the vidette belong
cd. only a few hundred yards of My
horse was pretty well tagged out The
vldette and suffer surrendered. but I was
I'm a ouandary what to 10. / thought
there would be more danger I'm trying to
run away on a slow horse than 90 stand
stul. SO I concluded to play a game Of
blun-I drew my sabre. turneS around,
and beckoned with it TO imaginary fol-
lowers Fortunately. just then Lieutenant
Robbins commanding the advanced
guard came I'm sight az a fast trot. The
,cr,r,ar,- Of penn cy1yaufq eleventh. cav