The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-24

their original employers. When the
oxen would become troublesome, show
ing an, inclination to stray into the
t fields and make delay, the herders,
cracking their long lashes, sounding
like pistol shots, would quickly bring
them back, though it must be con-
fessed trooper always rode alongside
with a handy weapon to insure loyalty.
But everything ran smoothly and the
sight would have gladdened the heart
OF a Highland chieftain Of the olden
time, but his best Gift would have
been insignificant compared to this.
Such mass Of cattle kept together
would have been unwieldly, perhaps
.impracticable, to manage, but by
breaking them up into detachments,
with intervals between each, this diff
fculty was avoided.
Completely successful in executing
his plans, Hampton commenced to
withdraw by 8 clock a. M.
While al this was going on in most
cheerful manner for the raiders the
greatest consternation and bewilder-
ment were prevailing at Federal head
quarters. By Encouragement with
Lee at the-hour at which Hampton at
tackled demonstration to distract at
tention was made along part Of the
line Of the army, the infantry driving
the enemy's piokets into the forti6ca-
tions west Of the Jerusalem plank
road, and bodies Of troops we're moved
about as if for a general attack. At
the same time Butler, with his cavalry
division, began to make himself very
disagreeable to the troops in his vicin-
|sity. It seemed from all this as if
Gen..Lee was gong on tine warpath in
earnest and that Hampton's cavalry
raid vas only intended to distract at
tsntion from this, whilst, ia fact, just
the reverse was tire.
So Federal headquarters made the
wiresihot with kilograms and couriers
were seht galloping for dear life with
dispatches Meade's .shousehold
troops were kept very busy that day.
Gen. Grant was temporarily absent at
Harper's Ferry consulting with Sheri
dan, then in the Shenandoah Valley,
but he had a very unpleasant quarter
of an hour and several Of them, on
receipt Of excited kilograms from
Meade and from his chief of staff,
Humphreys. And poor Kautz, such
Of his cavalry as had been met by
Hampton having been demolished and
sent scurrying in all directions, was
sadly shattered in nerves and worrying
unlucky Meade with messages and
queries, in the replies to which one
can almost fancy he hears the General
swearing. Many Of these telegrams
and dispatches are preserved in the
published records Of the war Office.
They are entertaining reading even at
this late day, for, being sent on the
spur Of the moment, amidst all the ex-
citement and evaporation, when there
was no time to weigh words, they ex-
hibit the true state OF mind Of the
senders. Like spoken words stored
hot in aphonograph and now released,
they seem very different from official
dispatches prepared carefully after all
the hurly-burlyis is past and blood is
cooi. Meade evidently believed Lee
was advancing in force, and was much
worried at the absence Of Grant at
such a trying ,ime, involving SO great
responsibility. Kautz sends o mes
sage that he has information Hamp-
ton $ force is ID, 600 y strong. Sharpe,
deputy provost marshal, says it is
Hampton's entire cavalry corps.
Trusty citizens report an immense
force. Meade estimates s, ,0e0. Hum
phreys, chief OF stsff, informs Kautz
that he can reinforce him with di-
vision Of infantry and a battery
Of artillery, but by that time the
bird is flown. Sharpe and the
rest fear the capture and destruction
Of all the immense stores at and around
City Point and put their heads to-
gether to arrange to have gunboats
rushed up to cover City Point with
artillery. The alarm really became
almost pathetic.
But Hampton pursued the even
tenor Of his way. Having procured
nice beefsteaks at convenient market
without the trouble Of payment, he in
tended to take them safely home to
cook. He retired towards the Black
water River, and before reaching the
stream had reunited all the portions
! of b;c command and then nuietlv