The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31

1t IS not the purpose Of the writer
NJ this article 10 give detailed ac-
,co,,n, Of The memorable battle OF
chancellorsvilic. which has been SO
, often described by pens moro felici-
tons than mine, but only 10 give some
few incidents Of The first TWO DAYS
leading up TO the terrible catastrophe
which was the closing scene of one OF
The most brilliant and successful
movements recorded il the history OF
The writer was during these two
DAVIS attached 10 the person OF Genc-
raj Jackson and only left MS SIDE oc-
cssnonallv as the bearer OF orders 10
his division commanders
Is,1r!,rt. the winter of 81 and '63 the
a.a1y or Northern Virginia was en-
cals lpcd near and around fdeTe17cks-
| e,,vr. and the writer was in command
of 3 company of cavalry ana attach,
I'd IN the Headquarters OF General
StonevSan Jackson. then located near
j9a,nIlfor's crossing about three miles
below the town.
Th., battle of Fredericksburg which
took place the 18th Of December, re-
sul-ed in the defeat Of Burnside. and
his retreat across the river ended All
active operations for tho winter. SO
wc. settled down in quiet observation.
awaiting with anxious expectation the
advance of General Hooker, whose ar
!illcrv crowned the heights on the 9th
or side OF the river where the white
tents Of the Federal army could be
seen iottinC the same hills.
advanced
country all around Us was covered
with verdure and the roads had become
dry and hard. when We We're awakened
from our long holiday by the welcome
announcement that the Federal com
s,nauder'S long-cNpected advance had
at last commenced and that a portion
OF his army had crossed the Rapidan
at Gerrnania Ford and were marching
upon fredericksburg. General Lee at
once put his whole army in motion.
with Jacl5son's corps in the front. leaT-
ing one division under General Early
10 prevent the enemy from crossing at
Iorede7i clzshurg and attacking his
rear
AGAINST BIG ODDS.
It will be remembered that two Of
the best: divisions of Lonsstreets
corps had been detached and sent to
southeastern Virginia, leaving Gene
raj Lee with scarcely fifty thousand
infantry- with which TO meet that we'll
equipped and neutrality-suspicious.
army of 1Iool1ers, consisting of more
than one hundred thousand men At
Ter al arduous and exciting march
without rest. the army. frequently. adj
vancinS in line Of battle. was expect
Ing every moment 10 meet the enemy
The advance column, consisting of a
portion Of HITS division, halted about
sunset within less than a mile Of the
charlottesville House. in the vicinity
of which the enemy was evidently
concentrated. awaiting our attack
But the innpenetrable nature Of the
thhclsets which separated us prevented
any further advance in that direction.
and the whole army was forced to
hivouac for the night. Al this point d
road which was then known as the
Mine Fun road. if1tersected about at
right angles the Plank road along
which we had been moving, and here.
with no other protection thar. the
spreading arms OF an immense. oak
and without camp cQuipase of any.
kind. the two Senerals-Lee and
Ia.GlSson-sIept for The night. myself
ard a. few of my troopers lying with
in a few feet OF them. ! was awaken
ed ncXt morning by a light touch or
The modification 10 find that the sun
had already risen and General Lee
had gone.
\ HARD RIDE.
General Jackson, who was just
mounting his horse. turned 10 me with
y kindly word and smile telling, me 10
follow as soon as POSSIBLE, and dashed
off at a furious Eallop down the Mine
Run road. along which his troops had
been RAPIDLY marching since daylight.
] did not succeed in oveltakinS the
General again for several hours. and
when at last ! came mp with him he
was far III advance of his columns,
standing talking 10 General ITitziu-h
Lee in the old Turnpike road, at n
point about five miles distant from
charlottesville. having made a cir
can't Of fifteen miles, thus putting the
whole Federal army between himself
n1d General Lee and The two divisions
OF 1[onSstrcct'S Corps which were with
him.
1As tho several divisions of the CORPS
carlo IN 1hev were formed ;n line of
battle. and about / O'clock in the even
ing everything WAS in readiness for
Tho attack
While Fitz Lee was talking to the
General i half dozen treoners rode up.
bringing with them a Federal lieutea-
ant, whom they had Just captured.
Lee turned to the officer and asked
him sinilinClv what would Hooker
think II old Stoncwa1l were TO sudden
IL fail upon his rear. All said the
Federal officer, Hooker has both Jack
son and Your great Lee in the hollow
Of his hand. and it is only matter OF
:: Very short time when Your whole
army skill be Ragged" Jackson'5 lips
closed IL n grim smile. but lie said
nothing aud Leo and his troopers rode
away laughing. leaving us alone
IN EARNEST PRAYER
The General turned To me and asked
how far behind WAS the advance OF
his army. i replied that the leading
division ought 10 be UP IN an honr
we both disnounted. Jackson seating
himself on a log by the road. study
ing a map which he spread out before
him After tying our horses took my