Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03
Gen. Clusters Raid On Charlottesville,
Virginia, February 18th, 1854


Ny object i'm writing this article is not
altogether on account of the "close calls"
that I could call TO memory during my
service of three years in the Confederate
States army: but to portray to yoH~some
Of the exciting scenes and events in the
career OF every cid soldier, among which
i was an humble actor. All the important
events, especially of great battles, have
long since passed into history. now only
wish TO present facts as saw them, and
my desire Is to do Justice to all, whether
friend or foe. II was dark, wintry night,
snow had fallen during the afternoon. A
misting rain, together with occasional hail
stones began TO fall upon the roof OF the
old mansion. The bowling winds, the rat
Ting Of the window panes and the impen-
etrable darkness had changed day into the
gloom Of night. My father glanced up
from his newspaper and said: "All is quiz
ct along the Potomac tonight" He was
sitting by my side in large arm chair In
front of an immense, old-fashioned fire.
place, in which was a pair of old brass
andirons. A hickory log fire was burning
brightly, which Illuminated the room and
threw soft shadows around about US. In
my Imagination I could see strange fig
ures upon the red hot logs as sat in my
chair thinking of the boys had left in
camp. / watched with childish glee the
many different forms and shapes OF fig
ures as they would come and go. I could
see the cavalry columns winding their
way along some unfrequented paths
among the hills and valleys of old Vir-
ginia. I could see the army wagons NOV
ing along the highways and hear the
crack Of the drivers whip. / could hear
the clear ringing sounds OF the bugle, the
wells from a thousand threats and see
the charge OF the mighty hosts. Then the
scene would change and could see
d. #
bursting shells. leaving in their wake
wheels Of smoke as they rushed onward
in their work Of destruction. The COM
forts OF home were being enjoyed once
more.
Suddenly loud rap upon the hall door
startled US. / sprang from my chair and
grasped my pistol; but just then the door
was swung open by our negro man, MINI
rod. and Lieutenant Fisher rushed in, ex-
claiming, saddle your horses; the Yam
KEGS are on the road!'
The lieutenant was a friend Of mine, was
a member OF the Jeft Davis Legion Of
Mississippi. He had been sick, and had
invited him home with me to remain until
he recovered. He had been out riding dur
ing the day, anu had received this news
from some one on the road. / said: Come
in. Fisher, and tell me all the news. Is
there a chance for a round with them to-
night?" The ice upon his heavy black
mnSLdCne ana Ilu0 ukoAA MS NeANeNA1
boots showed plainly that the night air
was cold and that he had been riding
hard.
ssHuccum you out sech a mite as dis,
Afarse Fisher? Go In de dinin' room and
git yo'r supper while 1 put dat horse o
yourn up. MOar dar. horsei What y'u
name? I 'speck Marse Fisher dun name
YOU arter some big man down souf. Stan
roun' dar, Gov'ner Nance! said Uncle
Nimrod.
Well, we sat down to talk 1t all over,
examine our pistols, cartridges, etc. Early
the next morning, about daybreak, we
mounted our horses and rode down TO a
little village near by, where we were IN
formed that General Custer, with two
two-iI en- Parrott e and $500 picked
men ef his command. had started the
evening before from Hazel river, Culpeper
county, Virginia, and was marching by
the way of James City. small town in
Madison county, for CharlottesVille. MS
object was TO destroy the Virginia Central
railroad. the telegraph lines and the mon
ument to Jefferson, the University OF Nir-
pinia. Dahlgren made his famous Cor
rather infamous) raid on the city OF Rich
mond about the same time, and in~which
he lost his life. In few hours we had got
together eight or ten OF my company,
who as well as myself, were at nome on
furlough.
we knew the roads well. even every bril-
die path about the neighborhood. About
O'Clock in the morning we marched down
the Madison Court House road a few miles,
meeting Clusters advance guard near Bar
bour Willis. We soon formed in line
along the hill in front Of them (they We're
ignorant Of our numbers) and opened fire.
| They returned our fire and also used
piece Of artillery in trying to drive US from
their front We held our own, keeping up
a constant fire with our carbines. They
soon turned of on another road through
the farms of w. +. Nichol and George
Booton. coming out at Banks Mill on the
Rapidan river We followed them through
to Stanardsville, Green county. There we
had several additions to our little compa-
ny; of boys from that county-Shelton.
| Chapman and others We captured a few
! stragglers before they reached the Rivauna
river, and frequently delayed their ad-
vance by firing into them. We watched
them closely and whenever an opportunity
| presented itself we would attack them.
| The Federals would leave their command
and straggle eff to some house on the road
when we would make II hot for them; un-
able to stand our charge they would break
and fee in every direction over the fences
| and across field. Although our force was
IA small one, our citizens along the whole
route were greatly protected and benefited
/ BY our constant vigilance.
'tStuart's Horse artillery" composed of
1 Betherd's, McGregor's. Chew's, and Moor
mans troops, were near Charlottesville IN
| quarters, recruiting their horses and rest
/ ing their men; not dreaming of a Yankee
/ being I'm a hundred miles of them. They
were encamped on DR.. Cooks farm. A
great many of their men were in Char
lottesville. strolling about the town I'M
armed. At the first shot from Clusters
guns they made tracks for their camps,
caught uD their horses that were grazing,
imbered up and poured a CALLING fire into
Clusters ranks.
/ The artillerymen and citizens (many Of
I the latter with shot guns) fought desper-
ately i'm defending the town and univer-
/ sity. A few of the shells from Clusters
/ batteries fell near the university but did
no harm. In a very few hours Custer was
/ repulsed. after losing a few men and
horses. His repulse was not so much on
i account Of the resistance made by the
small number i'm his front, but by inform
alton received by him through an old ne
I gro woman living on the Campbell place.
i When asked by Custer about our forces to