The Morris County chronicle., 1902-10-24
A TORTIETH
ANNIVERSARY A
WAR STORY
+ i i i i i
October ro-I2. 1862


newly acquired horses, leading their
Stuart, Butler demanded the funds in
the bank of the town, but the cashier
could only show empty vaults, the
funds having been sent north that
morning owing to news Of the raid
heralded by telegraph. The bank
cashier was courteous enough to treat
Buffers party to the best he had in his
house and other residents of the town
did the same for the rest of the raid
ers.
A committee of citizens made terms
with the raiders, and In the best of
good feeling Yankees and Johnnies
passed the night, the southerners be-
ing freely supplied with food and cof-
fee. Colonel A. X. Mcclure, a promi-
nent citizen of the town and also an
officer in the Federal army at home on
leave, regaled nearly a hundred of Stu
arts officers and soldiers at his resi-
dence. In the early hours of the 18th
the tired raiders turned into their blan-
kets, some to sleep the sleep of the
happy go lucky trooper and some to
ponder how the cavalcade would get
out of the net into which it had so
easily ridden. 1t was plain that the
whole country was in the secret of the
raid and the Federal army alert. The
rain had increased to a downpour, and
In a few hours the Potomac might rise
and obliterate the fords.
Before leaving Chambersburg Stuart
destroyed an ordnance storehouse and
railroads and other public property
amounting to $250,000. He also took
away thirty officials and prominent cit
izens as hostages for civilians of the
Confederacy held by the United States.
About 1,200 captured horses went with
the cavalcade on it's ride back to Dixie,
which was far more exciting than the
trip from the Potomac to Chambers
burg. Meanwhile the Federal cavalry,
such as it was, took the warpath to
head off the daring raiders when they
should attempt to recross the river.
The mouth of the Monocacy river be-
low the camps of the army was the
point fixed upon by the guesses of the
Federal cavalry leaders. To that point
one body was directed and would have
been there in time to do something but
for misleading reports which delayed
progress. A force of infantry was sta
toned at Frederick, Md, and two bri-
gades lay on the cars at Monocacy
Junction ready to move at the word,
either to Frederick or eastward,
wherever Stuart might appear
What are known as the lower fords
of the Potomac were nearest the camps
of the Federal army and farthest from
Stuart when he set out bomeward from
Chambersburg. Stuart reasoned that
the enemy would not hook for him at
the lower fords because of the risk
fact that in order to reach them from
Chambersburg he must ride east to-
ward Gettysburg and treble the dis
tance of his march. Stuart turned off
the Gettysburg road southwark as soon
as he had crossed the mountain. At
that time there was a body Of FEEDER
ais hurrying to Gettysburg from Balti-
more to catch the raiders. Reaching
Emmitsburg the night of the 18th, the
troopers were regaled by the Maryland
ers and at once started for the Poto-
mac, forty-five miles distant Soon
after leaving Emmitsburg Stuart
passed within four miles of Pleason-
tons cavalry, which had been march
ing and countermarching all day to
meet the raiders At midnight Pleas
onton learned of Stuart's movement
and started in pursuit, but the raiders
were four hours ahead of him.
From Emmitsburg the southern cav
alcade trotted the long night through
and made thirty-three miles by day
light of the 18th. 1t was twelve miles
to the ford, and the troopers had rid
den siXty-flve miles within twenty-four
hours. All the lower fords were guard
ed by Federals, and Pleasonton was
rapidly closing down by another and
shorter road than the one used by Stu
art to the only unguarded crossing,
the mouth of the Monocacy. At s
o'clock Stuarts advance came within
sight of Federal cavalry, which proved
to be Pleasonton's. The Confederates
were all muffied in Yankee overcoats,
which they had captured at Chambers
burg.
Stuart rode at the head of the col
umn, and when he saw that the FEEDER.
ais hesitated at sight of the strange
command clad in blue coats he ordered
a charge. The Federals retired. Plant
ing guns on knoll the raiders began
to shell the Federal cavalry, and the
main body dashed for the ford. That
was guarded by Federal infantry.
Colonel Lee, who led the forward col
umn and sent a flag of truce demand
ing instant surrender, and to the sur
prise of Stuart the Yankees retreated
Covered by Pelham's guns, the raiders
rode over the ford and the last man
and the last gun were on Virginia soil.
GEORGE L. KILMER.
Agent = Here sir, is a book that
should be in every family. 1T contains
a receipt for everything, sir = every
thing
Cholly-Giye me three copies. If it
has a receipt for my tallor's bill, I'll