The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-04-09
WAR STORIES.
Gen. Clusters Raid on Charlottesville Va,
February 3Sth, 1864.
lir. W. i. Conway in Atlanta Journal.

coming out at Bank Mill on the
Rapidan River. We followed them
through to s;tanardsvillc, Green Coun-
-. There we had several additions to
our little company: Of boys from that
County, shelton. Chapman and others
We captured few stragglcrs before
they reached the R;vauna River, and
frequently delayed their advance by
firing into them. We watched thco
closely and whenever an opportunity
presented itself VIC would attack them
The Fcdcrals would leave their com
mand and stragglc off to some hous G
on the road, when we would make it
hot for them; unable to stand our
charge they would break and flee in
every direction over the fences and
across the field. Although our force
was small one, our citizens along
the whole route were greatly protect
ed aud benefited by our constant yigi-
| lance
"Stuart's Horse Artillery" com
posed of Berthcrd's, McGrcgor s,
Chew S and Nloorman $ troops, we're
near Charlottesville in quarters, re-
cruiting their horses and resting their
men; not dreaming Of Yankee being
in a hundred miles of them. They
were cncampcd on DR.. Cooks farm.
a great many Of their men were in
Charlottesville, strolling about the
town unarmcd. At che first shot from
Clusters guns, they made tracks for
their camps, caught up their horses
that were grazing, limbercd up and
poured CALLING fire into Custer s
ranks.
The artillc.ymcn and citizens (many
OF the latter with shot yuns) fought
desperately in defending the town and
university. A few Of the shells from
Custer 8 batteries fell near The uni
versity but did no harm. In few
hours Custer was repulsed, after losing
n few men and horses. His repulse
was not so much on account of the re-
sistancc made by the small number in
his front, but from information re-
ceivcd by him through an old negro
woman living on the Campbell place.
When asked by Custer about our for
ccs to defend Charlottesville, she
said: Oar is lots er cannon an
bout er mill yum Of EN- up in town."
This prevented him from going
on and doing what he could have cas-
lily done had he known our real situa-
ton.
as Custer rctrcatcd he burned the
bridges over the Rivauna River as we'll
as the mill and moved his command
back over the same road on which he
had advanced, getting back to Stan
ardsville about dark that night. We
had stationed ahead Of them our little
company at the foot Of tho road just
rs it runs into tho Madison road, and
rs soon as Custer advance guard rode
into us in the dark, we poured vol
ley into their ranks, wounding several
of their men aud horses. A part of
Fitz Lce's cavalry met them at Bur
row Davis, near Conway River, and
had pitched battle, lasting but q
short time, killing and capturing a
good many of his command. A short
tine after this beautiful flag was
presented to the "Stuart Horse Artil-
lery' at Gordonsville by Bishop
Meade from the ladies of Charlottes-
vile in token of their defense of the
place. One Of the members Of the
battery at the surrender wrapped the
flag about his person under his cloth
ing and escaped to Hong Kong, China,
whence it wae subsequently rescued
by Colonel Mosby and returned to
Colonel Chew, commander of one of
the batteries: and who now has it in
his parlor in Charleston, West Vir-
ginia. And may it's presence there
ever remind US of the heroes of the
lost cause-"Lest we forget, lest we
forget