Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
NEAR WINCHESTER In 1862.
Collecting strassIers-aos< The SOL
What Lee Said About Stuart. Men.
Marye's Hill and the Stone Wall.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
fear that ] failed TO express my mean
ing clearly in one paragraph of my last
letter.
! intended to say that the infantry and
artillery mot Inc cavalry while en-
camped around Winchester, in Sep
tember and October, 1862, were engaged.
among other pleasant occupations, in re-
cruitjng and in collecting the straggers.
of whom il was estimated that 10000 were
on the south side Of the Potomac when
The battle of sharpsburg was fought.
The cavalry was, perhaps, equally
guilty with the other arms of the service
in this respect
/ remember that late in the day. when
The battle had almost ceased, Colonel
Wickham, who had received information
that a considerable number of the Fourth
Regiment were in camp on the south side
of the river. sent me across to find out
what was the matter, and how many
could be brought over.
A MEAL PACIFIED HIM
/ found them without difficulty. but it
was a dark night and I could do nothing
j found two captains among them and
other officers. and about forty men
was glad TO accept the hospitality of one
of those captains who was friend of
mine. and in consideration of a good sup
per and a good breakfast next morning |
willingly condoned his offense for being
in such questionable company.
I'VE condone the sins we are inclined to
BY damning those we have no mind to-.
When | reported to Colonel Wickham
that twenty-five men would come over,
he was highly sratiiied. 1 did not think
1t necessary to tell him afterwards that
not one of those Eretches Joined US until
we returned TO Virginia.
! concluded my last letter with the state
Tnent that in the early days of December
we came up with our wagon train ana
Company Q, and found our cook with
the materials on hand for a good dinner,
which we proceeded at once to prepare,
md while we We're waiting as patiently
as possible with the expectation OF re-
naming al least that day in camp, we
were suddenly ordered to saddle ana
mount. and were marched hurriedly TO
one of the fords Of the Rappahannock
in preparation suppose, to resist some
movement of the enemy
SAW THE DINNER RECEDE.
Like Tantalus. we saw that dinner re-
cede from our view-with no prospect or
another. except in the dim and diStan;
future.
When we arrived at the river and the
preliminary arrangements had been COM
pleted, such as stationing the videttes
and attending to our horses, thought 1t
would be we'll TO make myself as comfort
able as possible for the night; and with
that end in view selected three of the
hottest fence-rails / could find, and placed
Them in proper position 10 ward off in
some measure the dangers Of the damp
ground.
There had been heavy fall of snow {.
few days before,
But before | could claim and enjoy the
blessing Of the great restorer-balmy
sleep-we We're again ordered to saddle
and mount, and were placed on the roaa
to Fredericksburg which we reached at
,arly dawn on the morning OF the 15tE
the day of the battle. and We're stationed
at Hamiltons crossing, on the extreme
right of the army.
PLANS OF THE FEDERALS.
General Franklin, the commander OF the
Federal forces on that part OF the fieio
which WAS in front of General jackson
corps. had been directed TO seize and hold
lIamilion's crossing as soon as possible,
in the hope and with the expectation that
in that event he might be able to turn the
right of our army and penetrate 10 ms
rear and force General Lee TO eVacuate
the heights on which the army was post
ed,
AT one time during the day it seemed
,ha+ they might succeed in doing TINS.
they broke through General Jackson
lina AT one point not strongly guarded,