Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-11-02
A FORTIETH
ANNIVERSARY
WAR STORY
October I0-i7. 1852
# # # # # # II

border To the face OF 100000 soldiers
cncampcd along the river. The chief
business OF the raiders was selling
horses. Scattering over a wide stretch
OF country the troopers gathered In
everything In the way Of bloodcd ami.
mails. only sparing those In use by
women. The hungry cavalrymen were
not allowed 10 take provisions from
the natives except where volunteered.
In the midst OF a drizzllng rain But
Ter planted two cannon on knoll over.
looking Chambersburg. about ) o'clock
the night OF the 10th. and sent forward
summons 20 surrender under penalty
OF bomburdmcnt. There was no re-
sistancc aud Stuart's troopers mus
tered In the public square. with their
newly acquired horses, leading their
own tired stccds ON orders from
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 10 news OF the raid
hcralded by telegraph. The bank
cashier was courteous enough 90 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 ~
good feeling Yankees and Johnnics
passed the night. the southcrners be-
ing freely supplied with food and cot
zee. Colonel a. X. Mcclure. a promi-
nput. citizen OF the town and also an
officer In the Federal army no home ou
leave. RECALLED nearly hundred OF Stu.
arts officers and soldiers at his resi-
dcncc. In the early hours OF the 18th
the tired raiders turned into their blan-
kets. some 90 sleep the sleep OF the
happy go lucky trooper and some TO
ponder how the cavalcade would get
out OF the net into which II had 80
easily ridden. IL was plain that the
whole country was ln the secret of the
raid and the Federal army alert The
rain had increased 10 q downpour and
In few hours the Potomac might rise
and oblItcrate the fords,
Before leaving Chambersburg Stuart
destroyed an ordnance storehOuse ana
railroads and other public property
amounting 10 $4,000. lie also took
away thirty officials and prominent cit'
liens as hostages for civilians OF the
Confederacy held by the United States.
About 100 captured horses went with
the cayalcadc on Us ride back 10 Dixie.
which was FAR more exciting than the
trip from the Potomac 20 Chambers
burg. Meanwhile the Federal cavalry,
such as Il was. took the warpath to
head OF the daring raiders when they
should attempt 10 recross the river.
The mouth OF the Monocacy river be-
low the camps OF the army was the
point fixed upon by the gucsses OF the
Federal cavalry leaders. To that point
one body was directed and would have
been there 100 time TO DO something but
FOR misleading reports which delayed
progress. A force OF infantry was sta
toned at Frederick. Md, and two bri.
gadcs lay on the ears nc Monocacy
Junction ready 10 move nj the word,
either 20 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 farthcst from
Stuart when he set out homeward from
Chambersburg. Stuart reasoned that
the enemy would not look for him at
the lower fords because OF the risk
he would run In that direction and the
fact that in order 10 reach them from
Chamborsburg be must ride east 10.
ward Gettysburg and treble the dis
lance OF his march. Stuart turned of
the Gettysburg road southwark as soon
us he had crossed the mountain. Al
that time there was body OF FEEDER.
ais hurrying to Gettysburg from Baltl-
more 90 catch the raiders. Reaching
Emmitsburg the night Of the 18th, the
troopers were RECALLED by the Maryland
ers aud at once started for the Poto-
mae forty-hve miles distant Soon
after leaving Emmltsburg Stuart
passed within four miles OF Plcason-
tons cavalry, which had been march.
Ing and countermarchng all day TO
meet the raiders. AZ midnight Pleas
onton learned OF Stuarts movement
and started In pursuit. but the raiders
yyere four haurs nhend 81 him
From Emmitsburg the southern cav
alcade trotted the long night through
and made thirty.three miles by day
light OF the 18th. II was twelve miles
90 the ford. and the troopers had rid
den sixty-nye miles within twenty.four
hours. All the lower fords were guard.
cd by Federals. and Pleas0nton was
rapidly closing down by another and a
shorter road than the one used by Stu
art TO the only unguarded crossing.
the mouth Of the Monocacy. AT $
o'clock Stuart's advance came within
sight OF Federal cavalry. which proved
TO be Pleasonton's. The Confederates
were all mugied In Yankee overcoats,
which they had captured at Chambers.
burg.
stuart rode az the head OF the col.
umn. and when he saw that the FEEDER
ais hesltated az sight ~ the strange
command clad In blue coats be ordered
a charge. The Federals retired Plant
Ing guns on knoll, the raiders began