Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-11
CLOSE CALLS BY WHOLESALE
BY COL. G. NJ sAussv, HAwkINsvlLLE, GA.

Catlett's station, on the O. & A. railroad,
and report his observations promptly to
General Lee. To perform this he passed
through the little hamlet of Auburn and
proceeded toward the line of the rail-
road. As he moved through the wooded
country and came to the open country
that bordered the railroad he was sur
pIised to find Meades army moving stead
fly northward. Stuart at once dispatched
Major Venable to inform General Lee
and advised a prompt attack upon the
marching column so as to cut it in two,
then beat each wing in detail. Major
Venable attempted to reach Warrenton
over the route Stuart had come, but to
his surprise he found Auburn in posses
sion of a strong column of the enemy.
BY a more circuitous route he avoided
the enemy and safely reached General
Lee, later, however. than Stuart had
timed.
For some reason General Lee did not
accept Stuart's suggestion and the pro-
posed attack was not made. He re-
NAMED in observation of the moving col
umn long enough for Major Venable to
have reached General Lee, and was
anxiously awaiting the sound of Lees
guns in attack upon Meade's flank. De-
spairing Of this he started to retrace his
steps when to his surprise he found a
nedNy COLUMN Ills rear T1GIG WAS Il
great dilemma. Front and rear great
columns of Federal troops were march
ing. Along the railroad and the parallel
dirt roads the bulk Of Meade's army was
pressing for Manassas, while behind Stuart
the Second and Third army corps secure
ly locked him in. Between these two
columns stood the two brigades, wonder
ing what would be the result. Stuart
knew his peril and rapidly concentrated
~ Ir4-r
which raised their friendly tops between
his command and the heavy columns of
the enemy.
Night kindly lowered the curtain of
darkness over and around the beleaguered
troops. Rushing his seven cannons to the
crest of the hills overlooking the ford
Of Cedar Creek, nothing remained but to
watch, wait and keep quiet. The troop
ers stood to horse to restrain any rest
1essness in their steeds, but ever and
anon some hungry mule in the ammuni-
ton wagon would rouse the echoes of
the hills with discordant brays stuarts
hope was that General Lee would attack
and thus cause a division in his favor;
but this hope vanished. Dawn found the
situation unchanged and the danger in
tensihed. The hope Of concealment must
vanish when the sun would rise. A few
shots on the side of the enemy In the d.
EGCllOn VI NdIIGnlOnt WdIIcu OludIl ludI
work was about to commence there. Now
was the time for action. His seven guns
rained shot and shell upon the surprised
foemen. His left flank towards Callets
station was his weak point and against
this a strong counter attack was made.
Against this Col. Ruffin lead his splendid
First North Carolina cavalry in a noun
ted charge. He over-rode a strong
skirmish line of the enemy, most of whom
surrendered, but his force was repealed
by the heavy infantry battle line, leaving
their gallant commander dead upon the
field. The enemy was checked by this
charge of Ruffin and Stuart, siezing the
opportunity, the artillery was withdrawn
from the hills and with the baggage wag
ons. passed rapidly in rear of the enemy
and by bold dash was released from a
trap that looked hopeless of escape.
No less than six bold men had success
fully passed through the enemy's lines
during the night, and acquainted General
Lee of Stuart's great peril. Stuart con-
fldently expected General Lee would at
tack at or before dawn to relieve the
tension of this Gordon around him. A part
of Ewelrs corps did move out to attack
but they claimed the fire from Stuart's
guns passing through and over the enemy
arrested their forward movement.
The strain that night was severe upon