The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-25

Capt. Gregg's company had slipped out
OF the net. and was marching south, the
rebels continuing to ride eastward.
Morgan" said the Captain, what are
your orders? Pressing?'
mo. SIR
Somebody ought to notify Lieut.. Lieb.
of the 9th Cav, of this advance. Will
You do it,"
stand between me and the General.
Captain?'
"Of course"
"Then I'm your man. Where is the
lieutenant
Just east of Hanover"
Private Morgan saluted and started nj
n gallOp across the fields northeast. He
found Lieb's company advancing toward
Hanover The retreat was sounded.
| Stuart had begun his ride around the
Army of the Potomac. The small CON-
mands of Federals were withdrawing be-
fore him. Hawes's machine-shop WAS
passed, and the Confederate column CON
! tinued to march eastward for almost two
miles; now Totopotomoy Creek was in the
hollow in front, the road descending
through deep ravine which had been
worn by travel, its sides covered with
small growth. The Confederate advance
guard entered the defle, and almost at
once came to halt and began firing. for
in front of them the Federals blocked the
| road: shots We're returned; there were
losses on both sides. Lieut.. Lieb was
speedily warned that fanking parties were
approaching, and again he ordered retreat;
his small command passed the Totopoto-
moy. which, had it been defended with an
adequate force, might have proved the
end of Stuarts raid. At the Linney place
the junction of the Mechanicsvilie and
the Old Church rOads-a new stand was
made in stronger force, Capt. Royal, of
the 9Th Cav, in command. The Confed-
crates advanced to the attack.
squadron of the 9th Va. Cav. under
Capt. Latane, in column of tours. charged
straight down the road at the Federal line
used their pistols with but little result
Latane and Royal met, the Confederate
saber in hand, the Federal with pistol,
aud the SOutherner fell dead from his
horse, Royal receiving more than one
wound The melee lasted but moment
although the Union cavalry might have
hoped to defeat this attack, they yet knew
that behind it and Supporting it was a
strong column rapidly advancing. and they
scattered in flight. but only to reform
some hundreds of yards in the rear
Again the COnfederates charged, and
again the Federals broke-hopeless of
c0ntending against the strong parties ap-
preaching the TANKS. Aud now, once
more, the LIST Va, under F'itzhugh Lee,
took the advance. no enemy being visible.
Serg't Morgan rode opposite the first file
of the advance guard, in which were his
friends. Lewis and Armstrong. The road
was marked with the signs of the fleeing
enemy; the advance was pushed with Wig
or, the head of the regiment but 200 yards
behind. The Linney house had been
passed, and soon Dan Morgan could see
clusters Of white tents down the road-the
cavalry camp at Old Church-and in a
minute or more a line of Federals drawn
mp to defend their camp; the advance
halted.
Again the Confederates charged; the
Union cavalry withdrew in the direction
Of Cold Harbor, and Lees men took pos
session Of the camp and began to destroy
Stuarts purpose had been accomplished;
he had passed around McCleIan's right
flank, and knew that, unless almost i'm
possible defenses should be suddenly
made, this flank was accessible to attack
an attack which was not to be long in
coming; in less than n fortnight Lee would
draw .Iackson's column from the Valley
and throw it upon the Federal right Now
1t remained to Stuart ID get back to Gen.
Lee with the information he had gained;
but he knew from his rear guards and
thanking parties that the Federals were
gathering in his rear and closing the road
by which he had come. Doubtless the
glamor of a daring exploit had something
to do with Stuart's decision. He deter
mined to ride on. and sweep entirely
around the Army Of the Potomac, burning
and fighting his way. And, indeed, with
the full light upon us, we can do nothing
but approve, for Stuart was already far
10 the rear of the Federal infantry, and
every mile farther east and south would
assure him greater safety: moreover, as
the result proved. he would be doing ex-
actly contrary to his enemy's expectations.
While F'itzhugf Lees men were destroy
ing the camp at Old Church, Stuart rode
up and, to the establishment of Lee, rode
by, ordering the Colonel to finish the work
and follow.
1t was past in the afternoon. Dan
Morgan Junior had ridden hard toward
Gaines's Mill; Serg't Morgan was riding
in Stuart's advance toward Tunstalrs
Station: the advance was led by Stuart's
Aids, Burke, Farley, and Mosby. All
along the road prisoners were picked up
and wagons captured. AT Garlck's two
squadrons rode north toward Putney's
Ferry, and found there some vessels laden
with supplies, and many wagons, all of
which were burned.
Junior Morgan found Gen. Cooke adj
vancing from Gaines's Mill to try to cut
off his kinsman's retreat,s assuming that
he would retreat north and west on the
road nv which ba had eoyna Ry This