Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-25

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 A A. G. Jenkins, rode into Cham
 bersbnrg the 18th of June, 1863, and seemed very much at home on Pennsylvania soil. The troopers in gray had galloped from the Potomac during the night and their sudden swoop into the heart of the Keystone State was like a bolt from a clear sky. The last that the people of the north and the authorities in Washington knew the enemy was beyond the Rap pahannock with Rockers army master of the situation.
 Jenkins soldiers levied on the citi- zens for horses, cattle and store SUD- plies, paying for all values In Confed- crate scrip, worth nothing except as a souvenir. Having some of his own horses stolen, by way of retaliation Jenkins demanded pay of the authori- ties, and it was promptly handed over in Confederate money.
 There had been Confederate raids across the border before, even as far as Chambersburg, but Jenkins coolness had an ominous look. Lincoln called for 12o,000 militia to defend the cities
 
 that the raiders had good backing. The same day division of Ewell's infan- try crossed the Potomac at Williams port and there was fighting in the Shenandoah valley near the Potomac with the rest of Ewelps corps.
 Ewell marched his corps from the Rappahannock, following the route west of the Blue Ridge to keep it's movement from the eyes of the Feder- als. At the same time Longstreet's corps slowly advanced east of the Blue Ridge to control the gaps leading through it and guard Ewell from sur prise. Longstreet also had his move ments guarded by Jeb Stuarts cavalry, which secuted farther east along the slopes of Bull Run mountains. Thus there were three columns of Confed- crates forging their way to the north while Hooker was still facing south ward and even planning to cross the Rappahannock and dash for Richmond.
 The great highway to the Potomac through the Shenandoah valley had not been left unguarded by the Feder- als, but an invasion by Lees whole army had not been provided for. Gen eral Milroy lay at Winchester with large force intrenched The neighbor- ing post of Martinsburg also held Fed eral garrison. Tn order to cut off Mill roy from help General Imboden's Con federate cavalry passed around and de stroyed the Baltimore and Ohio rail- road in his rear. Milroy was ordered by his superfors to retreat to Harpers Ferry, but he preferred to stand his ground. Ewell first threatened Mar tinsburg, and the Federal garrison there marched to Winchester. Learn ing from scouts that he was confront ed by Ewelrs whole corps, Mfroy de- cided, when too late, to retreat One division of Ewell's attacked him on the 14th, and after desperate fight ing, in which both sides made gal lant charges, the Confederates broke through the intrenchments and could not be driven out.
 Leaving one brigade to hold Milroy in the net, Ewell struck out for the Potomac to cut off the Federal retreat. By skillful marching Milroy got away with 5000 men and left about 2,0O0 prisoners. The road was open for Lees trains and artillery. Meanwhile Longstreet passed on from gap to gap, drawing nearer the Potomac and saw ing Hwell from attack in the rear while Stuart, acting as foil for Longstreet, kept the Federal cavalry at arms length.
 When Hooker discovered that Lees troops were shifting camp and drawing away from Fredericksburg, he sent his own cavalry under Pleasonton on the back track toward Washington to guard his rear and cover the capital. Thus while Stuart marched along Bull Run mountains Pleasonton was tied fast by his orders to the line just east of the mountains. But cavalry is never literally idle, and some Federal scouts riding past Aldie gap on the 17th took notion of seeing what lay the other side of the mountain. FitZ Lees Con- federate brigade happened to have the same curiosity on the other side of the. barrier at the same time. A fight was opened almost on the run between the Harris Light cavalry of Kilpatricks brigade and the Fifth Virginia under Colonel T. L. Rosser. On nearing the town of Aldle, which lies In fronC or the gap on the east, Fitzpatrick saw the gray troopers in the distance and sent the Harris Light on gallop through the town to seize the low ridge over which the road runs, close to the gap. Rossers line charged with drawn sa- bers, driving the Harris Light back to the town. Rosser then posted sharp shooters along, the main road behind some haystacks protected by rail barri- cades. These sharpshooters chung to the haystacks, pouring terrible fire upon Kilpatrick's squadrons as they rode past on the flank to attack the main Confederate position, farther down the road.
 Rosser's line was soon re-enforced by full brigade, and Fitzpatrick called for help. At last he saw that the sharpshooters at the haystacks must be dislodged or every attempt to ad-
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