Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25
RIDING WITH STUART
aosrE INCIDENTS OF THE GErrYs-
BURG CAMPAIGN.
RELATED BY DR.. w. 3. CONWAY
IF Fourth Regiment of virginia
Notwithstanding with Fitz Lee
Dividing a Collaborating a DI.-
9nft
patch.
70 the Editor OF the Dispatch:

patch
10 the Editor OF the Dispatch:
Dear Sir,-Writing as narrator OF
events that occurred under my own OBJ
rervation during the war between the
States, It is strange that
we can tell Just how It happened,
though it's forty years ago,
And / sometimes think it's curious that
we can remember SO -
And still. as we grow older. it's true that
we can remember incidents in our past
sfe that seem more real to us, ofttimes,
han those that happened to lie of more
feceut date. I am not unconscious ut
Iaperfections. however, that may occur
q minor matters. but. on the whole, as
N eyewitness, I know whereof 1 speak,
and hence confine myself to facts.
'sJeb'' Stuart and his cavalry had ac-
con2piished wonders. from a military
standpoint, during the Gettysburg cam
paign. From the LITTER part of June
until about the middle of July, 1863, they
we're constantly on the march. engaged
IN skirnishes. and pitched battles most
IF Cavaliers, America never beheld- They
we're fearless. courageous. and ever ready
for z. fight The duties devolvipg upon
than during the whole campaign We're
pf most difficult character. operating
as they did in the rear OF he whole Of
The Federal army, and retiring III the
presence Of a superior force. the results
81 yhich placed Stuart in the front rank
DETERMINED TO WIN.
~ MI &c, aIrr, C,,e
feature about Stuart's raids. noticed by
every one n his command. was the, fact
that he participated personally in the
most stubborn encounters with the enemy
wherever they were found. His deter
n!aation to win in every encounter was
the most prominent characteristic Of this
man Of genus. When an impartial his
tory Of the cavalry commanders of the
var between the States is >>ritten, his
torians must accord to hin, the first place
among them. His bouyant sririts. his
kindly disposition. his thorough work S
disciplinarian, his keen insight in Sc
iecting his subordinate commanders.
brought his cavalry UP to such perfec-
Jon that even his enemies profited by 1t
What would have been the result Lad
" commanded the Federai =, valry? With
ea the resources furnishelS What branch
Of the service by the United States Gov
ernnent. t:Jeb'' Stuart would have ridden
Into Richmond with IS command ere toe
close of the year OF 1853. The main factor
81 the devotion, the ardor. and heroisn
OF the rank and file Of our country, was
The love and admiration in the heart
Of every trooper for him. He was truly
a leader among them; and inspired their
hearts to nobler deeds On his return
from Gettysburg just before reaching the
Potomac river. he was manifestiy broken
down under the tremendous strain upon
Inn. from loss of sleep. and proper food
TO sustain this great mental and physical
effort Yet I saw him after passing
over to the south side OF the river near
Williarsport in q beautiful grove of
frees near his tent In roulp with Fitz
Lee. az though nothing had happened TO
mar their usual cheerfulness or depress
her bouyant spirits. On the night Of
Inly 18th Lees army Tecrossed the Po-
tomac at Williamsport and r'ai;ing Wa
ters. A pontoon bri4ge had been thrown
across the river at Falling Waters. where
Longstreet's and HIS corps crossed.
Ewell's corps Eordeu the river at viii
Transport The rear Of the infantry was
protected by the hrigades OF Fitz Lees.
W. Fl. F. Lees. IIanipton's. and Robert
sens.
sTUARTs VIGILANCE
The vigilance OF Stuart, his constant
engagements with the enemy. had SO
attracted the attention of Meade that he
was not aware OF Lees crossing the river
Unit! he had accomplished that task. On
the 10th Of July Fritz Lees brigade moved
from Martinsburg down the road toWares5
shepherostown, where we engaged the
enemy In a holly contested cavalry fight,
driv!ng them back towards the latter
place. Colonel James -. Drake, of the
sirst Virginia Casa-rs, was mortally
wounded. and died that night. After the
engagement q few men of my company
were placed on the ShepherdstoMn turn.
Of hin overlooking the tpike away OF
towards the town. The boys had dis
mounted and tied the;: horses in the
fence corners. IRE had been kindieds
and preparations were made for cooking
such as we hea-fat meat and bareback.
with q little green corn we had in our
pockets Some OF the boys had found .
little wheat straw near by. which was
led to our horses.
CHASING a CALF.
We were all sitting around the fire en-
spyirg army life: smoking pipes of tobac-
70 captured frou, suffers wagons in Mary
land or Pennsylvania. Just then the sound
OF 2 spent minnie ball whistled over our
heads. Another, and then another was
heard. We Jumped to our feet and saw
down the pike at distance. eight or ten
( SGReGi cHVatTyluSil.s as we S3lortauS,
amusing themselves firing at us at long
distance We did not mount our horses.
but watched for future Development In
few moments, to our great astonish-.
meut. as well as amusement. we found
that the Yankees were chasing yearl,ng
calf. which was coming at full speed Up
the pike towards our picket post. It seems
that the Yankees did not sec us but were
firing at the calf. aud hence the bullets
were coming In close proximity to our
heats When they did spy Us. they halt
ID In great arnazenent. and soon retired !
into the woods beyond. We took In the
situation al once. and threw out our
sktrnsghers consisting OF Two OF me 1.s
t,oya and ordered them to lie down In
i,hs corners OF the fence while the rest
t,f us fe.l back beyond the brow OF me ]
hil, in our rear. In q little while the calt
gaiioped past the boys and stepped:
pistol shot from one OF the boys lalaS !. g