The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-01-28

only fill volumes, but Libraries. Some
Of these bordcrc1 upon the miracu-
lous. There were many Instances
where whole command, cano within
the list Of this CATEGORY.
With The Journals permission,
will instance Il few Of these. Nc
Clcllan had bent his mighty army as a
great bow, nearly half way around the
capital, alike Of the Old Dominion
and the young C~onfcdcracy. Daily
acccssions to his ranks intensified the
peril to the heart Of the youthful na-
ton. Spade and pick were busy fac
tors strengthening the Federal posi-
ton and rendering more gloomy the
Confederate outlook.
johnson, at Seven Pines, had tempt
ed the tickle goddess, and a severe
wound from u shell fragment to his
person, and a failure Of success TO his
arms, hurt both his pride and his ply
sique. 1t was then the great Virgin
ian stepped upon the crimsoncd stage
of the bloody drama as its star actor.
Mosby, then q scout, had pcnctra-
ted Mcclellan line and returned with
such information as to start the caval-
ry command on a dangerous venture.
Selecting eleven hundred horses and
three guns, Stuart left Richmond on
June II, 1862, for an investigation Of
McClcllan' right flank. A bold dash
Like the outposts of the REGULARS, but
,..esc soon rallied behind a strong po-
sition on Totopotomay creek, and for
a while delayed progress. Busy and
Industrious flankcrs soon found cross
ings above and below that enabled The
Confederate troopers to again put the
Federal horses out Of position and
kept them on the move until their or
ganization was completely broken and
driven from the field. stuart soon
found he was within the hncs Of Nc
Clellan's right flank and between his
army and it's base Of supplies at the
white house, on the Panumkcy river.
The Federal cavalry that had escaped
soon appraised the main line Of the
daring forces upon their right wing,
and q strong force was thrown across
the route by which Stuart had broken
through tho Federal position. The
escape Of the train from Tuustal sta
ton to the white house put the strong
garrison there upon notice, and they
promptly assumed the defensive.
Surprise under these circumstances
was no longer possible, and the way
back blocked by u strong force. The
position Of Stuart was very pcrilous,
but the rcsourccful cavalier did not
lose his wits.
Promptly ordering the column for
ward, he pressed along on or CORE
spending to and in rear Of the line of
McClelland's huge army.
All night these troopers, under
splendid guides, moved, and blazcd
their path with burning wagons.
Speed was now the prime factor Of the
forces; therefore, the command could
not be numbered with captured wag-
ons. The guards and teamsters were
made prisoners, the horses and mules
detached and the movement pressed
steadily along.
Daylight found the column,in the
vicinity Of Long Bridge on the Chick
ahominy. Stuart's information vas
that he would find q rontoon here, re-
placing the permanent structure de-
stroyed by his troopers two or three
weeks before, during Johnston 9 retro
grade movement up the peninsnlar.
In this he was disappointed. A sharp
rise in the river made the ford impos-
sible, so down stream the column was
turned, to find no better conditions ut
Burn or Ford's bridge. This struc-
ture had been sawed off on either side
Of the river and dropped into the
stream, leaving these approaches as
abutments, but with n fatal gap where
once stood a good, secure bridge.
Here was a continuance Of the guam
Diary. How was Stuart to pass the
swollen river and keep his artillery?
About q fourth Of a mile from the
wrecked bridge was an abandoned to-
beoco farm. 1t seems like q provi-
Dental supply of material for an i'm
promptu bridge. Willing hands, with
out tools. soon demolished the struc-
ture. Lifting the stills upon poles,
strong arms quickly transported these
to the river end succeeded in getting
them across. These just Tapped the
gap between the abutments by about
-. :oohoo OusoLlu tho unothor.