Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-18
Copyright. 1903. by G. L. I<ilmer.l


 N ton the first three years of the A war that if Robert B. Lee '0~ A stood for battle he should be defeated and not allowed to get away. The wires to the front and the iron hoofs of couriers' steeds were kept hot carrying the impatient message, Don't let Lee get away" When Lee was de- feated at Gettysburg, in the heart of Pennsylvania, the edict was repeated with emphasis, yet Lee got back to Dixie with all his material and a cara van of wounded, besides droves of Federal captives.
 Compared with the great retreats of history, the escape was a marvellous feat. The north, as a whole, was glad to see the Coufederates go, and, if the truth could be known, doubtless the chiefs in Washington were saa@etly as happy over the events as were the bankers of Philadelphia and New York. Longstreet, speaking of the situ- ation, says 1t is dangerous business catching a runaway snake by the tail, and that something would have hap pened had the Army of the Potomac bounced upon the Army of Northern Virginia as it filed through the noun tain passes west of Gettysburg to strike the trail homeward.
 General Birney went out on the Fair field road with part of his Federal di- vision on July 5 and tossed some shells into the retreating foe, but was or dered by Meade ''not to bring on battle'' Of course he obeyed. Sedg4 wick led his corps farther on and over took the Confederate wagon trains huddled in great confusion around Fairfield pass, with only Early's di- vision to keep off the pursuers. Sedg- wick looked the ground over and said the position was too strong to be car ried by assault. His chief never ques- toned the verdict qs
 General Fitzpatrick also sgt out July to head of Lee with three cavalry brigades. He struck "Jeb'' Stuart's troopers in Monterey pass, and while fighting them in front was attacked in the rear by body of Lees infantry. A few more Kiipatricks in the sas with three brigades of sabers each at their backs and Lee would not have escaped. The dashing cavalryman cut his way through Stuart's lines and rode off toward the Potomac with 1,sOO prisoners in his train.
 Lees wagons were under strong escort commanded by General Imbo- den. Colonel George W. Imboden's regiment of cavalry, the Eighteenth Virginia, and some batteries comprised the fighting force of the escort Kill patrick often attacked the moving col umn so boldly that Imboden was com pelled to use canister to save his train. At one point the general was nearly taken captive by fifty troopers in blue, who would not stop for canister. Colo nel Imboden galloped to the rescue of his brother and captured the entire party of assailants.
 Fitzpatrick reached Hagerstown, Md, and found 1t in possession of Stuart, but he did not turn back. The gall lant Uric Dahlgren, then captain on Kilpatrick's staff, distinguished himself by a charge into the streets packed with Stuart's troopers. Gap tain Lindsay of Company A, Eight eenth Pennsylvania cavalry, had been killed in a hand to hand fight, and Dahlgren led the survivors of the com pany in 8 dash across the public square. He lost leg in the exploit and was given colonei's commission for gallantry.
 Imboden's column of trains was fourteen miles long. When it reached the Potomac the river was so high on account of recent rains that crossing by lords was impossible. Lees bridge had been destroyed behind him by Federals. His artillery, including that under Imboden, was without ammuni- 4tion, and if ever an army was in a Virginia, facing flooded and bridge less river with. the foe closing in.
 The town of Williamsport was con- verted into hospital for the Confed- crate wounded. On July Buford's Federal cavalry rode up to the out posts, and Imboden turned to fight Wagoners were formed in line and ofhcered by wounded soldiers who were able to handle sword Several boxes of ammunition had been brought over from Virginia in boat and Im- boden's guns met Buford's troopers with doses of canister. Imboden had twenty five guns, and with these and 8 skillful disposition of his men de- ceived Buford as to the strength of his line.
 The guns fired furiously until night fall, and then courier stole through the lines to tell Imboden that Stuart was at hand. The news was received with a yell, and this was followed by the sound of Stuart's guns on the Hagerstown road in rear of Buford. Stuart was up; Lees trains were saved
 Lee marched. his infantry to Failing Waters, on the Potomac, little suppos- ing that the pontoon bridge he had left there on the march north had been de stroyed while he was fighting Meade at Gettysburg. It was gone, and the Potomac swept over the lords in a re- sistless flood. Fortunately, the posi- ton is in bend and could not be at, tackled on the flank. Lee fortified the narrow line across the peninsula and