The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-10-12

ilo iull import more tnan dld McClcl.
Ian when opportunity or accident
thrust into his hands copy Of the
above order.
l. fortune knocks once at every
man s door, then the fckle dame we
all love to court literally ''butted'
into Mcclellan ) tent the morning Of
September l3, 1862. During the pre-.
ceding day. the 18th. the Confederate
outpost was stretched along the west
bank Of the Manococy, short dis
tance east of Frederick. Up to this
time, since the invasion Of Maryland,
the federal cavalry had been but mild
ly aggressive, yielding readily to pres
sure from Stuart's troopers.
On the morning of September l2
provost guard Of "a ssbres and two
officers was detailed from the six COM
nsnds constituting Hampton First
brigade, whose duty i. was to police
the town, preserve order and dispatch
: all stragglers up the route the main
army had taken. This duty was not
onerous, and the detail deemed the
service q special favor. During the
day the enemy in increasing numbers
engaged the ou posts along the river
and gradually extending his wings,
finally outfanked the Confederatea
above and below and forced their re-
tirement through and beyond the
town. In accomplishing this move
mont the outpost imposed new and
important duty upon the provost
guard-it forced upon this detachment
the post of rear guard.
With the Withdrawal of the Con-
federates the enemy promptly organ
lied pursuit. His advance guard
dashed into the town, receiving de-
monstrations Of Welcome from the
townspeople, just as the provost guard
had formed TO move out. To retreat
with the enemy upon the field invited
disaster upon the provost guard. Its
commanding officer promptly reversed
his column of fours and faced the yell
ing enemy. This was rather unex-
pected to the enemy, who expected to
find the Confederates in full retreat.
The advance guard halted and opened
brisk fire upon the provost guard.
Con. Hampton, who was present,
detecting this blunder, promptly
ordered tho provost guard to charge.
The detachment quickly obeyed, and
in several minutes expelled the enemy
from and beyond the town. The fed
eral force consisted Of two troops of
the Thirteenth Pennsylvania cavalry,
the Thirteenth Ohio Infantry and one
piece Of artillery.
The whole force was driven forward
beyond the town, the gun overriden
and number Of the enemy killed,
wounded aud captured. among the lat
ter the commanding officer, Col.
Moore. Tho fell o prisoner to your
distingrished citizen, Gen. w. w.
Gordon.
Pardon this disgression from the
subject of the sketch. 1t ia preface
that carries interest to the readers Of
your paper, because the two officers
and four Of the troops were of your
splendid troop, the Georgia Hussars.
While it was small and insignificant
affair as compared with the more pre-
tentious operations of Lees army, it
loses no lustre by comparison.
At dusk that evening the Confeder-
ates withdrew from Frederick. As
upon the capture of Andre by the con-
tinental scouts hinged grave issues,
so the occupation of Frederick that
evening was fraught with grave dan
ger to Lee and his army.
Around parcel Of shree oigars ao-
cidently picked up by federe, scr.
geart copy of the now famous "spe-
oial orders No. 19l" was wrapped.
How or why it should be there has
never been explained. Promptly was
it put into MeClellan's hands and the
whole plan of campaign exposed.
AS stated, up to September II
Stuart found little difficulty in hold
ing in check demonstrations of the
federal cavalry, but on the 18th he
found the aggressiveness Of the blue
troops 80 pronounced as to give en-
ployment for all his command. Lons.
street was apprised of the unusual
energy of the enemy, but seemed slow
to appreciate it's Importance. D H.
Hill made what disposition his divi-
sion could S!l, but the pressure be.
came so strong Longstreet was appeal.
ed to for assiskance Rnfora thot c.r,a