Saint Mary's beacon., 1904-11-24

ordered 70 fhe [<z5 place al
ways in. battle s. Rig
ulars being Col Did regi-
service (ihe nsz4i< was tue
2nd.l Col. Lee # zaernis-
ing Yankess and capture their camp.
Gen. Stuart readily gave this permis-
sion. In a twinkle Fitz was after
them, pushing them 70 Old Church,
where they were drawn up todefend
their camp. They hardly awaited
the charge of the old 1st Va before
they took to their heels and retired
ungracefuIly towards their line OF
infantry. Major McClelland in his
magnificient. book on Stuart and his
campaigns. says: tits tie opinion
of Gen. Fltz Lee that ii was Stuart's
intention, after the dispersion of
Royals command. to retire by the
same route upon which he advanced,
but having consented that Col. Fitz
Lee should attempt the capture of
the camp at the Old Church he fol-
lowed him TO witness the result and
then changed his determination.
At this point we were inside of the
Federal lines, only short distance
from his base of supplies and head
quarters. 1t can be readily seen the
great danger that encompassed ps on
all sides. The alarm had been given
to Mcclellan S headquarters at the
White House. His infantry aud cav
airy were on the move TO head the
audacious Stuart OFF and gobble up
his rebel raiders. But not for one
moment did thought Of that kind
occur TO US. We knew our leader
too well and followed his plume
where he led, knowing that he had
the ability to bring US out safely, it
mattered not where be went. The
subsequent campaigns Of this great
cavalry eemmaadsss- zsos.s
to be true. | consider che greatest
honor that has ever been my privi-
lege to possess is that have ridden
with the intrepid Stuart in all of his
raids. even unto the very gates or
the city of Richmond yellow Tav-
ern) where he gave up his life for
the State and the cause he loved so
dearly. Stuart then rapidly march
ed to Tunstall Station on the York
River r. r. Before reaching Tun-
stalls numbers of wagons fell into
our hands, they not being aware
that we were in their midst. When
we reached Garliek's two osquadrons
were detached, Knights of the 9th
Va. and Hammond s of the fighting
1st Va. being sent TO the Pomunkey
river. where they burned two trans
ports loaded with supplies and with
the wagons constituting the supply
train of the 18th and 44th New York
Volunteer Regiment of Infantry.
The loss of the enemy was considera-
BILE. The men in our battery pelham ~
were much tired out, having been in the
saddle two days and nights, travelling
rapidly. number OF the cannoneers
had been on horseback but a very few
times before. 1t can readily beimagined
what discomforts they suffered / in
clude myself among the number. had
left my horse in camp when starting on
this expedition in order to save him for
the arduous campaigns that knew
would follow. / rode instead an extra
horse belonging to the battery that was
seldom used. He was an exceedingly
rough traveler, keeping in one OF those
short. disagreeable, aggravating trots
that disturbed my anatomy very mnch
as well as furnishing my body severely.
On approaching Tunstall Station Gen
Stuart sent a body OF picked men lin
Guiding Burke. Farley and Mosby] TO cap
ture the station aud destroy the tele-
graph lines leading to MeClellan's head
quarters at the White House. The rail
road was also to be destroyed dpossible
A small body ofmen was captured at the
depot (Tunstalls) without firing a shot
Before the railroad could be ohstructed
a train came laundering along from Dis
patch Station. The engineer refused to
stop, but crowding on steam dashed
through, running the gauntlet of the fire
that was poured into them from both
sides of therailroad Wewerenow with
in four miles of McClellan's mighty Army
of the Potomae's headquarters. Danger
was on all sides, but that band OF he
roes rode on unconscious of the danger
they were in. What cared they when the
intrepid Stuart rode at their head 4
large wagon train was captured at the
station, being immediately burned, light
ing up the whole country with terrible
red glare. typical OF the horrors Of war.
The work of destruction having been
completed Stuart started towards Tai.
leysville, four miles distant Af Talleys
vile waited for few hours To Iced and
water our horses, and also 20 give the
men a chance to get something to eat
and to stretch their tired limbs. The