Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-30
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Fitzpatrick Dragged to Averill, to Gregg and
Buford. when those typical cavalrymen
stepped up higher with Hooker's assign
ment to the command of the great, ma g
unanimous, long suffering, yet never really
beaten army. And so 1t happened that,
when the leaves at last began to sprout
again and the cavalry was sent to feel the
way through the fords afar up stream.
pioneering the army in that mastery move
around the southern left and into the heart
of the wilderness, Rex Ingraham rode much
of the time at the side of a young Dragon
leader just given his first star, and now
commanding the advance. Then, that duty
finished and his own regiment being far
on the Richmond raid, he was given per-
mission to look up certain farm folk in the
neighborhood of Dowdalls. and. on the af-
ternoon of the I'd Of May-that rather too
restful Saturday, as things resulted-tn the
quest for old acquaintance among the ma
tves found himself lost. practically among
comparative strangers. along the campfires
and stacked arms Of Steinwehr's division of
the 18th Corps.
But here was Dowdalls tavern, its shaded
porch well filled with general, staff and
field officers its former habitues nowhere
to be seen. Officers and men Of the near
most command seemed mainly German. and
in the best of spirits. The story was going
round that Lee and Jackson, diSmayed by
Hookers coming in such force. We're al
ready breaking away along the front, IN
full retreat for GOrdonsville; that Long
street, with two strong divisions, was far
the Potomac had gained firm foothold south
of that modern military Rubicon-the Rap
pahannock-and would now sweep on In
triumph to the James.
Rex was hungry for something more sub
stantial than rumors, and, mindful of
Mother Burtons capital fare, rode on
through the chatting. jostling. good humor-
ed groups along the pike; turned south
westward at the forks, passing the stacks
of the 1l9th New York, and bringing up
five minutes after at the crossing of the
run and the behest of the officer In COM
mand Of the pickets. There lay the long
streak of the plank road. There. hardly half
q mile away, stood Burton'S little home
stead, but, 'Stuart's cavalry fellows all
around there now" said his informant.
Il knew the people living in that house a
year ago last winter" said he, stroking his
chargers arching neck.
The officer of the picket studied him curl
ously. i didn't know we had any cavalry
down this way last winter" said he. You
belong to the Harris Light, don't your
Yes, but I'm on staff duty just now with
Gen. Averill."
The officer turned and stared uneasily out
along the plank road. Far down that mar
rowing groove to the southwest, perhaps
two miles away. dull dun-colored cloud
seemed rising above the troctops, and thith-
er the officer pointed.
Does Fighting Joe know about that. dye
think?" he asked of Ingraham. What
d'they say at headquarters"
army Is making for Gordonsville, but-hold
on a biz" And unslinging his field glass he
cTouched forward toward little stump
where inelt a sentry by the roadside. An
other moment and he too, was kneeling
and gazing SouthweStward down the road
Half dozen troopers, gray clad, could be
distinctly seen fitting about the Burton
farm Half a dozen officers, following a
slouching figure on a raw-boned sorrel as
Rex could make out through his binocular
were just riding away, and beyond them
and about them stood what looked like a
rank of cavalry drawn up across the way.
'Fitz Lees fellows" muttered the officer
creeping to his side. I'VE nabbed one of
them an hour or so ago, lieutenant scout
ing on his own hook Gen. Devens was out
here and he took him back to the pike. He
said they were all moseying off to the
west
He did, did he?" cried Ingraham, rising
suddenly and in excitement uncomfortable
Look you then and tell me what you
see. This plank road runs west of south
That dust cloud means a dense column is
crossing it, not two miles from here and
that column is more going to Gordons-
vile than l am to dinner It's heading
straight north for Lucketts' farm, opposite
our right flank. How long did you say
they've been crossing?" He was again in