Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-12-08

sAfktuto C3FaAEy. xue 3uu urI&8u
was commanded by that fearless en-.
intrepid soldier, who stood secons
70 none among the distinguished cav
Ialry officers In the old cavalry corp,
OF the Army OF Northern Virginia
"Fftz Lee" His brigade consistet
of the following regiments, who II
subsequent engagements proves
themselves the very flower Of tn,
cavalry In that grand old aogrega
ton Of brave men, the 1st Virginia
3rd Virginia. 4th Virginia, 5fh vir
Rinia, and last, but not least, the etl
Virginia cavalry. commanded by thal
ooIojer md gentleman. w. Fl. Lee
9 son Of our great leader, Genera
/ r. T. Lee.
After the battle Of Malvern Bill {
month Of inactivity followed. Pei
hams Battery did g little picke,
duty with the cavalry, being sta.
toned at Hanover c. II. II was al
this point We began 10 recruit the
battery, 1t. p. p. Johnston being
in Richmond for that purpose. We
received q number Of Marylanders,
who had been recently discharged
from the 1st Maryland Infantry upon
its term Of service having expired
They were all true and tried sold.
iers, who had distinguished them
selves on many fields of battle up 10
the time OF the mastering out of the
lst Maryland. I take great pleas.
ure In mentioning one particularly,
the gallant Dan Shanks, OF st. Ma
rvs county, Md, who. near Harris
sonburg, Va, snatched the colors of
his regiment from the hands Of the
color-sergeant before he fell to the
earth mortally wounded. He waved
fft on high, stimulating the men of
that regiment TO press forward, as
they did, driving the enemy from
the field in great confusion. We also
had TO draw on the Quartermaster
for horses, as the campaign around
Richmond and on the James had been
very severe upon our poor beasts.
We had quite number of brushes
with gunb0ats on the Charles City
roadside Of the James river, result.
ing in no casualties to our battery.
In connection with this campaign l
append the report OF Major-General
]. K. B. Stuart, dealing particular
ly with the action Of our much loved
peerless Pelham:
Captain John Pelham DISPLAYED
such signal ability as an artillerist,
such heroic example and devotion Ia
dangers and indomitableener under
difficulties In the management Of his
battery, that reluctant as I ana 20 lose
him from my command, feel bound
70 ask for his promotion, with the
remark that In either cavalry or ar
tillery no field grade is too high for
bis merit or capacity.
[Signed.] 81. E. B. STUART,
Major General. I"
On August 9th Stuart, with Fitz
Lees brigade aad Pelham's Bate
ry, started from their camp ct Han
over @. Fl via Bowling Green, TO
Front Royal, passing through that
town 10 Morse Neck, encamping at
Grace Church, p. E., on Aug. 3. On
leaving our camp the next morning
we discovered that two Federal brig
AIDES had encamped In that vicinity
on the Massaponix river, under the
command of Generals Hatch and
Gibbons, and were marching down
the Telegraph road towards the rail
road. This seemed 10 be q party OF
Yankees who were bent on destroy.
ing General Lee . communications
Stuart struck the telegraph road as
Massaponix Church, between which
place and the crossing OF the river
Po. he captured number of wagons
and struggling infantry. At the Po
river we attacked the rear guard OF
the Federal infantry and drove them
upon the main body Of their COM
mand, whose advance had been halt
ed, In order TO meet Stuart's forces
As the enemy moved against US we
retired. contesting every inch oil
ground lthe battery doing their best
as usuaO until we reached the hills
on the Nye river. Here we turned
of towards Bowling Green. The
enemy did not attempt 10 follow US,
but left US 70 60 our way In peace.
The battery was constantly engaged
that day from dawn until dark. We
fought the two batteries connected
with the two brigades Of Federal In.
fantry, giving them o very interest.
ing time. The skillful handling oI
the battery by our gifted Pelham
was remarked by ell who were with
US. In this expedition we captured
50 prisoners, IL wagons and teams
and ID cavalry horses. We lost 9
men killed a,d wounded. We re-
mained at this point (near Bowling
Green) until the 18th Of August,
when we again, with the old Fitz
Lee Brigade, moved In the direction
Of Louisa @. H.. where we halted,
filing our haversacks, which had
become very empty. We resumed
our march the next morning, the
18th, going In the direction OF Cor
louisville. At this point Stuart q
division had been augmented by the
addition Of Robertson's brigade of
cavalry, consisting Of the End Vir-
ginia. commanded bv lighting Tom
Munford; the6th Virginia, command
ed by Col. 8. p. Flournay; the 7th
Virginia, Col. w. Z. Jones; the 18th
Virginia. Major o. T. Funston, and
the 17th Virginia, Col. w. A. Hart.
man. leaving the 2nd Virginia 10
guard the fords on the upper Rap
idan. Stuart crossed the Rapidau
very early the next morning, the
10th, with Fitz Lee . and Robertson 4
brigades aud Pelham 8 battery. We
proceeded by Willis Madden's te