The National tribune., 1904-04-28
BEVERLY FORD.
The Third Corps Helps the Cavalry Surprise
Jeb Stuart and Give Him Rough House.

Jeb Stuart and Give Him Rough House.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRiBUNE: Many in
teresting stories of enga gements and add
ventures appear in The National Tribune,
but it is seldom that mention is made of
the Third Corps. In unfading letters
should he written the story of the combat
on Round Tops rocky crest, at Gettys-
burg, where Gen. Daniel +. Sickles, the
gallant commander, lost a leg.
| was enrolled as Sergeant in Co. 4.
Seth \. Y. Inf. Aug. -. 1861, and le-
enlisted, Dee. 10, 1868, in the field at
Brandy Station. | was discharged June
-, 1865. at Washington. Participating III
nearly all of the hardfought battles in
which my regiment was engaged. l was
wounded three times. Benjamin l.. Hig-
gins, for II years chief of the Syracuse.
y. ", Fire Department. was my first
Captain. He was mustered out. -. ~
The comrades of the Third Corps. wear
ing the blue diamond badge, We're the
heroes of more than 100 battles.
Lee had begun his movement toward
Pennsylvania, and his cavalry chieftain,
Stuart. was ready to cross the Rappahan-
mock at Beverly Ford. Unexpectedly.
however, be was forced 10 fight a battle
in which more blood was shed than i'm all
of Skaters engagements i'll Cuba.
At nightfall June s. 1863. the Third
Corps leaving its encampment at Fal-
that point just before daylight. A dense
fog hung over the river. We were order
ed to rest on our arms. no fires being
permitted. Soon thereafter the 14th Pa
Cav. crossed the stream. followed by the
Third Division of the Third Corps, the
division being about 1000 strong.
The surprise Of Stuart was complete.
Our cavalry dashed into his camps, seat
tering his advanced battalions. Their
tents were left standing. and the cooks
had hastily abandoned their preparations
for breakfast. Later in the day we. saw
mounted officers and men who wore No
other uniform than white undertaking.
They We're also bare-headed and bare
footed. They were. however. we'll armed.
Among papers that were scattered around
in profuson | found Lees General Or
ders to his army. From them we learned
that Hooker had been outwitted: that he
was Eopelessly in the rear. while Lee. I'M
opposed. was marching nortEward In his
orders Lee en- oined perfect discipline. de
claring that depredators would be severely
punished.
Soon after securing Gen. Lees officia
paper | encountered a rebel who gave hi,
an unkind cut-a stroke on the head thai
temporarily put me out of active service.
Even now that wound staggers me. Soon
recovering from my hors de combat con-
dition l resumed my place in the skirmish
spread ont, fan-shaped. in n heavy skirm-
iSh line, charging the enemy with fixed
ba yonets and also blazing away with oilr
old Enfields. The country thereabout was
heavily timbered, unfayorab BILE for a cav
airy charge. The reader will please bear
in mind that | am writing of movements
Of the Third Division. Brighten. Terry
commanding. l had no time nor opportu-
nifty to know what was being done by
other troops. | know, however. that they
were kept busy.
In the early morning surprise Stuart
very nearly lost his artillery. He soon,
however rallied his veteran troopers and
formed formidable line OF battle. Wade
Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee being his re
liable coadjutors. The rebel batteries
did a great deal of terrific Smelling. and
if there were any troops behind us they
must have suffered. Our little battery.
the 9Th n. u, think. was conspicuous,
active and efficient. Stuart finally charged
us in solid line OF battle, pressing us in
front and oil both TANKS. Being unsup
ported, and our ammunition failing. we
were forced back. Our dead and wounded
in large numbers lay on the field. and
fresh troops Of cavalry charging on open
ground threatened TO cut us off from our
line of retreat. There were many notable
displays OF individual heroism. / mention
one: A comrade having been badly wound
ed, Corporal Hough. of Co. A. fine.
strong fellow, attempted TO carry him II
the rear. Just then the enemy charged
upon him, he fighting them as an animal
at bay. A moment later our line rallied
and recovered the ground from which it
had been driven. Hough's dead body,
bearing seven mortal wounds. lay beside
his dying comrade, surrounded by fallen
foes.
Even now I hear that shrill Confed-
crate cheer. We are a handful of blood
stained, powder-blac kened, defeated men.
making last effort to escape impending
capture. Hampton has the little battery
in his grasp. A shot from one of his
guns strikes the ground OH which our bat
terry stands, and bounds into space. Mar
velously. the New York artllerists evadc
destruction. Turning their little guns upon
the confident rebels. they fire them rapid
ly. and accurately. They drive Hampton
tons cavalry and his Napoleon guas down
the hill, and out of sight. All this. how
ever, is unavailing. We are within the
tolls; Hampton has made a circuit. ana.
We are within the circl". Beverly F~"l
Il mi!r distant. Good by. w are inu' /
for Eichm o.d--, erclia;e" .im,ls'rs.,:ivi'l
Presto charge! Behind The dark Il Il!
the sun had been Still shining. Sudlen,y
we hear the booming Of cannon far to