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

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and for that reason we halted. Stuart
had great consideration for his PETITE
horse artillery. Thss were destined TO
bring him out OF many a close place by
their determined and bulldog fighting.
We had hardly left TuEstall Station when
Gen. Emory. oi the c. s. A, with Rush's
Laneers and Gen. j. E. Reynold brigade
OF iniaatry came in sight of the station.
StuaTt--the wide-awake Stuart-had ta-
ken wings aud flown away, leaving his
parsuefs saekiag their thumbs in disgust.
notwithstanding the proximity Of the
fAsp iorres they made no attempt to fol-
isss - tishsssiags perhaps that In that
partieular ease discretion was the better
part OF yaIor. Ut midnight OF June 13
Stuart resumed his march in the direc-
ton OF the Chickahominy river. Forge
Bridge, miles distant, Col. W. III. ii.
Lee with his regiment. the 9th Va. be-
ing in the advance. The Colonel was
| deeply interested in this expedition, as
his beautiful MANSION (the White House)
on the Pamuuky river was occupied by
Mcclellan "a headquarters, and his farm
trodden under foot by the Yankee van
dals. Not fence or tree was left on the
place, nothing but treeless plain met
the eyes of the Colonel when he again
looked upon his once beautiful and fertile
plantation. When Mcclellan retired and
changed his base the house was burned.
nothing being LETT except the two tall
chimneys as monuments To the vandal.
ism of the Yankee hordes. They denied
the burning OF this house, thereby add
Ing the sin OF lying TO their other numer-
Gus vices. When we reached Forge Bridge
day was just beginning to dawn. The
recent rains had swollen the streams be-
yoDd precedent. The angry waters
rushel AoEg seemingly mocking at the
weary horsemen. Col. Fitz Lee, with few
o. his men, attempted to cross by swim
ming. bat had to return, a. they were
in imminent peril of being swept away
Anxiety at this time was depicted on the
faces Of everyone of these dusty and be-
grimed rebels There we stood. with
the turbulent stream in our front and
McClellan's mighty hosts in blue in our
rear, expecting every moment to be
pounced upon 10y the Federal cavalry
In my Imagination | could almost see
tne hitewashei stockades at Point
Lookout ana all oi the horrors and saf-
/ ferings contained within that heil-hole.
i 4 hrisdI e. .nz,sxo.sl yseIf ta.thefact that we
were goners; 1.-THE sequel proved the con-
| traryl in fact, our chances seemed excel
lentfor such an undesirable condition of
Things. The battery and n squadron
from that old reliable and always to be
| depended upon lst Va cavalry were or
dered to position about J. mile from the
ford to protect at all hazards the COM
mand At ths ford from being surprised.
| We had determined To III OUR lives dear
! ly. and 10 resist with our utmost endea-
vOrs any attempt - drive eur command
from the lDri. Fortunately we were not
attacked, as | am positive some one
would have been hurt in the melee that
would have followed. Gen. Stuart nat
urdily became very much alarmed at the
danger his command was in. lie dis
patched Corp oral Turner Darrell To Gen.
Lees headquarters in Richmond, inform
ing him oi his situation and the atten-
dant danger Having ascertained from
one OF Co. +. Och Va. Cavalry, that there
was the remains oi an old bridge about
1 mile below the ford, where the road
from Providence Forge to Charles City
{. ii. crosses the river. he abandoned the
attempt 70 cross at Christians Ford
moving his command To the ford below.
| \ large abandoned warehouse. or barn.
stood near al hand. 1t took but a short
space of time to tear this old building to
pieces and construct a crossing on the
old piers that were standing. Troopers
never worked more willingly or more
rapidly than on that occasion. Ii was
either to build the bridge or go To some
vile Yankee prison. We chose the first
alternative. Capt Edmond Burke and
Corp. Henry Hagan, of Gen. Stuart's
staff, had charge OF the work. Ina very
short space Of time fDOt-way was con-
sEructed and the cavalry passed over in
safety hplljng TIE brides Of their horses
az they swan by their sides About half
OF the command was sent over in this
manner Within three hours the bridge
was realy for the rest Of the cavalry
and Pe'ham's section OF artillery. by
p. al of the command had crossed
without any Interference from the enemy.
/ Once or twice small parties oitheir ea val
~ made their appearance, but kept ut a
safe distance We were now within 80
miles of richmond and 20 os those miles
were in the euemy's lines Until we had
passed that distance We could not feel
sale. Federal gunbOats were in sight of
the Charles City rosd that we were march
ing on. We proceeded on our way, reach
ing Charles City C. II. Passing through
that village, we eDcamped at Burkland,
the residence of Col J. NJ. Wilcox. For
36 hours we had been in the saddle con-
. tinuousiy The remainder of the day was
given To rest and sleep. At sunset Gen.
. Stuart turned his command over to Col.
FIrz lee. with or iers To resume the march
. TO Richmond at IL y. N. Taking with
| MIN one courier and FrazieT. his trusted
a -. n