Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-11

who retired towards warrenton. Lo
max had sent a messenger to Smart
who failed to reach him. Evening was
now upon us and Stuart with his com.
mand was In a piece of woods, with two
corps OF Federal infantry on each flank.
Stuart made a slight reconnisance, which
revealed the fact that he was surrounded
and that any attempt at that time to
force his way through their lines would
prove unsuccessful. I viii quote Major
Mcclellan, who was on eye witness az
the chief OF staff OF Gen. j. E. b. Stuart,
and who has recorded these events In his
magnificent work entitled The life and
Campaigns q Major General James Ew-
ell Brown Stuart:
Stuart hesitated not a moment. With
all Of his fondness for attack he
knew when to remain quiet as well an to
act. Every available staff officer was
employed in withdrawing the command
from the road TO the field. On its north
ern side the advance and rear guards
were drawn in with orders, ON no ac-
count to return the enemy's fire. As il by
magic the roads were cleared of horse
men, artillery and ambulanees. Dark
ness found US snugly sheltered beneath
the hills which raised their friendly erests
between US and danger. How thankful
we were for these hills How thankful
for darkness. An hour ofday light would
have wrought our destruction, for even
with Lomax's assistance on the opposite
side, passage of the difficult ford would
have been impossible i'm the face of War
ren's Corps, and in no other direction
could we look for assistance. Theenemy
enclosed US in front and rear aud on our
left was a forest, on our right mill
race. Breathed was posted upon thecrest
of q hill which overlooked the ford and
in 300 yards Of the road, along which
the enemy was marching. Nothing now
remained but to watch, wait and keep
quiet. Quiet? Yes; the men kept quiet
as they had never done before, for they
realized that even Stuart never before
had been in such a tight place. But many
times did we fear that We would be be
trayed by the weary, hungry mules of the
ordnance train. Men were stationed at
the head of every team, but in spite ofall
precautions u discordant bray would
every now and then fill the air. Never
was the voice of a mule so harsh, though
not without an admixture of the ludi-
erouds. Those were anxious hours.
This was the only occasion i'm which
have ever seen Stuart give outward mani
festations of his deep concern. So close
were we to the marching columns of the
enemy that we could hear the voice of
the men in conversation, and could dis
tinguish between the passage OF wagons
and artillery by the noise of the wheels.
Through the whole night and almost
without interruption did we listen to the
sound which arose from their camp.
Many were the plans of relief discussed
and suggested. At Gne time it was pro-
posed to abandon the artillery and wag-
ons, mass the cavalry and override all
opposition, break away through the
marching columns. But Stuart would
not listen to a plan which involved the
loss of a single gun or wheel. This might
be adopted as a last resort. Stuart:.still
had hope, that Gen. Il. L. Lee would at
tack this column, i'm which case he was
in the best position to inHict damage.
And so the night wore on. No break oc-
cured by which it might have been pos
sible TO move. Our main hope lay i'm the
expectation that the rear of the enemy
would have passed our position by dawn,
or would have left the vicinity of War
renton Junction so as to admit of de-
tour i'm that direction. Should this fail
we had an abiding faith and confidence
that Gen. r. +. Lee would send reinforce
ments to us. Stuart had taken measures
to inform him Of our situation. As day
began to dawn it was manifest that a
collision of some kind was unavoidable,
Between US and the ford large body of
infantry had halted, stacked arms and
were preparing their breakfast. Our
guns were pushed a little further on the
crest OF the hill, 30 as to fully command
the opposite camp, and then we waited.
As soon as it became light the in
fantry began to straggle in search OF
water, and some of them approached
SO near that they could not fail to
recognize the Confederate States uniform.
A few shots next to the warrenton side In
formed US that some one had commenced and
In an instant our guns were raining shells and
canister upon the eneay. Never were men
more completely surprised. Soon they recov-
cred themselvessand q regiment or more were
moved up In line Of battle. without skirmish-
eFs. directly upon our guns But our IRE was
more than they could stand. Their line Of
battle sunk from sight below the crest Of the
hill and was seen no more. Our left flank was
our weak point. It extended across the road
10 Catlet's Station. A strong attack was made
upon this flank Col. Ruppin Of the lst N. @.
led his regiment I'm q charge. He rode over q
strong line Of skirmishers, most OF whom sur.
rendered, but his charge was broken by close
line of battle beyond. His men returned and
r~srmed for another attack, but left behind
their dead. The enemy . advance was checked
and seizing q favorable opportunity the artiI-
lery and wagons were Withdrawn from the
hills. and passing In rear OF the enemy's posi-
don the whole command was extricated from
its position. Gen. Stuart had expected that he
would be aided oy Q vigorous movement of
our troops from warrenton. and had hoped
that the combined assaults would infiict Sc
rious damage upon the enemv and perhaps
bring upon q general engagement between the
fxo arpsez Gan Lea had he,en fullr tnfowxv,