Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-13

anu great was his fall, my brethern
We nnd from official sources that ON
the night Of the 18th Robertson had
changed position 10 Middleber0
where he was joined by MunSord
and Chambliss. The next MORNING
Stuart's pickets were driven back
on the road east Of Middlesberg. but
did noa engage the enemy this day.
Col. Mosby captured stan officer Of
Gen. Hooker, who was conveying a
dispatch 70 Gen. Pleasenton. This
dispatch caused Stuart 10 open his
eyes and for the first time since this
movement began TO really know the
toFce In his front. This consisted
OF . very large force Of cavalry un-
der Pleasenton, In addition 10 which
was Gen. Barnes division of in
fantry, with 3 batteries of artillery.
Stuart had two small brigades OF
cavalry and two batteries OF horse
artillery-Breathed' s and Chews-
on the road from Middleberg TO Up.
perviile, and one brigade Of cavalry
and one battery on the road TO Union.
Very early on the 18th Stuart's DO.
sition on the Upperville road was
attacked by Gregg's division OF cav
airy.
The battery had just come into the
held and fought savagely against un-
told odds. Never did cannoneers
stick closer TO their pieces more
bravely than did Breathed's 8 men.
We being neara stone fence made it
more dangerous for US, as the stones
would fy in every direction when
struck by the enemy q shells. We
were in the line of an enfilading fire
from gun battery on our left, but
we stood there oil the same until our
position became so exposed TO the
battery in our front and flank that
zen. Stuart ordered US 70 change DO
sition. This movement was made
in the face Of terrific fire from PEN
nington's s celebrated battery NJ, End
U. 5. Horse. The cavalry retired
In q walk and in splendid order.
Breathed never ceased firing. While
one section was retiring the other Sec
tion Kept up murderous FIRE until
The other section took position. This
was the manner in which Breathed
always changed position when un-
der fire. Major Heros Won Borcke.
a Prussian officer serving on Stuart's
stan, received q severe wound, which
disabled him from further service In
the G. s. A. The Major was a brave
soldier and feared nothing when 60
ing with his dispatches on the line
,f skirmishers mounted on his little
sorrel. l have often watched him
and wondered how he escaped the
enemys bullets. He was q very
Iarge man and dressed SO conspicu-
ously that he could not fail to draw
The enemy's fire upon himself. He
was very fond of the battery and
when Harry Thomas or Joe Warrow
would make good shot he would
manifest his approval in his genuine
5erman way. When the Yanks would
fall like quail from the fire of our
guns it did not effect him In the least
but seemed TO please him the more.
Peace be TO his ashes"
Col. ]. J. Gregg, who commanded
the Federal advance, reported the
loss OF III men in this action. No
further attack was made on Stuart
that day. On the 18th Col. w. K.
Jones reached Stuart, taking posi-
tion at Union, LOudon county. Mum
ford moved down further 70 cover
Smokers Gap. Hampton reached
US on the 10th, after having met and
repulsed q heavy body of cavalry In
the direction of Warrenton. II was
. dangerous thing for the Yanks 10
get in Hampton's way when he had
an object In view. He usually went
thru them. Hampton took position
on the Upperville pike. Chambliss
was moved over iD front Of Union 70
strengthen the lines there. Stuart
had now 5 brigades of cavalry, but
he had TO divide them in such q way
as 70 cover the three roads leading
across the mountains. He still de-
termined TO act on the defensive, Ia
Of the heavy force of in
fantry in his front.
On Sunday morning at 8 o'clock
Pleasanton with his three grand di-
visions OF infantry, cavalry and ar
tillery moved out from Middleburg.
Buford with his three brigades ads
vanced on the road TO Union, endeav-
oring to turn Stuart's left flank. II
he bad known that Tom Muuford
was over there with the old First
brigade think be would have acted
differently and displayed more wis
dom. Gregg with his 3 brigades
supported by Vincent's brigade Of
infantry. numbering 1,545 men, ad-
vanced on the Upperville road.