Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-02-09
Written for the Beacon.)
Pelham-B -Breathed Battery.
By Fl. Fl. MATHEWS.
From the Valley
To fredericksburg.
BIZ Fl. Fl. MATHEWS.
PART VII.

Only two days Of rest was allowed
our battery, when we again had to
take the field. The Federals seem
ed TO have the idea that Lees whole
army was in the valley Of Va. and
in order to ascertain that fact two
strong columns of the enemy were
sent into the valley at daylight Of
the 18th of October. These two
columns advanced upon US, one from
Shepherdstown to Smithfield, under
Brig. General A. Humphreys, the
other under Brig. General W. S. Han
cock from Harper:s Ferry to Charles
town. The advance OF General
Humphreys was opposed by Gen.
Stuart in person with Fitz Lees
brigade and Pelham's battery. At
Kearneysville, 6i miles from Shep-
herdstown, Stuart was reinforced
by Winder's brigade Of infantry.
which happened to be at that point
engaged in destroying the r. r. At
about sunset we attacked the enemy
with cavalry, infantry and artillery.
We had stubborn fight, lasting
until three, in which we succeeded
in driving Humphreys from his
stronghold. Every piece of the bat
terry was brought into requisition,
in order TO keep the Federal bat
teries from paying too much attention
to our cavalry. On the following
day Hampton rejoined our command,
Gen. Stuart in the meantime cover
ed Humphreys movements so closely
that ne did not dare to make an ad-
vance. Gen. Mcclellan having as
that Lee was still in the
valley, crossed on Oct. 26th below
Harper's Ferry with two divisions
of infantry and Pleasauton s cavalry,
pushing back the Confederate pick
cts east of the mountains as far as
Gap. By the End OF Nov.
all of his army had crossed and ad-
vancing into the interior OF Va.
Stuart being always on the alert, was
advised Of this movement of Nc
Clellan, and while Lees army was
preparing to march, he crossed the
mountains into Loudon county by
the way of Snickersville with Fitz
Lees brigade and Pelham's entire
battery. Major Pelham received his
commission about this time as Major
of horse artillery, still retaining
command OF the. battery, as Breath ned
did not receive his commission as
Captain until later on. General Fitz
Lee having been disabled before the
battle of Antietam and Col. W. 81. +.
Lee being also disabled at Boons-
boro, the command OF the brigade
developed upon Col. W. c. Wickam,
of the 4th Va. cavalry. The brigade
had been reduced TO half its num-
bers, owing to the grease heel that
had become an epidemic, consequent
ly the gallant old brigade did not
number more than one thousand
men. The battery had reduced their
number of horses from 6 to q gun to
4. We sent our sick horses and es-
taolished horse hospital near Gull
pepper c. II. in charge of l. cut. Feb
rey. On the night of Oct. Both the
brigade encamped at Mountsville,
where the Snickersville pike eros
sed Goose CreeG. Z companies of
the 1st Rhode Island cavalry had
established picket post there.
Stuart determined TO break this nest
up. Accordingly on the morning of
the 3lst, Stuart, with the 9th Va.
cavalry under the gallant Lieut.. Col.
Chambliss, supported by the 3rd
Va. under Col. Owens, approached
Mountsville by an unfrequented
road, surprising the party and cap
turing their camp and driving the
whole party into rapid flight. We
captured 80 prisoners, killing and
wounding quite anumber. The Bird
Va. cavalry continued pursuit as far
as Aldie, where it encountered Bay
ards brigade of cavalry, consisting
ofthe 1st N. j., End n. Y, 10th N. Y,
lst Pa. and Writings Co. of Wash
ington, D. c., and a battery of ST.
gle's artillery. A Aconflict took place
between the head of Stuart 5 cavalry
and Bayard's squadron, in which
the enemy gave away. retiring to
their artillery posted on the hills
east on the town of Aldie. Up to
this time the battery had not been
able to keep up with the cavalry,
owing to the rapidity of their move
ments and the roughness of the
ground they had to travel over. but
it came up during the earlier
party of the engagement at Aldie,
more than making up for the few
moments they lost in the beginning
of this melee. Weimmediately went
into action. and although a superior
force of cavalry and artillery oppos-