Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-13
Saint Maru's Beacon
[Contined from First PAGE. ]

ern warfare. Stuart in his report
says: THAT he instructed Hampton
and Robertson, who were opposing
Gregg, not to allow themselves 70
become heavily engaged" He also
ordered Chamhliss and Jones 10 re-
retire towards Upperville. Stuart's
first position was three miles west
of heidelberg. / will state here
that in retiring from these positions
Breathed always kept up the for
nation of sections, retiring in that
way. II we had limbered mp as
battery, with nothing todivert their
attention, they would have made IL
so warm for us that we would not
have been able TO get in position;
but with one section doing their best
to knock them out they had no time
to shell the ground that we expected
to occupy. | hope this is made plain
to the reader.
Stuart's second position was on
the west bank Of Goose creek. The
enemy was delayed at this point sew
eral hours. Gregg was reinforced
here by Buford. Stuart withdrew
to effect junction with Chambliss
and Jones, who were slowly retir-
ing before Buford's advance. AS
Buford approached Upperville, he
withdrew from in front Of Chambliss
and Jopes. moving rapidly to Gregg's
position. He thus cut of Jones and
Chambliss (having a shorter line TO
traverse) preventing them from ef-
fecting a junction with Hampton and
Jones east OF Upperville.
General Jones says in his report
Having arrived in the rear of Col.
Chaabliss' position he was found to
be retiring, aud the advance OF the
enemy was such towards Upperville
as 10 necessitate adeviation towards
the mountains. This increase of
distance rendered rapid movements
necessary. Breathed and McGreg-
or was immediately put in motion
on the road and the cavalry on the
TANKS in the fields. The batteries
approached very rapidly the eleva-
ton on which stands the house of
Capt. Gibson We found ourselves
anticipated by the enemy, who TAX
ing advantage Of his shorter line,
forced US into an engagement with
Buford's whole division. Stuart
finding the struggle unavoidable, ac-
cepted with alacrity the part forced
upon him by the enemy. But the
enemy putting his entire division
against us, it became necessary to
prevent their artillery from envel-
oping our flank. The 18th Va. made
the charge, checking the advance of
the enemy until the artillery could
cross the lane. The 7th Va. cavalry
coming up at this tine was held in
reserve. The leading squadron un-
der Capt. ii. r. T. Koontz was sent
to attack the force to the front and
left of the first position taken by our
battery. The check thus given to
the enemy enabled the artillery to
cross the road. By this time the
enemy was massed in force in our
front. The cavalry having gotten
out of the way we played with fear
full effect upon the men and horses.
The punishment we inflicted, to-
gether with the difficulties of the
ground, soon caused the enemy to
abandon his intention of preventing
junction of our forces at Ashby's
Gap. The difficulties of the ground
brought Col. Chambliss to the left of
Jones. The two commands retired
together as soon as the pressure was
removed. Gregg in the meantime
was pushing his advance upon Up
perville, Robertson holding the fields
and roads north of the town. One
Of Robertson's regiments became
confused as he was passing through
the town, but the conduct of Hamp-
ton s brigade more than settled the
imaginary fright of Roberson's req
iment;. AS the enemy pressed Rob
ertso6, Hampton threw the JEFF Da-
Wis Legion on his flank, which made
Gregg more cautious IN his advance.
Gen. Hampton gives an excellent
description OF this action. He saws
in part:
We repulsed the enemy, who
threw fresh regiment on the right
OF the Legion. l called up the right
wing of the 1st N. @. cavalry five
companies) under 1t. Col. Gordon
afterwards Brig. GeneraD and in
turn charged. Another regiment
charged the N. G. cavalry, when
Col. Baker with the remaining s CON-
panies struck them upon their TANKS.
Baker was charged by fresh regi-
ment. Then l put in the Cobb La.
gion, OF Ga, and broke the attacking
party. The Cobb Legion was again
attacked, and again with the Jeff
Davis Legion l turned their flank