Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-06-15


by Gen. Lee 10 proceed 10 s1oney
Greek and intercept Wilso y no
was returning from his expeati0n.
Gen. Hampton states in bis port:
Il moved rapidly ia the dire pn in
dicated with my division. each-
ed Stouey Greek Depot, WNere
found Chambliss. In the m<11stime
Fitz Lees division and Brfkfhed d
battery had been semitic Reael s Sta
tion by direct orders from G<n. L.ee.
Hampton, having ascertain41 from
his scouts what road the enemy
were marching on, made arrange
ments to receive them by giving
battle in the neighborhood o5 5apony
Church as soon as they came in
sight. Soon after crossing fapony
Greek the enemy was enc, tered
aud vas forced back bs fiilant
charged of the 9Th Va. cavalry and
compelled to take shelter behind
the Church. He occupied a strong
position with dismounted men and
succeeded in checking the charge OF
Chambliss. Chambliss then dis
mounted his men and formed line
near the Church. Being heavily at
tackled, the 7th Va. cavalry was
brought into action to reinforce
Chambliss. The whole Yankee line
was repulsed. Young's brigade was
then dismounted and put in position.
Lieut.-COl. Crawford, commanding the
Holcombe Legion brought 200 of his
command to join Hampton. He was
placed in the centre, and with this line
the position was maintained. The Yanks
made attacks all night, but made no
headway and the fire Of their batteries
becoming very annoying, two guns of
the Rockbridge Artillery were placed i'm
position. These guns were well handled
aud did excellent service Theenemy had
thrown up two lines of breastwO Orks, so
that they could not he attacked in front.
Buffers and Rossers brigades were sent
against the enemy's left flank At the
same time Chambliss advanced the whole
line to- the front. The assault was sue
cessful. The enemy was driven from his
strong position, leaving his dead and
wounded on the field. Hampton follow
ed them closely for about miles. Find
ing they had taken the road to Ream's
Station he marched, via StOney Creek
Depot, in order to get on another road to
intercept them in case they should at
tempt to cross below Ream's Station.
Butler was sent to Malone's crossing and
the other brigades were ordered to oc-
cupy the roads leading into the Halifax
road. Hampton moved up, Chambliss
following Butler, and soon after crossing
Rowanty Creek the advance of the enemy
was met. The enemy struck the Halifax
road between Butler and Chambliss.
This batch of the enemy was charged and
scattered, when another squad was re-
ported crossing the same road at Perkins
House. A portion of the 18th Va. Cav
airy met them and drove them back
LIT. Col. Phillips pushed on, getting pos
session of the bridge over Rowanty Greek.
Another portion of the enemy had taken
road leading east. Col. Beale of the
9th Va. Cavalry with two squadrons
went in persuit, following them four
miles, scattering them and capturing a
number of them. The enemy was com
pletly routed and the fragments of his
command were seeking safety i'm fight in
every direction. They scattered through
the woods, and night coming on further
pursuit was abandoned. General Hamp-
ton on the morning of the Both received
a dispatch from Gen. Fitz Lee, stating
that he had captured wagons, prisoners,
artillery, in fact, everything on wheels
lie thought the enemy would try and
cross the railroad at Jarret's depot.
Hampton moved his division rapidly in
that direction, and when getting almost
miles from the depot his scouts report
ed that they had crossed about five hours
previously. Hampton then endeavored
to. reach Peters Bridge, but though he
made a rapid march he found on reaching
the bridge that the enemy had passed
about two hours ahead of him. Had
there have been proper communication
between Hampton and Fitz Lee there
could not have been any trouble in cnt-
| ting of Wilson 3 command from the rail-
road. The trouble was in this way ::
Each division commander after the death
| of Stuart received orders direct from Gen.
X. +, Lee. In this instance HAMPTON
was in the vicinity of Saphony Church,
with Fitz Lee on the right at or near
| Ream Station, on the road leading to
| Stoney Greek. Hampton had not heard
word from Fitz Lee for three days.
The consequence was there was no con-
certed action, because there was no di-
recting hand ON the ground. IL that
greatest of Cavaliers, j. +. B. Stuart, had
been alive and in command of that expe-
dition, with his keen eye and conception
Of what the enemy plans were, he would
have kept himself posted of their every
movement and would have disposed his
command in such a manner that the firm
of Wilson L Kantz would had never
reached Grants lines; except as 4chang-
ed prisoners ofwar Fitz Lee and Breath
ed were at Ream Station, the battery un-
limbered at the crossing awaiting patti
emily the appearance of these Dutch
smOke-house plumbers and negro stealers
to give them a warm reception OF the
horse artillery kind, and of which many
Of that command had experienced before.
| On June 29th kautz reached the station
to find himself confronted with G. s.
Troops. The brigades of Mahone's in
fantry opened on them with great effect,
| destroying their formation, sending them
back cn the Hicksford road. Fitz Lee
Immediately threw his division on their
left flank, the battery indulging in chance
| shots, advancing a section at a time.
They kept up such a rapid pace that we
could not do more than give them ran
dom shots from time to time. When the
enemy came in sight Of Ream Station,
FitZ Lee had his division dismounted, but
after the first attack, they remained
mounted during the rest Of this engage
ment. The enemy took to the woods.
with F;tz Lee a good second charging
them until they reached Stony Greek,
capturing all of their artillery. These
raiders had with them about 200 negroes
whom they forced to leave their old
homes and firesides, where they had been
raised, under the tempting promise OF 40
acres and a mule with a white man to
drive the plow. Every buggy, carriage
or family conveyance of all kinds were
impressed, for the purpose of transport