Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-18
tWiftea for Ae Beaeon.)
Pelham -Breathed Battery.


Winter Of 1868 and sprinx of
1854 including the CharIotts-
willie Raid.
After fhe close of the Bristol campairn
the army retired to Culpeper C. II. and
encamped ON the o. & A. R.R. The cav
AIRY held the fords along the Rappahan-
mock river n usual. The Federal army
prior TO Nov. 7th began TO show SIGNS
OF unrest. Our scouts reported that they
we're making preparations for move.
On - 7th 81 Nav. they forcesi passage
nt Kelly > lord and IS tie nilroad bridge.
iafiicting serious los on the infantry who
were at thelatter place. Generl Lees dow
" retired before Meade's advance to the
south bank Of the Rapidan, and prepar-
ations We're made TO gointo winter quar-
ters- The horse artillery battalion went
into winter quarters at or near the old
and new Rediersville roads. After re-
naming there a short while we moved
to the hills near Orange C. H., encamping
ON the road leading to fredericksburg.
subsequently we moved northwest of
the town, near the road leading to Char
louisville. General Lee was disturbed by
the Mine Run campaign. Gen. Meade
advanced on the 2Sth OF Nov. to the Con-
iederate line on the west side of Mine run.
where he entrenched. For four days the
two armys confronted each other, but on
Dec. LIST, Meade withdrew and recrossed
the Rapidan. On the 10th the horse ar
tillery moved TO point ON the Riyana
river, on road leading from Charlotts-
vile to Madison T. d., distant from Char
louisville about miles. We immediate
ly built very comfortable houses, topped
of with tents and stick chimneys. This
was the first time that we were SO CON-
fortably fixed. Our shaeks would hold
six men. We chinked the logs with mud
and chips, excluding all air. We alsocut
down immense pine trees and made them
into shingles for our old battery horses.
How dear those old horses were to us.
lt seemed they knew every man i'm the
battery, and many a night have we start
ed out on an expedition in quest OF for
ape twhen graveyards yawn) to visit
some unsuspecting Albermale farmer In
order that we might obtain some fodder,
by any means, for our dear old horses.
And when in the morning our camp was
visited by the aforesaid farmer, bent on
finding the midnight maurauders, we had
been convulsed with laughter by the in
dignant manner in which Capt. Breathed
would dismiss him, with the assurance
that the men in his battery were all gen
tlemen, and did not do such naughty
things. At the same time Bill, Breath
eds horse, was quietly nibbling on some
Of that identical fodder.
We had n most delightful camp and
made a number OF acquaintance among
the people OF the neighborhood and Char
louisville. was particularly fortunate
in the possession of some very dear friends
whom l had known for many years i'm
Georgetown, ID. G. spent many pleas
ant hour with them, and sat at their
table every Sunday enjoying rye coffee
and other weil-cooked food that a sol.
dier in camp seldom got. But our pleas
ure was brought to an abrupt end. Gen.
Custer on Feb. 2Sth with 1900 cavalry
men left Madison q. H., marching in the
direction of our camp. There was moth
ing in the wide world to stop him-no
pickets, no cavalry being in our front.
We Were in fancied security, enjoying life.
On March LIST Custer reached theerossing
OF the Rivana river. As soon as we re-
ceived information Of the enemy's prox-
unity Breathed was in the saddle. Most
Of our horses had been turned out for ex-
ercise, bat fortunately all of the men were
in camp, as it was shortly after dinner
hour. While the drivers were putting
the harness on their horses, the guns of
Breathed and Chew were unlimbered and
opened fire. A shell exploding at the
head OF Clusters command, killing and
wounding several men and horses, caused
the enemy to halt and throw out flank
ers In order TO discover our strength.
The battalion in the meantime under
Moorman had taken position on hill
about Of a mile in the rear OF our camp
and on the direct road to Charlottesville.
Guns were put in position and dismount-
ed men and wagon drivers formed in line
on this hill. presenting such bold front
that Custer believed we had a large force.
He halted, hesitated, and retreated.
Breathed and lot of his men followed
him on their hook, followed them until
they disappeared into Madison C. ii.
For this and other brilliant things that
Breathed did the ladies Of Charlottesville
presented him with handsome silk flag
We lost In the whole battalion 2 men
and 8 mules that were in the field and
could not be caught. Breathed's and
Chew's batteries lost all OF their personal
effects. was loser I'm q pan Of light
bread that had made that morning and
expected to have for supper that night.
Stuart reached us about the time Custer
was going into Madison county. Il be-
gan co rain about dark, one of thoseeold,
freezing March rains that would make a
fellow feel as II he wished the Yankees
were in the Internal regions and l in my
fathers library sitting by a red hot stove.
As the rain fell it turned into sleet. do
not remember ever having experienced
more disageeeable day. Stuart passed