Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-02-09

into camp near Middletown. While
these movements were 10 progress
ID. 81. Hills division Of infanty bad
moved through Ashby GAP and was
now encamped in the Vicinity o.
Paris Gap and UppervilIe. On the
following morning Stuart 5 command
was disposed so as to cover the front
of Hills. Pickets coming In with
the information that the enemy were
advancing upon Philmouf Stuart
moved through Unioc Il him.
We met the advance about midway
between Union and Philmont, and
in the skirmishing that ensued our
lines ad sanced to Philmont. Stuart
retired at nightfall, in order to feed
his men and horses, but resumed his
line OF battle the next morning, Nov.
End. Stuart bad in his front the
morning of the End the End cavalry
brigade, consisting Of 6 regiments
OF cavalry. and Doubleday s End bri-
gade of infanty and Pennington s
battery OF horse artillery. one of the
best, if not very best. in the Federal
army. We had met this battery on
many hotly contested field of battle.
Stuart's force at this time did not
exceed 1000 men. l cannot better
describe the service of our battery
on this occasion, as well as on other
fields of battle, than by quoting from
that most excellent book entitled
"Stuartand his Campaigns, written
by that soldier and gentleman MA
ior Fl. B. Mcclellan, Stuart's chief
of staff and Asst. Adj. Gen. McClel-
Ian says: "The successful resis-
tance which Stuart was enabled to
oppose tothe Federal advance was In a
great measure due to the skillful
handling of his artillery. Twospir-
its more congenieal that Stuart and
the gallant Pelham never met on the
field of battle. Stuart's fondness
for the use Of artillery was almost
excessive; Pelham s skill in its man.
agementamounted to genius. Stuart
and Pelham impaired to the horse
artillery an independency ofacsion
and celerity of movement which
characterized it to the end of the
war, and which was nowhere equal
led or initiated. The achievements
of the horse artillery are worthy of a
Geparate record and of the careful
attention of military, men," Leaving
the battery in position in front of
Philmont, now take grea: plea
sure in quoting from Gen. Stuart S
report OF that affair, giving in detail.
what it would impossible for me
(an humble soldier in the oattery)
20 know:
Genl. Stuart states, that "about 8
o clock a. m., the enemy began to
deploy in our 'ront both infantry
ano cavalry witn 10 pieces of artil-
lery. Our dispositions were made
to receive them by posting the horse
artillery advantageously, and the
cavalry dismounted behind tie stone
fences which were here very numer-
Gus, and consequently afforded as
good protection to the enemy as IL
did TO US. Having to watch all of
my avenues leading to my rear my
effective force was very much di-
minished, but the Stuart horse ar
tiilery under the Incompatible Pei
ham aud his able Lieut., Breathed,
supported by the cavalry sharp
shooters, made gallant and obsti-
nate resistance, maintaining their
ground for the greater part of the
day, both suffering heavily, one of
our caissons exploding from the ene-
my's shot. It was during this en-
gagement that Major Pelham con-
Quoted one of Breathed s howitzers, .
some distance beyond our support
to a neighboring bill and opened a
masked FIRE upon body Of the ene-
my's cavalry in the valley below,
putting them to flight, capturing
their flag, their arms, equipments
and horses, as well as some prison
ers, sustaining in this extraordinary
feat no loss whatever. The enemy
finally enveloped our position with
his superior numbers. both infantry
and cavalry. so as to compel our
withdrawal. But every hill top and
every foot of ground was disputed
so that the enemy made progress OF
less than q mile during the day.
The enemy were held at bay until
dark at Leaton's Hill, which they as
sailed with great determination, but
were each time driven back by the
murderous fire and we'll directed
shots of the battery, Major Pelham
directing one shot himself at the
color bearer Of an infantry regiment,
striking him down at q distance oi
800 yards. At night we bivouaced
at Upperville.
Returning TO where / Ileftod. when
| 81 would like 20 add In this connection thai
| &. r9t grerffu9 Murray Wae In charge n rhts