Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-04-20

Il
the cavalry during the war. TIL
night was dark and calm; the dark
ness could be almost felt, so mucl
so that we had to travel b,
sound. No prominent object mark
ed the entrance to the ford on eth
er side, but horse followed hors,
through nearly q mile of water
which often covered the saddle O
the riders. Where the current wa:
strong the line would be uncon
sciously born down the stream 81
far as 70 cause danger of missing the
ford, when some bold rider woulG
advance from the opposite shore anC
correct the alignment. Every en-
durance and skill were taxed to the
utterm0st. but the crossing was
effected, and so silently that tho
nearest neighb0rs we're not aware
o. our presenceuutilflaylizht. Pos
session was Immediately taken OF the
canal which constituted one OF the
lines of supply for Hooker's army,
some containing troops were cap.
tured and the canal broken.
After the arduous work of the night
rest was ABSOLUTELY necessary, es-
pecially for the artillery horses, as
they were very much jaded and
wornout. Weremained near the canal
until nearly 10 A. NJ, when we took
up our line OF march for Rockville.
Md, 10 miles distant. Hampton
moved by the left flank, via Darnes-
town. and on arriving at Rockville
found 1t In possession OF the enemy.
Hampton charged them, sending
them down the Georgetown Pike a
flying. When Stuart reached Rock.
vile with Fitz Lee aud Chambliss
1t was abut z Pm. While halting
to destroy the telegraph line and 10
get the supplies for his men and
horses he received information to
the effect that large wagon train
was approaching from the direction
OF Georgetown. 1t. Thos Lee, of the
2nd 5. G. cavalry, and only men
dashed among the wagons. routing
the small force that was guarding
the train. Some of the wagons i'm
mediately faced TO the rear, execut-
ing the movement so nicely that IL
would have brought the blush of
shame to the face of any old team
ster on the plains. / have often
heard it said by old teamsters that
| have met out west on the plains
that they could turn a six mule wa
gon on a tin plate, but the move
ments of those demoralized and
stampeded teamsters came nearer
executing that movement than any
thing / had ever seen. The whole
train OF wagons, 146, and all of the
mules, $50, were afterwards turned
over to the Chief Quartermaster of
the army at Gettysburg, July 3rd,
1863. Stuart was delayed in Rock
vile by the prisoners captured, Mai.
Jas. G. Duanne and Capt. N. Mich
Ter, of the Engineer Corps, u. S. A,
being two of the most prominent.
and 400 others. They were ali
paroled individually, but notwith-
standing these paroles the Federal
Authorities at Washington refused
TO recognize the paroles, returning
all Of these men for duty. While
this parole was being made Fitz
Lee moved north, with Breathed's
battery, towards the b. SO. r. R.,
reaching there shortly after day
light of the 10Th. Much time was
consumed in tearing up to track at
Hood s Mill, destroying the bridge
at Sykesville and thetelegraph lines.
This was throughly done and the
last link between Meade and Wash
ington was broken. Stuart now
pressed on towards Westminster,
Md. Fitz Lee in front with Breath.
ed, Chambliss guarding both TANKS,
Hampton bringing up the rear OF the
captured wagons. We reached West
minister about 5 p. NJ. OF the same
day, the 29th, where we ran into the
1st Delaware cavalry under Major
N. B. Knight, who were guarding
the r. r. station with two companies.
This resistance was quite spirited.
lasting only short while, the ene-
my retiring on the Baltimore pike
with loss Of SO men out of95. The
4th Va. lead this encounter, losing
two ofits officers, Its. Pierre Gibson
and j. M. Murray. Gen. Stuart SAYS
in his report that the ladies of the
town begged permission TO be al
lowed TO take charge of the obse-
quies, and the request was granted. {"
/ have but recently recently ascer-
tanned from q lady Of Westminster,
who viewed the remains after they
were laid out, that both officers were
buried in the churchyard OF Ascen-
sion, p. Z. Church, After the war
the friends of 1t. Gibson removed
his remains TO Va, but that the body
of 1t. Murray still quietly rests In
the little churchyard where he was
SO tenderly laid TO rest by the noble
women Westminster. God bless the
Southern women Of Maryland. How
many sacrifices did they make, even
when the doors Of the Yankee pris-
ons were open to receive them. "Of
such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
Stuart took advantage of the friend.
ly disposition of the people and sup
piled his men and horses with an
abundance OF forage and provisions.
He proceeded in the direction of Un-
ion Mills. on the road TO Hanover.
While at Westminster several of the
boys of the battery thought they
would regale themselves with a
square meal, but while enjoying it
the lst Delaware returned TO town
and broke up the feast, capturing
Serst. Sterling Murray. Il was q
long time before the Judge indulged
In another square meal, as he spent
quite time by the sea at Pt. Look
out, where square meals were un-
known to its visitors. Stuart rested
at Union Mills that night Here he