Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-09-12

dams expedition :" would have
been a totally barren one but for
the shot that laid low the gallant
Stuart, in whose death the Army
of Northern Virgins suffered an
irreparablc loss. "
JOHN w. DANIEL.
FIGHT AZ YELLOW TAVERN.
The movement that had for its
most important result, the fight at
Yellow Tavern, began on Nav :,
1864, when General Sheridan with
drew from the Army of the Poto-
mac then near Spotsylvania Court
house. ms command of cavalry and
artillery, numbering about 10000
men, and moved to the neighbor-
hood of fredericksburg, where he
/ bivouacked for the night. The
following morning he started on a
raid which had for its objects the
destruction of supplies that had
been gathered on the line of the
Virginia Central Railroad for the
Army of Northern Virginia, the
breaking up Of General Lees line
OF communication, and demon
stratlon against Richmond.
Information of the movement
quickly reached General Lee. and
General Stuart was ordered in pur-
suit, with a force consisting of
Fltz. Lees division Oomax's and
Wickham's brigades) and the bri-
gadc of General Gordon
General Stuart moved with his
usual swiftncss and overlook the
enemy'S rear guard at JarralS' :
Mill. where brisk fight occurred
Here Sheridan left tho old Tcle-
graph road and moved to Beaver
/ Dam Station. where a small GUAM
tity of army supplies was destroy
ed. and where Stuart again deliv-
cred sharp and effective blow.
From Beaver Dam Station Sheridan
marched by way Of Negro Foot 10
the old Mountain road. which ex-
tends from Charlottesville to Rich-
mondandunites near Yellow Tavern
with the old Telegraph road. which
comes up from Fredericksburg.
sIIERIDAN'S BLUNDFR.
If Sheridan seriously contem-
plated an attack on Richmond.
this change in his line of march
was a blunder. rs it gave General
Stuart undisputcd possessian of the
interior line and the opportunity
to intercept him. bysway Of the
Telegraph Road, at Yellow Tavern.
This opportunity General Stuart
quickly availed himself Of Send
ING General Gordon 10 harass
/ Sheridan 5 rear. he marched Fit.
Lees division, with great rapidity.
to Hanover Junction, reaching that
point about II O'Clock on the niobt
of the 10th. Here he bivouacked
for two hours, to give men and
horses a much needed rest. At 1
lo'olock on the morning Of the 18th
the bugle sounded. and the com
mand mounted and the march 10
Yellow Tavern was resumed. This
march was made, in the main. at
gallon, for a part of the time
a brisk trot, but no time at a walk.
BY this pressing haste General
Stuart reached Yellow Tavern.
with the brigade of General Lomox
about 10 o'clock.
Wickham's brigade had been de-
iayed near Ashland TO investigate
reported movement of the enemy
toward General Stuart's line of
march.
GOT THERE AIIEAD OF SHERIDAN.
General Stuart reached Yellow
Tavern, with about 500 men, two
hours in advance of Sheridan,
whose rear, as was shown by the
booming of the cannon, was being
pressed by the gallant Gordon.
About u O'Clock the enemv's
advance appeared on his front, and
General Stuart at once disposed his
command for the fight. He had
been informed by General Bragg.
them in command of the fortifca-
tons around Richmond. that he
was able to repel any attack on the
city, and being relieved of anxiety
for the safety of the Confederate
capital. he moved his men aIono
the Telegraph Road to a point
about half mile from Yellow
Tavern, and there established
the left of his line, which was
extended northwardly along the
road. BY this a junction of Wick