The National tribune., 1907-04-18

80 '~AOAAANO AOAS1 Ds w AAAC
that hour the troops advanced to the
Long Bridge, with the 18th N. 7. at the
Col. CLIP. stone. who had been doing
such excellent work in command of the
pared aaa @ .ent :o n.s
across the bridge SO unexpectedly and
| so swiftly that tho enemy's pickets had
! no time ID ne it.
| The same promptness and success at
tended the march Of the right-hand
column across the Aqueduct Bridge.
which gained the Arlington plateau, and
| began tracing Notifications.
Col. HeintZelman led the column
across the Long Bridge. He was ac-
companied by the engineers-among
them being Capt. H. G. wright-among
detachment Of District of Columbia
cavalry, Under, Capt. Owen. which acted
as guides, II, was beautiful moon
| light night. so that everything went on
with as much convenience and certain
| ty as by day.
The right-hand column gained the
Arlington plateau, and at once began
tracing Notifications
At the first crossroads Col. Heintzel-
man halted the 25th n. Y. and the en-
gineers began the construction of what
18th n. Y. was sent to Four Mile Run.
and later the 25th n. Y. was advanced
to where Fort Albany was built. Col
Wilcox, with the list Mich. was sent on
to Alexandria to meet Ellsworth.
No opposition was encountered any
where, but two pickets were at the
bridge, who were captured, and the
people of the country knew nothing of
the presence of the troops until they
walked up in the morning.
The LIST Mich. Enters Alexandria.
The 1st Mich, under Col. Wilcox.
pushed straight down the pike for Alex
andria- aiming for the railroad depot
at the outskirts of the city. Very
strangely, the Confederates were caught
unprepared. The strangeness of this is
that they had been carefully informed
by their friends in Washington as to the
movement. One of the clerks in the
War Department, who had gone South,
returned to his old haunts, and secured
a copy of the order for the advance,
which he lost no time in communicating
to the Virginia commanders. At that
time the Confederates had the line of
the river, constituted Potomac Depart
ment." under the command of Brig
Gen. p. St. George Cooke, with head
quarters at Culpeper Court House. The
troops in Alexandria were under the
command OF Lieut.-Col. A. S. Taylor. to
whom Gen Cooke sent imperative or
Gers to hold the place unless "prest by
overwhelming and irresistible mum bers,'
when he should retire up the railroad
TO Manassas Junction, harassing the
enemy as he advanced and breaking up
the railroad q he retired.
Instead of there being thousands of
troops III Alexandria, as reports had
stated. Col. Taylor reported that he had
tgo companies of raw irish recruits"
a company from Mount Vernon and two
companies from Alexandria. beside two
companies of cavalry, III all much less
than 1000 men. not well armed. Col
Taylor vas soon succeeded in command
by Col George il. Terrett. who reports
that. having learned of the advance, heI
ordered his troops 10 assemble, but find
ing the enemy entering the city from
two SIDES. he. concluded that il waA
useless TO resist, and ordered an evacua-
ton, putting his infantry in the cars
and leaving hisa cavalry to march by the
pike. He managed to withdraw all iaI
safety, exeeptdcapt. Balls company OIL
cavalry 3sfmerD and horses, who were
caught at theddepot by the swift adj
vance of the. 1st Mich. and section of
Ghermans Eattery and compelled tot
surrender. na'oI. WILCOX reports having
captured }53men and 80 horses. Ter
ret gays tfBtt he retreated in good or
der about t99 Yards before the advanced
guards Of the enemy ~ i,i- .,.s.. |
After iileohnfaGtTy which crossed the
Aqueduct Ii ridge went into position
I1ieus. Tonpiitss, commanding Co. -.
I'd L. s. eay.. advanced along the Lees
burg RuAdIp sapeorte by two compan-
les of the iStiieN. y. until he came to
the Ii9iitfIHI ~ Hampshire Railroadyt
whore he captured 2 train. and lieut.
Hous' on. of the Engineers. destroyed
the track for some distance and burned
two bridges. ~