The National tribune., 1908-12-17

| Ou Inc afternoon OF Cct. l. Lee
at sSsus IFs sfsssins sTmss INC eress struck
the mead of theo ocolumn vaiiantly, put
soon was AfowH1hat the weight OF the
advance w8s entirely too much Ior MIN
10 encounter with his little cavalry d.
VISION, and he withdrew after haviug
been severely mauIed. The news that
Gregg sent post-haste to Meade was OF
starting Importance. and reacned MIN
IN 1lme toeSave him from serious olsas-
ter. Meade saw at once the real mean
ing of Lees movement. and sent out
urgent orttfrs to the three corps 20 re-.
turn with AL speed to the north side OF
the Rappabannock. They were found
IN bivouac near Cuipeper, and started
back with thes greatest promptness
Such was the splendid organization OF
these corps that early on the morning
of Tuesday, Oct. 13, they were all back
on the north side of the river. and the
| army once more reunited.
| Lee continued to move on Warrenton.
which he reached on the afternoon of
Oct. 13, and put his troops into bivou-
ac for rest and, rations. At that time
several prominent officers were anxious
for Meade to assume the offensive anG
attack Lee at Warrenton, which they
felt could be done with every prospect
fof success. Under some commanders
this would have been the correct pol
iiey. and would undoubtedly have re-
Isulted in a severe blow to Lees army. IL
not. the absolute crippling Of it. But
Meade's forte was not the offensive,
land he never assumed 1t with brilliant
success. He was admirable on the de-
fensive. and naturally preferred that
manner Of battle. He therefore decided
ITO. place himself between Lee and Wash
Eington by rapid retrograde movement.
The Retreat On Centervllle.
In the order of this movement it was
Earranged that the Second Corps, upder
/ Gen. Warren should. after halting at
Fayetteville until the Third Corps un-
der Gen. French was withdrawn, cover
Corps was to- march by the way Of
Auburn to Catlett's Station. and thence
Enorthward along the line OF the Orange
| & Alexandria Railroad, with Fitzpatrick
moving upon its flank. AS the army
tfell back the railroad bridge crossing
the RappalIannonelc was burned, which
Emade serious embarrassment in future
movements The Fifth Corps came up
Efrom Beverly Ford, and the First from
IKelly's Ford to ,joir che Sixth. which
Twas following the line Of the raiiroad
l in the direction OF Bristoe Station.
EGregg marched with tiIis main column,
lIwhile Buford guarded the srains OF the
army, striking directly for Manassas
land the crossings Of Bull Run. Meade,
tseriously alarmed, urged his mem for
Iward, and within "a hours the Sixth
Corps had nnarehadH over 80 miles be-
fore going into bivouac, at Kettle Run.
The, Third Corps arrived at Greenwich
about 10 O'Clock in the evening, while
the Second Corps, being hampered by
| its trains did not reach Auburn until 8
O'Clock. Gem Warren. had no positive
information as to the whereabout5 of
the enemy, but he had keen.- soldierly
| intuition that they were not very. far
away. and posted his men to meet any
contingency. He put Cafdwelps Division
with three batteries of artillery upon
the hills which overlooked the right
bank OF Cedar Bun, and commanded
the road from Warrenton to Greenwich.
AS a matter of sact, Lee was only five
miles away at ;Warrenton.
STUART 4. = Trap.
Lee, at Warrenton, sent out Stuart
with three sbrigades and two batteries
of artillerystO reconnoiter toward Cat
lett's Station. Stuart reached a point
Cedar Rune where he could look out
over the open country. and saw the
Federal army Fetreatfng. incumbered
by long supply tEafns- Leaving Lomax's
Brigade at Auburn to watch the cross
roads, Stuart started back to Lee to
report his discovery. In the meantime
the Third Corps. Eas approaching Au-
burn. with Graham's Brigade In the
advance. Gam French, having no idea
of the nearness of the enemy, had no
ffanlers or scouts OUT, and ran into
Lomax, who gave the first intfmation
Of his presence by a fire which cost
Graham SO men. Graham dep1oyed his
brigade and drove Lornax away. resum-
ing his march toward Greenwich. This
interposed him between Stuart and
Lee Stuart, finding himself behind the
long columns of the Second Corps on
the one side and those OF the Third
Corps on the other, had no other re-
source than to conceal his command as
quickly as possible in the thick-grow-
ing pines which spring up SO sponta-
neously on the abandoned and worm
fout tobacco fields.
Frencffs men, fatfgued with the long
march, and intent only upon reaching
their destination, made no curious ex-
pforations of the country around them,
and thus Stuarts lair was undiscovered.
As night came on Stuart saw the Fed
eral infantry and trains still sweeping
onward
Caldwell. going into camp ON the hills
Within few hundred yards OF Stuart.
rendered the latter's position still more
critical, and for moment the Confed-
crate cavalry leader thought of aban-
doning his artillery and lea ding his
force. sword in hand, in dash thru
the encompassing lines. Finally he de-
cided to walt till daylight, and. dressing
three of his men in the uniforms and
accouterments taken from Union pris-
oners. he sent them marching, knap-