The National tribune., 1908-04-02

line to his base, facilitating the bringing
up of supplies, and enabling the troops
under Sedgwick to join him by route
not much longer than that upon which
Lee had to move.
One of these roads was the Plank
road, before spoken of, which runs
along the crests that divide the waters
flowing into the Rappahannock from
those that run into the Massaponax and
Mattapony. The Plank road had been
constructed along this ridge to avoid the
many ravines encountered by the old
road in crossing the numerous creeks
flowing into the Rappahannock, and
particularly the ravines of Motifs and
Collins Runs. The old turnpike was
shorter than the new road, but rougher
on account of these rayineS. There was
Still third but very poor road, which
ran nearer the river and come out at
Banks's Ford.
Hooker had rightfully seen that his
first step should be to gain point on
this ridge upon which stood Tabernacle
and Zoar Churches. These stand on the
crest of the ridge, and to the left of
them, facing Fredericksburg, a consid-
cradle creek, called Motifs Run, cuts
deep ravine in its passage down to the
Rappahannock. On the right Lewis Run
makes another rayine in its course to the
south and the Massaponax. These two
IdfIIeS IIdht d uile VI vie
greatest strength, which would be of
immense value to Hooker IL he held
them against any attempt by Lee to
suddenly hurl his whole force upon the
Union advance.
The evening of April 80 was beauti-
full one, with the full moon shining in
all the splendor of the vernal season.
pushing forward to Tabernacle Church
and gaining the open ground beyond,
where he could deploy mis- forces to ad-
vantage. Gen. Pleasonton says that he
urged Hooker to make such a movement
as Grant executed year later, by push
Ing on to Spotsyivania Court House, but
Hooker's fatal weakening began with a
decision not to move a single division
that night, and he kept his arriving
forces cooped up II the dark shades of
the gloomy Wilderness.
A Cavalry Battle I'm the Moonlight.
While the infantry was settling down
into bivouac Pleasonton began to send
ont his cavalry exploring the roads. The
9Th n. Y Cav. went down the road to-
ward Spotsylvania Court House, In
search of large train which it was said
the Confederates had in that direction.
Suddenly Stuart with a few mounted
men ran against the advance. He was
as much surpriset as they, being on his
way to report at Lees headquarters The
advance guards went at him with such
q will that Stuart only kept away from
them by the much superior speed of his
horse. He managed to get word to Fitz-
hugh Lee, who sent out the 5tn Va. Cav
in pursuit of the intruders, but there
was another surprise in store for both
parties. Lieut--CoI. McVicar, command
ing the 9Th n. Y. Cav, was returning
to Charlottesville. when he and the
9Th Va. Cav. came into collision in an
open space in the forest Col. McVicar
was the first to notice the presence of
his enemy, and quickly formed the 300
or 400 men who were with him on one
side of the space. The New York troop
ers opened fire from their saddles, and
followed this up by a Saber charge,
which completely broke up the Virgin
fans and scattered them thru the woods,
the New Workers pursuing them with
revolver and saber until arrested by the
I'd Va. Cav. coming TO the assistance of
their comrades.
1t was a wierd, strange, but intensely
exciting fight, shifting every moment
from the dark shadows of the trees to
the full revealing light of the moon in
the glades and open spaces.
The New York men paid dearly for
their victory in the loss of their Colonel
who was shot from his saddle in the
midst of the fight The New York troops
retired toward Charlottesville, while
the Virginia men rallied on their bri-
gade, which had now come up. Mai
Won Borcke, the Prussian officer who
was serving with Stuart says that
Stuarts men were astonishingly demor-
allied by this encounter. and that a
panic took place, in which the 1st and
I'd Va Cav. charged upon each other
and the whole command seemed to be
broken up in confusion.
Order was at length restored, and the
brigade fell back to Spotsylvania Court
House, under the firm belief that II had
encountered the whole of Stoneman's
cavalry The report which the New