The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10

part Of the Federal troops to capture
q party of Confederate scouts who
were attending dance near Williams
burg. The names mentioned are hc-
titious, but the statements are true. Tho \
narrative Is from an unpublished one
OF The Vest Mansion."l
tanned from Mrs r. in the expedition
OF May Goth was that Mfrs. Lawrence
Intended to give social party and |
dance the following Monday evening,
and that Lieutenant Hume and some
Of the Peninsula Scouts were sure TO
be there. Her house was generally I!
regarded as Ills headquarters by his
friends outsidee-if he could be said
II have quarters of any kind within
doors. AS l knew the locality of her
house and It's approaches, and as Mrs
It's information about the expected
presence of the scouts was precise, 1t
was determined to go out and attempt
their capture, adopting unusual pre-
cautions.
Besides this specific object, the cx-
petition had another and more general
one. The colonel. keeping In con-
slant touch with the War Department.
had learned, on the afternoon of June
18th, when IFreported to him at the
fort. that Grants vigorous assault OF
the day before had not resulted very
favorably 10 us; though, as the con-
test still continued. the accounts were
extremely vague. However, as SUCH
stupendous lighting was at no great
distance from our lines. and stragglers,
scouts or messengers from our army
might he intercepted and aided. the
colonel was anxious that should re-
new my watch OF the Chickahominy
ferries and OF the roads farther up
the Peninsula than the point reached
on our last expedition. Mrs. Law
fence's house was about twenty miles
away in the direction of the river
Therefore. l might stop there on my
way returning. and perhaps gather the
scouts In. Accordingly, we moved out
from Williamsburg the same evening
This time we planned 10 secure our
departure from town without observa-
1ion. and succeeded in doing so by
sending out twenty dismounted cav
alrymen in squads, after dark. to meet
at place of rendezvous near eroup
of tall trees in the forest not far from
our lines. In joining them, l rode half
way to Fort Magruder, leaving my
horse with an orderly to be taken to
the fort, and making my way on foot
to the place designated.
Keeping off the main highway we
marched all night at lively pace,
considering the usual impediments to
roach wooded ridge in the Immediate
neiGhborhood of the river at an early
hour the next day. which was Sunday
We remained in this position all day.
keeping watch of the crossroads; and
frequently hearing the deep roar of
artillery, mutfed somewhat by thick
forests. coming from the direction of
TIL: armies of Grant and Lee. then mot
far away. In fact we were listening
to the tumult of fierce and prolonged
general engagement: since on this day.
June 8, 1864, occurred what in history
Is called THE Second Battle of Cold
Harbor." Probably we were not more
than eighteen or twenty miles In rear
of the left flank of Grants army. II
his forces were as badly demoralized
as now asserted in the Confederate
Memoirs referred to General Alex
+ ander's). 1t seems strange that during
this whole trip. shifting our position
several times, we encountered no stray
glers from our army of over a hun
dred thousand men. for stragglers
making good time to the rear are a
sure sign of defeat and demoraliza-
ton at the front. Altogether but few
reached our lines at williamsburg and
mention of these must be deferred.
After nightfall we marched several
miles away and halted in piece OF
timber and underbrusl near a ferry
crossing of the Chickahominy continu-
ing-,all the next day our task of OBJ
servation. but discovering no sign Of
life worth noting. except an old negro
With bag of corn going to mill, if
lie could find one a-grindin'" he said
we detained him until evening to be
our guide for part of the distance on
n tLar M
was still, clear and starlight About
10 o'clock we reached the- vicinity Of
Mrs. LaWrence's house, a large old
fashioned dwelling, prominently situ-
ated, a weedy lawn spread around 1t,
with few shade trees at the sides.
and an avenue of cedars led up to the
porch. From a distance we saw that
me house was brightly illuminated.
As we drew nearer unmistakablt
through the open windows. AS we
paused to listen under the cedars. we
could hear lively piano-playng, the
baritone calls of the dancing master.
the rather heavy tread OF boots, and
probably imagined we could hear the
swish" of whirling skirts. not know
Ing at tho time that hoop-skirts don't
swish--for the fashion then was new.
We had nearly surrounded the house.
Hlu were tclosllS IN, WneN the red
headed corporal was again in evidence.
While lie was making sure that his
gun was loaded and cooked enough.
and that the trigger was close enough
to his forefinger, he stumbled and fell.
lie attributed his fall to the weeds and
his heavy cavalry boots but he could
not explain the most unexpected dis
charge of his carblne. In the Prus-
sian regular service he would have
been instantly shot: but among Ameri-
can volunteers he was punished far
more. for he was an ambitious lad. BY
being Informed at a less critical mo-
ment that his services as a foot
scouter" would DO no longer required
and could be dispensed with for thar
season at least; or, In less Ambiguous
words, to this effect,
The scouts did not need any further
notice that am unknown friend was