The National tribune., 1908-11-05

don with glory. They had dashed thru
the darkness and rain by way of rugged
mountain passes and ravines into the
very midst OF the enemy, cut out and
destroyed his wagon trains, outfought
his cavalry. Only the presence OF heavy
masses Of infantry saved Lees whole
mass Of transportation from their
clutches. Tho spectacle of Stuart, driv-
en- back by Kilpatrick's rear guard,
while the advance was forcing Monte
rey Pass and swooping down on EwelPs
train; of Stuart's being compelled to
make a frenzfed rush on wide circuit
to the north to get into the Valley be-
fore Kilpatrick; of his being so easily |
beaten off when he attempted to rescue |
the prisoners. are very bright pictures
In the history OF the cavalry OF the
Army of the Potomac. 1t was paying
off with interest its discomitures on
the Peninsula and the plains OF Manas-
Sas.
Stuarts Report.
Stuart's report of these operations Is
complicated, and on its face appears
disingenuous. He has to explain many
and he qualities them to the utmost.
He says that Kilpatrick's claim of 400
or 500 wagons captured near Monterey
was a gross exaggeration. with not
more than 40 wagons captured. He
admits the great danger to his trains
at Williamsport, which were parked
there, and the enterprise and galiantry
of the attacks by Buford and kiipat-
rick. In mis- report he says:
"Hagerstown is six miles from VIII
Transport, the country between being
almost entirely cleared, but intersected
by almost innumerable fences and
bitches. The two places are connected
by a lane and perfectly straight mac
adamized road. The enemy's dismount-
ed skirmishers fought from street to
street, and some time elapsed before
the town was entirely clear, the enemy
taking the road first toward Sharps
burg, but afterward turned to the VIII
Transport road. Just as the town was
cleared / heard the sound of artillery
at Williamsport.
1.-THE cavalry, excepting two brigades
| with Gen. Fitz Lee, were now pretty
well concentrated at Hagerstown, ana
one column, under Col. Chambliss, was
| pushed directly down the road after
| the enemy, while Robertson's two regi-
ments and Jenkins's Brigade kept to
| the left of the road, moving in paral-
| lei direction with ChambliSs. A por-
| ton of the Stuart Horse Artillery also
| accompanied the movement. The first
| charge was gallantly executed by the
1 leading brigade tChambliss's), now
| numbering only a few hundred men.
| he 9th and 18th Va. Cav. participating
| with marked gallantry. The column
IN the flank was now hurried up to
| tack the enemy in flank. but the OBJ
4 stacies, such as post-and-rail fences,
1 !elayed its progress SO long that the
| .nemy had time to rally along a crest
| Of rocks and fences. from which he
| pened with artillery, raking the road.
1 "Jenkins's Brigade was ordered to
ismount and deploy over the difficult
| round. This was done with marked
T. (N1I sA1l.@
s usual, distinguishing himself by his
.ourage and conduct. The enemy, thus
| lslodged, was closely pressed by the
| mounted cavalry, but made one effort
1T a countercharge. which was gal
antly met and repulsed by Col. James
| 3. Gordon, commanding fragment of
| he 5th n. C. Cav, that officer exhibit
ng under my eye individual prowess
| deserving special commendation. The
repuise was soon after converted into
Il rout by Col ~Lomax's regiment (11th
Va. Cav.), Jones's Brigade, which now
look the road, under the gallant lead
'rship of its Colonel, with drawn sabers,
md charged down the turnpike under
fearful fire of artillery.
"The enemy was now very near Will
| iamspurt, and this determined and
rigorous attack in rear soon compelled
'lim to raise the siege of that place
| md leave in hasty discontinue by the
Dranesville road. His withdrawal wa:
Sayored by night, which set in just as
| We reached the ridge overlooking VIII.
Transport. An important auxiliary tc
his attack was rendered by Brig.-Gen
ritz Lee, who reached the vicinity OF
| Williamsport by the Greencastle road
cry opportunely, and participated in
, the attack with his accustomed spirit
"Great credit is due the command
for the fearless and determined man.
ner in which they rushed upon the
enemy. and compelled him to lose his
! hold upon the main portion of the
, transportation of the army. Withou
this attack it is certain that our trains
would have fallen into the hands n
: the enemy, for while" some resistanc,
was made by Gen. Imboden, still tn,
} size and nature of his command, thi
peculiar conformation of the ground
! overlooked by hills and approached b,
six plain roads, go to show conclusivel!
that not even a display of Spartan
= heroism on the part of his commant
could have saved those wagons from
. the torch of the enemy. 1 communi
I Gated with him after opening the roa,
by Lieutenant, whom I met but
E short distance from the town. Officer
1 present with Gen. Imboden during tn
attack assure me / am right in tn
foregoing opinion. I was apprised whe
about midway that Lieut.-Gen. Long
n sueet mad arrived at HagerStOwn.
"As part of the operations of thi
a a period I will here report that about 6
u of the wagons belonging to Lees Bri
: gade, while in the special charge @
!; Gen. Imboden, en- route to Williams
u u port. near Mercersburg, were capture
q q by the enemy. A court of inquiry ha
y been convened to inquire into the cir
: cumstances of this capture. I there
e g fore forbear animadversion on the sub
n ject."
Is (To be continued.)