Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-11-24
CONTINUED from last weekly

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relating my advent to Wisconsin and
of things as they appeared to me. |
was under the impression that few
columns only in the Herald would
be necessary to tell all know of the
matter. But finally, because greatly
interested in search for more informa-
tion, l have had many pleasant
hours with a number Of the older
settlers, to whom I am under .obliga
tion for information to make up
these articles.
While reading over last weeks
article the description Of the disloyal
clan and it's CONSERVATION when
Potosi's Barbara Freitchie was waving
the stars and stripes recalled to me
an incident which happened during
the same month near KeHy's Ford of
the Rappahanock river in the state of
Virginia. The battle of Chancellor
Vile had been fought and lost, not
! through the cowardice of the men of
the Eleventh Corps, as General
Howard S friends have charged, but
through the carelessness and neglect
of General Howard to protect the
TANKS of his corps. For the fact was
that General Jackson's corps surprised
the men while cooking their supper,
their arms being stacked. An army
of men like General Howard and his
friends could not have resisted an at
tack from the rear, they would aban-
don their supper and skeedaddle.
Just as the men of that corps were
compelled to do. 1t was the generals
place to so place his troops as to pro-
tect the rear This report was
travesty upon the men of the Eleventh
Corps and should be refuted.
Rockers army was in camp near
Stafford court house during June 1863.
General Lee with his entire army was
advancing along the eastern Stops of
the Blue Ridge, General Stuart's
Cavalry being in advance.
General Hooker must have been
advised that some movement of the
Confederate army was taking place,
but that all ~(of Lees army was in
motion could not have been known
to him, as only a brigade of infantry
of which the Sd Wisconsin Infantry
was part and brigade of Cavalry
was sent on a Reconnaissance up the
Rappahanock River. We forded the
river at Beverly Ford aud in skirmish
line advanced to the edge of a large
open field. General Stuart's Cavalry
corps was found in force on an eleva
tion in full sight of us. There was
heavy skirmishing during the middle
of the day. A cavalry fight was in
progress. A battery of Rebel Artillery
was planted on hill half a mile
away, keeping us busy lodging shells
and balls. The attention of the
infantry was concentrated upon the
cavalry fight in the open field, when
all of a sudden the rebel cavalry was
recalled, their artillery limbered up
their guns and the entire force retreat
ed rapidly; we had been sorely press
ed all day and it was relief to
us and were astonished to see the
enemy move from the field SO
rapidly. In looking toward the east
we saw a dark line of troops advsnc-
ing in the open field, In the center Of
the line was waving the Star Spangled
Banner and battle flag Of the Iron
Brigade regiment. This brigade had
followed us, had crossed the Rappaha
mock River some miles below at
United States ford and had fanked
Gen eral Stuart and his cavalry.
General Stuart was as much surprised
at the apparition of the Stars and
Stripes as those men who had assembl-
ed under the Rattlesnake flag opposite
the Banfill house about the same time.
General Stuart was an open enemy,
he had the courage to face our bullets
and bayonets, he was a good general,
and although an enemy he was highly
respected by the northern soldiers.
But what about his friends up moth
Well let them rest, there was not
much honor in their achievements
A few days ago I had the pleasure
of meeting at Dodgeville Mr. James
Thomas Pryor, Jr. he is q genial
gentleman Of about my age. In
conversation with him 1 found that
he lived in Potosi few years before
the war and that his father had filled
the pulpit of the Methodist church
for a number of years, from him
learned why Uncle Billie Richards, of
British Hollow was named Captain
Billie Richards Thereby hangs a
tale 1t was during the year 1857when
! q ,,.,,,,Ior OF etrau- op1 how Stool-e ~,