The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-23
ny COLONEL G. n. sAussY, OF

by COLONEL G. n. sAussY, OF
GEORGIA.
Exactly forty-seyen years ago. or
on the 18th and t4th OF October. 1868.
General "Jeb Stuart led two depleted
brigades of his troopers into a trap
inadvertently. from which !. seemed im-
possible to extrcate himself and his
command.
After Gettysburg General Lee strung
his army along the south bank of the
Rapidan az his defensive position.
Meade having dispatched the Eleventh
and Twelfth Corps to reinforce the
Western Army, Lee waited some time
for some offensive demonstration from
the Federal force. This falling. he
assumed that position himself, and
swung his army by a clrcnitous, route.
via Madison Courthouse. to catch Meade
on the flank. But that cautious COM
mander would none OF that. so took
the back track. and when General Lee
reached Culpeper by this forty-one
mile route, the bird had flown.
Then another effort TO get upon
Meade's line OF retreat brought the
Army OF Northern Virginia TO War.
renton.
Meade. believing Lee had halted near.
culpeper. recrossed the Rappahannock.
n =
been roughly handled near Warrenton
Springs. promptly returned and rapidly
passed his army toward Manassas juno
tlon. Lee was at Warrenton. and in g
position to interpose, by five mile
march to Auburn. or a nine mile march
TO Warrenton Junction. but unfortu-
nateiy his commissary wagons We're
not up. and his troops were without
rations. Ths was a great misfortune,
W. ava hty,,h tta ~ ortn ant Nv m,
: have placed his whole command G-ong-
street with two divisions being with
Bragg across Meade's path, and be-
tween him and Washington. and to
have selected his battle-ground. or
forced Meade to attack. The fact that
the Army OF Northern Virginia was
his rear. and between him and Wash
stimulus. We may well consider the
converse Of the proposition. and be-
1ieve the same alarm that peryaded
the Eleventh Corps, at Chancellors-
VILE would have actuated Meade's
troops now. However. that is but
speculation. AS soon as Meade was In
formed by Gregg OF the true condi-
ton, he made hasty retreat, using
the o. & A. r. r. and the highway
parelleing It. also the route via Auburn5
On the 18th OF October, about 1900
a. NJ. Stuart received orders to make
reconnaissance toward Catletrs. He
had with him Lomax.s, Funsten's and
Gordon's brigades. the two latter hav-
Ing been almost constantly engaged
for the past four days. and their am
munition about exhausted. Stuart,
while waiting to replenish this, di-
rected Lomax to advance as far as
renton Junction was occupied by the
enemy, and accordingly waited the
arrival OF Stuart with Funston and
Gorden
Stuart came UP about 400 P. NJ,
bringing also seven guns. under Major
Beckham. and Ave wagons OF am
'nunition. The country about Auburn
Is rough and broken, and Cedar Run
intersects the road where the hills are
high and dificult The road to War.
renton is here intersected by that
from Freeman's Ford on the Kappa
hammock, and the country not adapted
to the use OF cavalry.
Stuart left Lomax at Auburn to guard
his rear. and proceeded toward Cat
let's with the two skeleton brigades
OF Funston and Gordon, with his seven
guns and five wagons. AS he debouch-i
81 ed from the wooded country into tho
immense clearing near the o. 6: Al. r,
RI, xhe found the road swarming with
troops. guns and wagons, al hurryinE.
northward screening himself in the
woods, Stuart remained in observat ton
for some time and then dispatched
ajor Venables Of his staff to inform
General Lee OF the situation, and ad :
wise a prompt attack upon the march
Ing column. $s 3s
Major Venable sped upon his mis-
sion,rbut upon his approach to Auburn
s. found that place6in possession OF the
enemy This necessitated detour by
Major Vena BILE. In order to reach Cen
eral Lee a t Warrenton. sending back
messeng to General Stuart to a p
prise him OF this remarkable condi-
ton. Il sss33 4 ~ IVA M n -
5 The Third Corps OF nreade's army,
, winch had been at Freeman's Ford, l>st
that point, taking the road Via Alb Nm.
and easily brushed Lomax aside. I.o-
max sent a courier to Stuart to advise
f MIN, but no never rea ched him Major
Venable' s messenger brought the first
exciting information. Here we can
borrow Major McClellans excellent
* narratives ri a
Evening was closing down when
this state OF affairs was announced,
' ana. as any movement toward the
Val!road was clearly imp ossible Stuart
retraoed his steps toward Auburn, IL
perchanceg q passage might still be
/. forced at that point a brief recon-
3 noissance developed the fact that he
4 was securely inclosed between two
large marching columns Of the enemy,
and any attempt to force This way
i through. could be successful, liz at
4 ~ only q Z a great sacrifice
,'concealment seemed Impossible; for
the advance was diminishing with the
# Enemy a tsss Auburn. and an occasional
sgS mot In the rear, told that the rear
& guard had been observed bys ma ties
banking the marching column ol,Iathe
d railroad. Ss8
Between these two marching coll
umns stood the two brigade s, on the
y Eoaa In 81 ose column, wondering what
III would be the Tesul Stuart hesi-3
ated no t q q lnen t. III Il, Sall hi
25Ss soadness fora he kRe w hen Ia