The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-05
| hnlling Night Journeys Into the Camps of Sleeping
Armies-Horsemen Who Plunge Into Danger to
Destroy Millions of Dollars Worth Of Property in
-Rd Country, Leaving Cities in ConAa-
grafton Behind I~hem-Personal Acquaintance
With Famous Raiders Of the Civil War.
By FRANCIS TREvELYAN MILLER.

Nv 1AfS n OF wars" are
wv now disturbing the nations.
~ IL not probable that there
ever has been u time when the rum
hles OF social and political unrest have
so shaken the foundations Of the Old
World. 1t Is in America alone that
peace reigns without fear OF a rush
70 arms" and here, while Old World
monarchy is lettering, the reunited
american people are celebrating the
se~mi-centennial of their own terrific
civil strife.
1t may surprise non-military read
crs.'' said Brigadier-General Thee.
Il. Rodenbough yesterday. one OF tho
last of the old cavalry leaders OF the
American Civil War. ito learn tina
the United States, unprepared az 1t is
for war, and nnmilitary as arc Its
people, has become q model for the
most powerful armies of Europe. 1t
was In the Civil War. just fifty years
ago. that we frst demonstrated the
lighting value OF mounted troops and
organized cavalry. II has since be.
come the model for all modern war
fare"
1t was exactly fifty years ago to-
day that the BLACK Horse was
charging along the hills OF Virginia.;
horsc-soldiers were moving trough
the streets of Washington: sabres and
pistols were flashing in the sunlight.
Il was on this sane October day that
"a troop of American "Lancers' was
passing through staid old Philadelphia
on the way to the "battle-front."
The sensation OF the times, how.
ever. was the cavalry raid. This IS
essentially the product OF the Civil
War 1t created great excitement
abroad. because II was something en-
tireIy new In warfare-even the IN
genuity OF Napoleon conceived moth
ing SO thrilling or 50 daring.
The last of those famous old cav
airy raiders. who with LOO men rode
500 miles in sixteen days, died a few
days ago. and was buried in the hills
OF Illlnois-it was g~ray-hairci old
General Benjamin Grierson. the friend
OF Grant, and one Of the doughttest
lighters that this country ever knew.
First of the Famous Old Itniders in
.'Boots and Saddle
The first OF these gay 's~abreurs" TO
dash through the enemy'a country with
his armed troopers. leaving woe and
wreckag &c in his wake. was that knight
~ old warrior. General "Jcb" Stuart
IT was ne who performed the bewilder-
Ing feat of encircling the great sleep
ing Army Of the Potomac. as il lay
before Richmond. unmolested. with 1000
cavaliers. riding the nrst :orty-eight
hours without sleep or food. and swim
ming their horses across swollen riV-
crs. The governments were astoundcd.
Nothing like this had ever been known
In warfare. What was TO prevent this
mounted soldiery from slipping from
the front of The opposing host and
plunging into Washington. Baltimore,
Philadelphia or even New York? This
was the question OF the day. Indeed.
such ar expedition. under General
Early. suddenly emerged from the
Shenandoah Valley and stood before
the very portals OF the national cap
ital. waving the Stars and Bars lit
erally In the face OF President Lincoln.
This first cavalry raid struck feai
into the hearts OF the North, which
was only increased when a few month
later a feat of equal daring was per-
formed near Murfreesbcro by the dash
ing Joe" Wheeler, the famous old
raider OF the Confederacy. who rode
once more under the stars and Stripes
in tho Spanish-American War, nearly
y generation later.
IN n Midnight IinId With "Joc'
Wheeler.
II MAS on the night OF December 30.
Wheeler, with 5000 roopers at his
heels. cantered along the Lebanon
Turnpike due north until he had passed
from the confines OF the Confederate
camp at Murfreesboro. Like Stuart. he
Travelled secretly. trusting TO darkness
TO conceal the identity of his troops
from wandering scouts. Bcfors dawn
thcy had reached tho rear OF Rose
crans's army By hard riding. and were
IN the vicinity OF Jefferson.
The advance guard sent word down
the line to Wheeler: "A huge train OF
wagons has just entered the town and
is driving into park"
The troopers were joyous. Here at