Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-07

- Dy the HalFlOt HuDllSnlnS company
GENERAL W. J. HARDFE, c. S. A, LEADER
OF THE CONFEDERATE LEFT WING AT
PERRYvILLE.
the use that might be made of such
expeditions in campaigns favorable for
incursions across the lines.
A tempting situation was noted some
months later. after the battle Of Antie-
tam. The armies of Mcclellan and Lee
lay on opposite sides Of the Potomac
river. above Harpers Ferry. McClel-
Ian was reftting and recruiting the
army OF the Potomac. and. with a de-
pot OF supplies at HaGerstown. was de-
pendent for rapid communication with
the north on the railroad running
thence from Harrisburg. Pa. by way
of Chambcrsburg The latter was from
thirty to forty miles inside Of McClel-
lan's lines. On the Sth OF October Gen
eral Lee instructed Stuart to tnke 1900
or 1900 mounted men and proceed to
that point. destroy the railway bridge
over the COnococheague and otherwise
damage the Federal transportation.
making any legal captures within his
power Stuart selected 800 men and
a battery of flying artillery.
The cavalcade moved silently to Nc
Williamsport and Hancock. seized the
picket post without alarm, and after
pressing on some distance Federal
signal station with all its detail was
surprised and captured. The raiders
then made a detour and pushed on TO
{ Mercersburg, Pa. ten miles from the
| point OF crossing and halfway to Cham
berShurg. The latter was reached aft
( er dark. and Stuart Immediately took
( possession Of the place. appointing
| Wade Hampton military governor No
| officials could be found who would
! treat with the invaders. and Stuart sent
| his men to perform the work assigned
| Federal Pursuers Just Too Late.
The next morning. Oct. II. large
/ quantities of military stores. machine
/ shops. railroad buildings and loaded
trains were destroyed. The railway
/ bridge and trestle was of iron and
! could not be burned
. he ItluEu vi lIN a. Va
! airy was the most difficult part OF the
daring expedition. That short cut OF
twenty odd miles from WilliamspOrt
TO ChamberSburg could not be made
again. For a feint Stuart moved rap
idly toward Gettysburg. then turned
south. At Emmettsburg the southern
. flag was greeted with cheers. and the
ma hg a
captured here with dispatches show
ing that the Federal forces were IL
strength at Frederick. and. thus warn
| ed, Stuart made another detOur. avoid
ing that town. AS he drew near the
river and the line of McClellan's com
munications with Washington the sit
uation became critical Before day
light this same day. Oct II. Genera
Pleasanton gathered his scattered com
mand and set it in motion on Stuart:
route north, keeping scouts well TO the
northeast
In avoiding Frederick by the cas-
Stuart crossed the MOnocacy above tina
town, while Pleasanton. concentrat
ing at Frederick, crossed that STREAM
Just below and pushed on toward the
PooIesviIle road by way OF Barnes
vile. Stuart was at this moment dOdg
ing still, and. having heard that a Fed
eral force under General StonemaI
was guarding Poolesville, he decided
10 cross over TO the Monocacy again
Meanwhile the troops at Poolesvili,
under Stoneman had been aroused anC
were on the march up the river. The
united with Pleasanton's cavalry onl!
TO see the COnfederates safely across
the river and 10 be greeted with
goodby salute from the ever ready Pei
ham. who commanded Stuart's hyin:
battery.
The raid was over. Stuart had no
lost a man. but brought in loo lei
horses, the pick OF the rich farming
country through which he had ridden
The CONSERVATION in the north wa
very great. ana the authorities blamet