Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-07-11

the distractions. The troopers quickly
dismounted, scaled the rail piles and
with drawn sabers overpowered the
Virginians.
Meanwhile Pleasonton had sent Colo
mel A. n. Dufie, with the First Rhode
Island cavalry. to try the gaps on an
other road which took him through the
mountains to the town of Middleburg.
When Stuart heard of Duties bold
march he tried to destroy him. but the
Rhode Islanders were stubborn. Not
knowing of the fight at Aide. they ex-
pected help from that point. Stuart
sent no help to Fitzhugh Lee at Aide,
and Fitzpatrick was left to his own de
vices. Late in the day a heavy column
led by Colonel Rosser charged upon
Kilpatrick's right flank.
Fitzpatrick Leads a Charge.
The regiment In advance recoiled
from Rosser's blow, and the men in
gray threatened to ride down a Federal
horse battery which was well to the
front. Fitzpatrick ordered the guns
double shotted with canister Inc wait
ed for Rosser to ride close to the pieces.
Looking in despair to the rear. whence
help must come, his eye caught sight
of the First Maine cavalry galloping to
his aid
There were two battalions present,
and squadrons were hastily formed for
the charge. Fitzpatrick rode side by
side with Colonel Douty. and, giving
three cheers by waving sabers. the
cavalcade swept down an incline to-
ward the victorious enemy. The field
was cleared at the first dash. and on
ward the Maine men rode until they
struck a new line of Co~nfederates dis
mounted behind a stone wall. At this
point the Maine ranks suffered severely
for the moment, losing among others
their colonel killed. But the impetus
of the charge bore them through the
Confederate line, which was routed
and driven from the field.
Stuart Rides Away.
Rallying the regiment, which bad
fallen back before Rosser's charge.
Fitzpatrick led 1t In again with the
First Maine and chased the Confeder-
ates beyond the hills. capturing four
guns. With this revenge of fortune
Stuart's men rode away toward Mid
dleburg to answer the call of the chief,
who had sent word to all his forces to
concentrate there. Duffie had barrt-
caded the streets of the town.
At 7 p. m. three brigades advanced
upon Duties line. BY sheltering his
men behind barbados and stone
walls he repealed several assaults, but
was at last almost surrounded. Re
treating behind Little River. he halted
to rest his men. but was again sur
rounded. BY / a. m. on the 18th the
roads In the ~neighborhood were alive
with Stuart's cavalry. Again retreat
ing. he finally escaped through Hope
well gap to Centervtlle.
Stuart destroyed Duffie. but In so
doing lost the prize of the day. The
Federals pushed on through Aide gap
and forced Longstreet to withdraw
across the valley to the slopes Of the
Blue Ridge. With Federals west Of
Bull Run mountains Lee was compelled
" HlVtC Lie 6ACutCl RAht VI ~ amy
north through the Shenandoah valley.
Capture of a Monster Ram.
A naval event of Importance this
time fifty years ago was the capture
In the region of Charleston of the Con-
federate ironclad ram Atlanta. This
vessel. formerly called the Ffngal, had
been converted from q blockade run
ner into an armored ram Of the Mer-
rimac type. She carried six heavy
rified guns and a spar torpedo.
The Confederate admiral feared that
the Atlanta would not be a match for
the Ericsson monitors and held her
back after the arrival of several of
these vessels in southern waters. How
ever, a new commander. Captain w
A Webb. was appointed and told to do
something with the ship. He entered