The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-15


sembled in the vicinity of Matthias
Point. on the Potomac, n regiment or
more of infantry and several companies
of cavalry. Two OF the latter from
Westmore.and and Lancaster Counties.
and one OF the forIner-the Sparta
Grays," OF Caroline County were un-
der the immediate command OF Major
Robert NJ. Mayo, and the whole force
commanded by Acknowledgement Dan
lei Ruggles. an ex-ofilccr of the United
States Army. who had resigned his com
mission and offered his sword TO the
Confederacy.
number of gunboats and armed
cutters and the more Formidable shin
Hawnee were patrollins the river and
throwing shot and shells whenever and
Wherever any sign OF the presence of
the Confederates could be gained Tho
remarkable thing about this cannonad-
ing for two months or more was tho
enormous expenditure of ammunition
without killing or wounding q simple
man on the Southern side Picket sta
tons were established along the shore
Tor miles. ard both infantry and cav
airy videttcs kept a sharp lookout for.
any attempt 10 effect a landing by Fed
Graz Soidlers or marines, and the troops
in the several camps wore held in con
slant readiness TO meet such an at
tempt.
ON the early morning of June 81.
wlSle Henry Porter and another man
or the Wcstmoreland Cavalry. were on
watch NJ the picket station nearest the
point, they We're suddenly startled by
the approach In the darkness of n small
body Of Yankees. who had landed un
n En MI
so no!selcssly as not to be heard until
within few feet of the men on watch
Porter and his companion discharged
lhclr guns in time To give The alarm to
the other pickcts in their rear, but not
in time to mount their own horses
These fell into the cneny.s hands and
were gotten aboard OF a tender that
had anchored nearby in the river dur
ing the night
The landing and surprise of the
pickcts were promptly reported to Cen
eral Rugsles and Major Mayo. and their
respective camps We're quickly astir
with preparation for action. The Rug
gies's camp was higher up the river.
and separated from Mayo's three COM
nanies by depression. or valley. in
the land. that terminated near the
river shore In a morass and pond on
the lower side OF this marshy valley
the ground was denselv covered with
D.
proach TO the river by Mayo's compa
mics without detection or danger In
consequence, the Sparta Grays" ana
the Westmoreland Cavalry. under Can
tam Saunders and Lieutenant r. l. 7
iHeaie' were put into motion. and the
cavalry company. having been dis
mounted and placed in line on the right
OF the infantry, were quickly advanced
10 within 200 yards OF the river bank
As YET IN this advance. no sight or
sound had been gained of the presence
o. any enemy.
\ malt was made, and Major Mayo
ana the officers commanding the com
panies appeared to be consulting to-
sciher whcthct to go forward. or
await orders from General Ruggles
Presently I was called into their pres
ence, and directed to take a trustv
man, proceed through the pines. as
certain the encmy's position. and bring
back report.
with Pete Stewart IAN old soldier of
inc Mexican War;. / proceeded to exc
cute tho order. having Stewart in the
read We moved cautiously, with guns
cooked, from tree to tree. till we cam.
to an open space of stumps and low
pine bushes, where we got n clear
view OF the runboat Freeborn, the
waTship Pawnee, and the tender. We
had now TO crawl on our knees 10 es-
cape being seen, and paused every now
ntd then 10 listen.
While thus crawling, came to a
large pine stump, which had been
struck by z cannon ball, and saw n
huge hole cut in one side OF 1.-THE
first evidence | had ever seen of the
tremendous force of q cannon shot
When we had proceeded on our knees
to within n few yards of the river
bank, stewart stopped, and Whispered:
II hear them" significantly, pointing
at the same time to wooded bluff n
little above us. Listening, we could
catch the sound of voices and that OF
picks and spades, as of men nj work
digging in the sand and making n
breastwork.
Relieving that We had an accurate
knowledge of the enemy's position, SO
FASTENED back and reported, and were
ut once directed to acL as guides for
where we had seen the enemy My
companion led the way for one com
pany, and l for the other.
The sight of that line OF armed men
moving through those woods, down q
gentle decline into a valley, and UP
gradual descent TO the bluff beside the
river, Was one never to be forgotto.
There was the armed enemy. the gun
boat with its cannon, the war vessel,
and here were we advancing to o.,
fire On them. My boyish dreams o
baltic seemed about TO be fulfilled
tho anticipation OF my early soldiers
life seemed to be turning into n stern
reality. 1t was an exciting hour
Presently. the order came, "Charge!"
and up the slope rushed tho men with
resounding yell. The infantry com
pany opened with their muskets
rapid fire: thu cavalry more slowly got
theil, slOtcunS into action,
IT quickly became apparent that
Stewart andI had been mistaken In
locating the enemy. They were not.
as we supposed. on the lower side of
the marsh .;>,id pond. but on the upper
side. seventy yards away. and whero'
1t was impossible for us to reach
them, except with bullets.
( At tho first shot and yell they drop
ped their tools, ieaped into their large
boats and rowod FOR the gunboat, our