The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-12
What Was News
Fifty Years Ago
From tho Richmond Dispatch. May L.. Ise.

Tho cavalry raid. numbering 1000
men under Generals Custer and Mcr-
rift, which was first heard T. ON at
Beaver Dam. in Hanover County, ar
rived at Ashland early yesterday
morning. where tight occurred. tho
result Of which Is given in the fol-
lowing telegram to General Bragg
from General Stuart, dated at Ash
land at noon yesterday: Tho enemy
reached this point just bcf 20 us. but
wcro promptly whipped out after a
sharp fight by Colonel Munford (Fitz
Lees advancc). killing and capturing
quite number. General Gordon Is
In their Immediate rear. intersect
tho road on which tho enemy Is
marching 1T Yellow Tavern. tho head
of the turnpike, six miles from Rich
mond. My men and horses arc tired
hungry and jnded. but all right"
About 8 o'clock yesterday morning
General Stuart arrived on tho enc
my's rear on the Brook Road, and
General Gordon came on their rear on
tho Mountain Road. Tho two roads
join In the Brook Turnpike ut tho
Yellow Tavern. six miles above Rich
mond. and tho intention OF the enemy
was to come down the turnpike. cross
tho Brook Bridge, go around to the
Mcadow Bridge Road and thence down
tho Peninsula. This plan was rrus-
tratcd by the burning OF the bridge
by our troops. Then the only mode q
retreat left was to beat stuart at Vel
low Tavern and 20 up the Brook or
Mountain Road. or 10 attack the bat
terry at Brook Turnpike and cut their
way through. The former mode was
tried. and about 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon they attacked General Stu
art, who. with Lomaxs ana Wick
hams Br!gadcs, rcpuiscd them. The
To- i,,,
hour. General Gordon, who WAS in
tho rear. attacked them three times.
using them up badly each time.
Although during all the morning
yesterday an attack on Richmond By
tho raiders was ;nomentarily expect
Cd mo CITY was as quiet as Il sum-
mer Sabbath. All classes Of men not
already mustered In the service pro-
ccoded to arm themselves and gather
about the Capitol Square ready for tho
onslaught. Printers and others Of the
newspaper Offices were supplied with
rifles and ammunition at the State ar
hcnal ana organized as Il company by
tho election OF Edward G. Crump as
captain and John Pizzini as first lieu
tenant This com pany. with tho fire
brigade and the police force. forms the
First Regiment Virginia Reserve
Force.
In all OF the excitement yesterday
the Confederate Congress was calm
and serene. Both houses met ut the
appointed hour and went about the
business before them In quiet way.
Just as II they had never heard OF
General Grant. Beast Butler, General
Custer or his raiders.
Tho only reliable news yesterday
from General Lee's army was con-
tanned In Il telegram from the great
commander to the Secretary OF War.
which ha
army is iMtrcnched near Spotsyl-
Nanlo Courthouse. on both sides Of tho
Brook Road. Frequent sisir,nishint;
occurred yesterday and to-day. each
army endeavor!ng 10 discover tho ex-
act position of the other. To-day
several assaults with infantry against
different points. particularly on our
loft. held by General X. II. Anderson
The last. which was made after sun
set, was the most obstinate. some of
the enemy lcap!ng over our brens,-
works They were. however. easily
repulscd. except IN front OF General
Dole's Brigade, where they drove our
mon from their position and from a
four-gun battery there posted. The
men soon rallied, and by dark our
line was re-ostabl!shed and the bat
terry recovered.
y telegram from Lvnchhurr aavs:
W. Daniel Of General Early's STAFF,
was very seriously wounded IN the battle
Of the 9th on the Rapidan. 1t is
feared he Is mor;ally wounded.
The Fedora! army under General
steele has been siEnally defeated at
Camden. Ark. and General Steele has
surrendered with nearly 5000 men
This Is the largest number OF pris-
oncrs taken In any battle OF the war,
except by Stonewall Jackson AZ Har-
pcr's Ferry.
At midnight last night the dis
trcsaIng news spread through tho city
that General J. y. u. Stuart, after
having driven the raiders back from
so near to Richmond and while pur-
suing them. was dangerously wound
ed. Later still I; was reported that
inc had died from the wound, but that
report was coutrad!ctcd, and tho ply
sicians say now that there Is yet hope
of his recovery.