The Washington herald., 1914-02-27
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
Feb IL lssOrders Issued the Army Potomac fer Mse
Cavalry, Under Gen Judsoa Kpahk and Gel Uie Dahn
Having Object the Release Of the Fedea Imprisoned at Rich
nond-0igin Of Raid that Became Celebrated
cwritten expressly for The Herald,

ly IoL 4uc 41CAaA4-g
Court House. Fredericks Hall Station on
the Virginia Central Railroad, and roads
that would take him across the James
River above Richmond and along the
south bank to the vicinity Of Belle Isle
He was to cross to Belle Isle BY a
bridge from Manchester. release the
prisoners there-about 3ooo-and pro-
coed with them across a bridge into
Richmond. His stay there was to be
brief
Custer Makes q Feint.
Gen. fitzpatrick with his 1850 men was
to follow to Spottsyivania Court House
and thence was to pursue route that
was to bring him to Richmond on the
city's north side. He WAS to attack the
works. IL opposed. at 10 a. m. on March !.
the hour when Dahlgren was to make
his attack upon the prison camp at
Belle Isle.
Clusters division to distract the att
tenticn of the enemy from the main
movement, was to consist Of rapid
march around the left wing or Lees
army and dash upon Charlottesville
in Albemarlc County. AS screen to
Clusters movements the Sixth Army
Corps and one division Of the Third
Corps under Gen. John Sedgwick were
to move across the Rapidan and march
| tc Madison Court House, as II to threaten
the enemy's left flank.
The success of this movement may pc
noted here. It began on February q.
The infantry marched to Madison Court
House on February. 3 without opposition.
and Custer. starting on the morning OF
February 3, made a rapid march by way
OF Stanardsville toward Charlottesville,
arriving in the vicinity Of that town on
February q.
Here he discovered that the railroad
bridge across the Rivanna River, which
he intended TO destroy, was guarded by
both cavalry and infantry, supported by
four batteries OF artillery.
Custer ordered ward a part OF the
Fifth United States Cavalry to test the
strength OF the enemy by a charge
upon its right flank. This was success
! full, the enemy retiring and leaving In
the hands of the Federals six caissons
filled with ammunition and the equipage
Of an artillery camp.
Way to Richmond Open.
Learning that the Confederates were In
greatly superior numbers. Custer with
drew across a fork Of the Rivanna River,
burned the long covered bridge by which
he had crossed and large four mill
near il. and retired in the direction oil
Stanardsville-
| Darkness and a he.vy rain caused the
advance of the column, 500 men, under
Lieut. Col William Stedman, of the Sixth
Ohio Regiment, to become separated from
| the main body. pressing on while the
others bivouacked. Custer had now only
| 900 men On the morning Of March
| he encountered strong opposition from
two brigades of Stuart's Cavalry, led by
Gen. Stuart in person. A brisk skirmish
4 followed.
| Stuart believed that he had Custer
trapped and could capture his command
but Custer had artillery and with II
| opened a road by which he moved rapidly
| toward Madison Court House. where he
| arrived with fifty prisoners and 90 leo
horses on the night Of March ].
This movement served admirably &c
i divert the enemy's attention from the
| route that was to be followed by XII
patrick and Dahlgren. When they were
ready to cross the Rapidan on the even
| ing of March g. Stuart's Cavalry, which
! alone might have been hurrtedly put
across their path, was forty miles TO the
| west riding to engage Custer.
Although the proposed raid had been
the subject of gossip in Washington, much
4 to Gen. Meade's disappointment no ink
ling of the plan had reached Gen Lee
| through his spies, and fitzpatrick ano
Dahlgren were to find that they could
ride to the outskirts of Richmond practi-
| cally without opposition.
| Oahlgren's progress will be described
| February 2s; Kilpatrick's attack upor
Richmond and retreat March ], and Dahl.
gren's death March -
Tomorrow; Dahlgren's Raid.
(Copyriyht l9l4l