Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-27
ADVANCE OF FEDERALs
ON FREDERICKSBURG
Member Of Cavalry Tells OF Approach
Of Union Forces and With
drawal OF Confeterates.
INFANTRY is FORMIDABLE
ARTILLERY Posted on Commanding
Hills of Stafford Gives No Choice
But Retirement, and City Falls
Into Hands OF PhilistineS.


Hills of Stafford Gives No Choice
But Retirement, and City Falls
Into Hands OF Philistines.
About April TO- 1862, the author of
this paper was member Of a cavalry
company from wcstmorcland County
encampcd at Office Hall, the birthplace
or the Hon. William Smith. who was
later Governor of Virginia and already
popularly styled Extra Billy" An
order had been received for the com
pany to march TO the vicinity of Bosco-
mel In Stafford. nearly opposite 10 Fred
cricksburg. and the impression had been
created among the men that important
Federal movements were in contcm-
Dlation with view TO driving the
Confederates from the northern side
OF the Rappahannock and the occupa-
ton Of Fredericksburg.
We had scarcely established our
bivouac I'm Stafford before the number
OF pickets ordered to be sent out from
the company and several other COM
panies. which had assembled In the
same vicinity. and the rigid cautionary
instructions given them to keep "a
vigilant eye OH the enemy's approach
satisfied us that Federal advance
was hourly expected.
We ascertalned that Major w II F.
=
was holding the roads leading TO Fiu-
mouth from tho west, and that Major
w T. Taliaferro. with four companies
~ the Fortieth Virginia Infantry, was
in position TO support the cavalry II
an attack should occur. The other com
panics of the Fortleth Regiment. under
Colonel J. NJ. BrockcnbrouEh. were on
The Spotsylvania side OF the river and
were subsequently ordered to move
over TO the assistance OF Major ITALIA
ferro in the event he should be heavily
pressed.
oRDERLIEs SEE APPROACH
OF Federal. CAVALRY
On Thursday. April Il. late in the
afternoon, Major Lees ordcrlies saw
he approach OF Federal cavalry on the
warrenton road. and some skirmishing
took place In the vicinity OF Spotted
Tavern and Grove APPEL. The troops
on the Federal side engaged in this
advance had made forced march from
Catlctts Station. twentY-siN miles dis
tant, and were a brigade OF Kings Di-
vision. commanded by Colonel Jeremiah
e, sullivan. and seven companies or the
Harris Light Cavalry, under Colonel
hudson Fitzpatrick. with also four com
panies OF the First PENNSYLVANIA Caval-
~ under Lieutenant Colonel owen
Jones. Brigadicr General Irwin Nc
Dowell COT Bull Run famc) commanded
these troops, and his plan was TO attack
the Falmouth bridge so secretly and
suddenly as to gain possession Of II
before tho Coufcdcrates could burn ii.
For this purpose Colonel Bayard hav-
ing command OF the cavalry. designat-
ed four companies of his regiment to
be led by Lieutenant Colonel owen. who
were TO seize tho bridge. rush across
H. cut down tho heavy gates on the or
posi.e side and throw out pickcts in
advance"
The diminishing with Lee in the af-
,crnoon OF Thursday resulted In the
fall of Lieutenant James y. Decker
OF the First Pennsylvania Cavalry. as
we'll as the woundin@ Of several other
men On tho side OF the Coniedcra'"s
one man waa KILLED. and fec was con-
PEELED to abandon his camp ~ Herea
Church with some haste.
This action led TO thc speedy move
ment OF thu cavalry companies under
Major Reale with which the present
writer was connected. ana they passed
through Falmouth and beyond 'nilo
or so where saJo- Tallafcrro had sta
toned his infantry companies. aud
built across tho road log ana rail
barricadc. When near tho barricade,
after nightfall. tho cavalry was march
ed into field OH the right or the road
and permitted to diEmount, each man
being allowed TO lie down and get such
sleep he could while holding tic
fell into sound .lumber, this writer
among them, when in the stiffness and
darkness OF the morning some time
before day light the noise of a few
pistol shots was heard. followed by a
voiley OF muskctry. and with these
were mingled the yells of the infantry
men guarding the barricade.
HAvI; sTARTLING EFFECT
IN DARKNESS OF NIGHT
These voices breaking forth sudden.
Is on the nights darkness and silence
had a most startling effect on the sleep
ing cavalrrmen and their horses. The
horses were not easily restrained from
dashing away in wild flight. and If the
men had only been mounted many
would probably have dashed away with
them. The infantry, firing from the
barrtcade and conscious Of how sudden
iy the enemy's charge was stopped and
how rapidly they reiterated gave vent
to their feelings in cheers and yells
The result of the cavalry charge in
the dark was. in tho language Of tho
Federal commander, "a loss OF five kill
ed sixteen wounded and some fifteen
dead horses" On the Confederate side
the engagement was bloodless one.
As the dawn OF Friday morning tthe
1ath) began to break. the heavy force
Of the Federal side was reported as
advancing. and General G. w. Fields.
In command Of the Confcderatcs. order
ed their WftndTaWal over INC FalinOItn
bridge, and this was accomplished as
the sun rose. The company OF cavalry.
Of which the writer was member.
brought w the rear. and crossed the
bridge in time only TO escape the flames
that hal been kindled for it's dcstruc-
lion.
The company was still on the bridge
and near the mill which stood at the
southern end of tt when a Federal can
non was unlimbered on the hill above
Falmouth and hurting n charge of can
lister down on us struck Private r. S.
Lawrence in the shoulder as he rode
in the line with his comrades, inflict-
ing on him a painful wound.
After crossing the river we halted
briefly, and then the march from the
bridge to the town was In perfect or
der. but with no unnecessary further
delay, and whom the command reached
The eh elter OF the houses on the north
side Of Main street II was halted. Many
ait n n1o ht,cf