University of Virginia Library

3. III.

Stuart had just passed Auburn, when General Gordon, commanding
the rear of his column, sent him word that a heavy
force of the enemy's infantry had closed in behind him, completely
cutting him off from General Lee. As at the same
moment an army corps of Federal infantry was discovered moving
across his front, General Stuart awoke to the unpleasant
consciousness that his little force of cavalry was securely hemmed
in between overpowering masses of the enemy, who, as soon as
they discovered the presence of the audacious interlopers, would
unquestionably attack and cut them to pieces.

The “situation” was now in the highest degree critical. In
fact, Stuart had managed to get his command inclosed between
the two retreating columns of General Meade—infantry, cavalry,
and artillery—and these columns, as they moved across his front
and rear, were converging toward Bristoe, near Manassas. The
only hope of safety lay in complete concealment of his presence,
and General Stuart issued the most stringent orders to his troops
that no noise of any description should be made during the night.
There was little necessity to impress this upon the command.
Within a few hundred yards of them, in front and in rear, were
moving the huge columns of the enemy; the feet of the infantry
shuffling, the hoofs of the cavalry clattering, the artillery wheels
and chains rolling and jingling, and above the whole the stifled
hum of an army on the march. The men sat motionless and
silent in the saddle, listening, throughout the long hours of the
night. No man spoke; no sound was heard from human lips
as the little force remained perdu in the darkness. But the
“dumb animals” were not equally intelligent, and more than
once some thoughtless horse neighed or some indiscreet donkey
in the artillery uttered his discordant notes. In the noise of the
Federal retreat these sounds, however, were not observed, and
thus the night wore on and daylight came.

The first glimmer showed General Stuart that the Federal forces
had nearly all passed. In fact the rear force had halted within a
few hundred yards of his position and were cooking their breakfasts.
Now was his opportunity not only to extricate himself,
but to take vengeance for the long hours of anxiety and peril.
Picked men had been sent during the night to pass through the
advancing column and announce the critical position of affairs to
General Lee, and Stuart had suggested a vigorous infantry
attack upon the enemy's left flank while he attacked their right.
Not hearing from General Lee, he took the initiative. At dawn
he put his artillery in position, drew up his cavalry, and opened
a thundering fire upon the Federal troops; knocking over their
coffee-pots, and scattering them in wild confusion. They rallied,
however, and made a vigorous attack—a severe though brief
engagement following—but Stuart repulsed this assault, slowly

fell back, and soon his little command was extricated from its
peril, Altogether this was a curious affair. It was not attractive,
however “romantic.” One of the bravest infantry officers
of the army, who accompanied the expedition as an amateur,
declared, laughing, that he was “done with the cavalry—the
infantry was enough for him thereafter.”

Meanwhile General Lee was pressing the retiring enemy toward
Bristoe; Stuart on the right, and General Fitz Lee moving on
their left, through New Baltimore. There was some fatal blunder,
however, in the execution of General Lee's orders, or else
some obstacle which could not be overcome. General Meade
pushed on and crossed Broad Run, making with his main body
for Manassas. When the Southern advance force reached Bristoe
they found the main Federal army gone. A strong force,
however, remained, and this was drawn up behind a long railroad
embankment serving admirably as a breastwork. The men
had only to lie down upon the slope, rest their muskets on the
track of the railroad, and sweep the open field in their front with
a shower of balls if the Confederates attacked. The attack was
made—straight across open ground, down a slope, right on the
embankment. The consequence was that Cooke's brigade, which
was ordered to make the attempt, was nearly annihilated, the General
falling among the first at the head of his troops: and, advanceing
against the line to his left, the enemy captured, I believe, nine
pieces of artillery. After this exploit they quietly retired across
Broad Run, and rejoined the main column. A worse managed
affair than that fight at Bristoe did not take place during the
war. “Well, well, General,” Lee is reported to have said to the
officer who essayed to explain the occurrence, “bury these poor
men, and let us say no more about it.” General Meade was
behind Bull Run fortifying.

Thus terminated General Lee's vigorous attempt to bring on a
pitched battle with Meade. That was his design, as it was General
Meade's design in coming over to Mine Run in the succeeding
December. Both schemes failed. From the high ground
beyond Bristoe, Lee, surrounded by his generals, reconnoitred
the retiring rear-guard of the enemy, and issued his orders for

the army to retrace its steps to the Rappahannock. The cavalry
had not, however, finished their work. The fine October weather
was admirable for active movement, and Stuart pushed
straight on to Manassas, harassing the Federal forces as they
crossed Bull Run. At Blackburn's Ford, General Fitz Lee had
a brisk engagement, which drove the Federal cavalry across;
and, near Yates's Ford, General Stuart charged over a barricade
at the head of his horsemen, scattered the Federal sharpshooters,
and drove to and across the stream their cavalry and artillery.

An odd incident marked this occasion. It was about dusk
when the enemy began to retire from our front, their artillery
roaring on the right, but taking position after position, each
nearer Bull Run. General Stuart was within about four hundred
yards of the Federal guns, in the edge of the woods, surrounded
by his staff, escort, etc., one of whom had just taken up a dead
man before him to carry off. At this moment, among the figures
moving to and fro, one—apparently a member of the staff or
escort—was seen quietly riding out into the field, as if to gain a
better view of the Federal artillery. “Who is that?” said General
Stuart, pointing to the figure, indistinct in the dusk. “One
of the couriers,” some one replied. “No!” returned Stuart,
“halt him!” Two men immediately galloped after the suspected
individual, who was easily, carelessly, and quietly edging
off; and he speedily returned between them. Behold! he wore
under his oilcloth a blue coat! “What do you belong to?”
asked Stuart. “The First Maine, sir,” responded the other with
great nonchalance. In fact, the “gentleman from Maine” had
got mixed up with us when the column went over the barricade;
and, wrapped in his oilcloth, had listened to the remarks of
Stuart and his staff, until he thought he could get away. The
quick eye of General Stuart, however, penetrated his disguise,
and he was a prisoner.

It was now night, and operations were over for the day. The
retreat had been admirably managed. General Meade had carried
off everything. We did not capture a wagon wheel. All
was beyond Bull Run. The present writer here records his
own capture, viz. one oilcloth, one feed of oats, found in the

road, and one copy of Harper's Magazine, full of charming pictures
of rebels, running, or being annihilated, in every portion
of the country. On the next morning, Stuart left Fitz Lee
in front of Bull Run, to oppose any advance of the Federal cavalry
there, and, taking Hampton's division, set out through a
torrent of rain to make a flank movement against General
Meade's right beyond the Little River Turnpike. He had intended
to cross at Sudley Ford, but coming upon the Federal
cavalry near Groveton, a fight ensued, and the column could
not cross there without having the movement unmasked. Stuart
accordingly turned to the left; made a detour through Gainsville;
and advancing, amid a violent storm, bivouacked that
night beyond the Little Catharpin. The General on this day
kept his entire staff and surroundings in great good-humour, by
his songs and laughter, which only seemed to grow more jovial
as the storm became more violent. I hope the reader will not
regard this statement as “unworthy of the dignity of history.”
Fortunately I am not writing history; only a poor little sketch
of a passage in the life of a very great man; and it has seemed
to me that all concerning him is interesting. Pardon! august
muse of history, that dealest in protocols and treaties! We
pass on.

The weather was charming, as on the next morning the column
advanced toward “Frying-Pan Church,” and the troopers subsisted
delightfully upon chinquepins, chestnuts, persimmons, and
wild grapes. Reaching a magnificent apple-tree, weighed down
with fruit as red as carnations, the men, with the fullest permission
from the hospitable owner, threw themselves upon it,
and soon the whole was stripped, the soldiers going on their way
rejoicing. Never have I seen more splendid weather than those
October days, or more beautiful tints in the foliage. Pity that
the natural red of the birch and dogwood was not enough without
blood! Stuart advanced rapidly, and near Frying-Pan
Church came upon and at once attacked the Second corps of
Federal infantry. A long ling of sharpshooters was formed,
which advanced on foot in line of battle. The artillery roared,
and at first the Federal troops gave ground. The aspect of

affairs speedily changed, however, and a strong Federal force,
advancing in order of battle, made it necessary for Stuart to
withdraw. This was done at once, with great deliberation, and
at the “Recall” of the bugle the skirmishers slowly moved back
and gained the woods. A spectacle which aroused the good-humoured
laughter of those who witnessed it, was a staff officer
carrying off in his arms a young lady of about fourteen from a
house which the enemy were about to have within their lines.
This was done at the suggestion of the General; and although
the bullets were flying and the officer's horse was “dancing upon
all four feet,” the young lady declared herself “not afraid,” and
did not change colour at the bullets. If this meets the fair girl's
eye she is informed that the officer has still the gray who came
near unseating her as he jumped the fence, and that his rider
has not forgotten the smiling little face, but remembers it with
admiration and pleasure!