PLEASANTON'S CAVALRY FIGHT WITH STUART. 369 tunity offered, until about 1 P. M., when Gregg came up. He had been fighting pretty steadily all the morning, charging and being charged in turn, and had crowded his antagonists back to Brandy Station, where, Col. Wyndham reported, they were bringing up infantry in railroad cars. Gregg's cavalry had fought well, and taken 150 prisoners, but had lost heavily. The two divisions were now connected, and the Rebels in their immediate front pushed back; two regiments narrowly escaping capture. And now Pleasanton saw that he must begin to fall back or prepare to fight half of Lee's army; so he re fords, six miles apart, where they were to cross in two divisions, and advance on Culpepper C. H. (alias Fairfax), where J. E. B. Stuart was understood to be. But scarcely had Gen. Buford's cavalry, supported by Ames's infantry, crossed' Beverly ford, when they were sharply engaged; the Rebel ferry guard, whom they had hoped to surprise, falling back on Jones's cavalry brigade, encamped just behind, and checking our advance until these could mount and charge; when the 8th New York was routed with loss, and Col. B. F. Davis, its commander, killed. The 8th Illinois cavalry, now charging, drove the enemy back in disor-treated to the fords and recrossed about der: meantime, Gen. Russell brought over his infantry, and Pleasanton directed him to engage them in front, while Buford, with the cavalry, should strike them in flank. The charge was made with spirit by the 6th Pennsylvania, supported by the 5th and 6th regulars; but, just as the 6th had reached the enemy's guns, it was charged in turn by two regiments of Rebel cavalry which burst from the woods on its flank, and routed with heavy loss. dark; having lost about 500 men, and brought off over 100 prisoners. J. E. B. Stuart (who of course claims the result as his victory) admits a loss of over 600 of his cavalry in this affair, including Col. Saul Williams, 2d N. C., and Lt. Col. Frank Hampton, 2d S. C., killed; Gen. W. H. F. Lee and Cols. Butler and Harman being among his wounded. He claims 3 guns and a good many small arms captured; and an unofficial Rebel account says they took 336 prisoners, including wounded. Considered as a reconnoissance in force, Pleasanton's expedition was a decided success. There was no longer any doubt-if there had been till now-that the Rebel army was in this quarter, and tending westward. There had been a grand review of all the cavalry of the army at Culpepper Court House, a few days before; Gen. Lee and his staff being present. Pleasanton sent over next ing Longstreet's ammunition train on his way to Pennsylvania. Among our wounded here was Col. Percy Wyndham. day to ascertain the fate of some of his missing officers, and received for answer that every thing had been done for our wounded that humanity dictates, but that they could hold no further communication with him save by truce-boat on the James. Nevertheless, it was already ascertained by our reconnoissance that a Rebel column of infantry and artillery, moving westward, had been three hours and a half in passing through Sperryville, near the Blue Ridge; so that the Rebel army must be making its way into the Shenandoah Valley once more. Two days later, 250 Rebel cavalry dashed across the Potomac at Edwards's ferry, driving back part of the 6th Michigan cavalry, picketing the river, and burning their camp-recrossing, of course, but making no haste to quit that neighborhood. It was clear that active hostilities in that direction were meditated. 6 Still, Howe's division remained across the lower Rappahannock, well intrenched, as were the Rebels in its front; and Gen. Hooker, though he had begun to send his sick and wounded to Washington, lingered on the Rappahannock, as if doubtful of Lee's real purpose, and expecting to find him advancing by Warrenton to Bull Run; when a blow was struck that dissipated all reasonable doubt. Gen. R. H. Milroy was in command in the Valley, holding Winchester, under Gen. Schenck as department commander at Baltimore, to whom Halleck had suggested that Milroy's position seemed perilous; he having too many men to lose, yet not enough to insure his safety. His entire force numbered some 10,000 6 June 12. men, whereof 7,000 may have been considered effective. Of these, one brigade, Col. A. T. McReynolds, was thrown out on his right, holding Berryville, observing the adjacent passes of the Blue Ridge and fords of the Shenandoah; while his cavalry scouts patroled the Valley so far as Front Royal and Strasburg. So early as June 1st, he felt that the enemy holding the Valley above him were inclined to crowd; and, on the 12th, he sent out a strong reconnoissance on either road to ascertain what this meant. That on the Strasburg road went nearly to Middletown, where its troopers decoyed a Rebel cavalry patrol into an ambush, and routed it with a loss of 50 killed and wounded and 37 prisoners. Col. Shawl returned to Winchester, and reported no force on that road which had not been there for months. On the Front Royal road, the 12th Pennsylvania cavalry, Lt.-Col. Moss, 400 strong, went only to Cedarville, 12 miles, and returned, reporting that they had been stopped by a large Rebel force; but Milroy refused to credit the story; insisting that they had been too easily frightened, and that, if any such force could be there, he should have heard of its approach from Hooker or Halleck; nevertheless, he advised McReynolds to look sharp. Next morning,' however, his patrols on the Front Royal road reported the enemy advancing in force; whereupon, Milroy signaled McReynolds to join him, while he sent out a considerable force on either road to learn what was brewing. They had not far to go. Col. Ely, on the Front Royal road, was stopped barely a mile from Winchester, 'June 13. 371 a time to fly as well as a time to fight, and that now was the time to run, after destroying every thing that could be of use to the enemy. But Milroy held on, waiting for something to turn up, and let the night pass unimproved. The next day was one of ominous quiet for the most part; but the enemy was constantly crowding up, and was of course working around to cut off the retreat of the garrison. ALDI There was skirmishing at intervals; and the numbers of the foe visibly and steadily increased. At 4 P. M., they made a charge up the Front Royal road to the edge of the town, but by a Rebel battery, and fell back, were repulsed; when Milroy ordered after a slight skirmish, unpursued; a charge in turn, which amounted while General Elliott, on the Stras- to little-the enemy being found in burg road, advanced a very little far- great force just out of range of our ther, and was halted by observing works; and, a little later, they openthe enemy in force on his left-that ed fire from two 8-gun batteries on is, on the Front Royal road. Here the north-west, hardly a mile from some cannon-balls were exchanged; town; and forthwith Ewell's infantry when our men fell back to Applepie swept up to and over our breastridge, that next the city; where works, disregarding the fire of our more skirmishing beguiled the time guns, driving out the 110th Ohio till dark, when a prisoner was taken with heavy loss, and planting their who rather astonished Milroy by colors on the defenses. Meantime, the information that he belonged to the city had been substantially inEwell's (formerly Stonewall Jack-vested on every side, and was now son's) corps, and that Longstreet's also virtually lost; though an attempt to was just at hand-the two number- storm the main fort from the position ing about 50,000 men. first gained was repulsed; and the assailants desisted for a time. Col. McReynolds, with his brigade, arrived from Berryville at 9 P. M., and was assigned a position; but what use in that? Lee's army was at hand; Hooker's was many weary marches away, had not been heard from, and knew nothing of the imminent peril. A thoroughly brave and competent commander must have realized, it would seem, that there is Sunday, June 14. At 1 A. M., Milroy held a council, which decided to evacuate and run. It was too late. Though he spiked his guns, and drowned his powder, he was unable to steal off, and obliged to fight-the enemy attacking so soon as he had disarmed himself. 110th Ohio, Col. Keifer, and the 122d ditto, on one road, the 87th PennsylMonday, June 15. The militia of that State-the call, though loud and shrill, awaking but few and faint responses. Now the President called" specifically on the nearest States for militia, as follows: Maryland....10,000 | New York....20,000 Pennsylvania. 50,000 Ohio........30,000 West Virginia.....10,000. vania, Col. Shawl, and the 15th Con- | Curtin had called" out the entire necticut, Col. Ely, on another, did most of the fighting that was done on our side; the former acting as a rear-guard; but the business in hand was not a fight, but a race—and very properly so. Four miles from Winchester, a Rebel division barred the way; and here the fugitives were of The Governors rëechoed the call; course routed, and many of them captured. Most of those who escap-uniformed and disciplined regiments but the response was still weak. The ed crossed the Potomac at Hancock, and did not stop running till they brought up in Bedford county, Pennsylvania; the residue headed for Harper's Ferry, and soon distanced their pursuers. Milroy says" 5,000 of his men reported at the Ferry or at Bloody Run, Pa., and he hoped that 1,000 more would do so; which hope was of course a delusion. Lee says General Rhodes captured 700 prisoners and 5 guns at Martinsburg, and proceeds to enumerate more than 4,000 prisoners, 29 guns, 277 wagons, and 400 horses," as the fruits of "these operations "-probably including in those totals his Martinsburg spoils. Milroy's great mistake was holding on just one day too long -his communications with Schenck and Halleck having already been severed. Halleck had suggested to Schenck the propriety of withdrawing him so early as the 11th. Early is credited by Lee with the capture of Winchester. Ere this, the Government had taken the alarm, as it well might. An order" from the War Department had constituted of Pennsylvania two new Military Departments-that of the Susquehanna (eastern), under Gen. Couch; that of the Monongahela, Gen. W. T. H. Brooks; and Gov. of, New York City generally and promptly went on; and Gov. Seymour was publicly thanked therefor by Secretary Stanton; but the number of Pennsylvanians, Marylanders, and West Virginians, who set their faces resolutely toward the enemy in to that of their brethren who seemed this crisis bore but a slim proportion just now to have urgent business the Ohio. In other words, the country east of the Susquehanna or west of was profoundly disheartened; while the Army had already absorbed what was bravest and most patriotic of its militia. The number who actually responded to these urgent, repeated, and most reasonable calls from the several States was (liberally estima- New Jersey.. 3,000 Delaware.... 2,000 Gen. Hooker had now begun" to move his army northward—rëcrossing Howe's division and evacuating the valley of the Rappahannock. Lee had just about a fair week's start of him. Moving rapidly north-westward, with his cavalry thrown well out on his left flank, watching the passes of the Blue Ridge, Hooker's infantry passed through Dumfries,” to Centerville, covering Washington, LEE ENTERS PENNSYLVANIA. 373 and watching for fresh developments | borough authorities paid the amount of the enemy's plans. Meantime,our cavalry, under Pleasanton, was constantly confronted by that of Lee, under Stuart; and nearly every day witnessed a fight or a skirmish, as our troopers crowded up to the passes of the Blue Ridge, and attempted to scan what was going on beyond them, or the enemy dashed down into the valleys this side, incited by a like laudable thirst for knowledge. At length, a pretty general cavalry fight occurred," nearly westward of Washington, on the line of the great highway from Alexandria to Winchester, down which Stuart had pushed so far as Upperville; whence he was repelled by a charge of Kilpatrick's brigade, and forced back into Ashby's Gap, after a spirited brush, with determined charges on either side. Kilpatrick was once taken prisoner, but rescued by a countercharge directly. Buford and Gregg were active this day; as was W. H. F. Lee on the side of the Rebels, who lost 2 guns, and perhaps 150 men in all, including Col. M. Lewis, 9th Virginia, killed. Our loss did not exceed 100. Meantime, Gen. Jenkins and his brigade of Rebel cavalry had raided across the Potomac and Maryland up to Chambersburg, Pa., which they entered, unopposed, at 11 P. M." They took horses, cattle, &c., destroyed the railroad, and swept off into Slavery some 50 negroes-all they could catch-but did no wanton injury. Jenkins paid liberally for drugs-in Confederate scrip-and, some of his horses having vanished, threatened to burn the town if they were not returned or their value made up. The demanded (only $900) in Confederate scrip, which had suddenly become abundant there; and it was pocketed without remark, but without obvious relish. Gen. Ewell, with his corps, had crossed into Maryland at Williamsport," on the heels of Milroy's fugitives, pushing on unmolested to Chambersburg-our force at Harper's Ferry retiring across the river to Maryland Heights, where it was not molested. Early's division of Ewell's corps was impelled eastward from Chambersburg to York; while Johnson's moved northward to Carlisle; Imboden, with his brigade, moving westward up the Potomac, destroying railroad bridges, &c., so far as Cumberland. Lee seems to have meditated a dash on Washington; but, Hooker's army remaining in its front, instead of rushing over into Maryland, no opportunity was presented; so the whole Rebel army forded" the Potomac; A. P. Hill's corps at Shepherdstown, and Lee, with Longstreet's, at Williamsport; both, uniting at Hagerstown, advanced, unopposed, on the track of Ewell, to Chambersburg." Ewell had taken quiet possession of Carlisle, pushing forward his advance to Kingston, within 13 miles of Harrisburg. Meanwhile, such militia as had been mustered in or sent from Eastern States to the aid of Pennsylvania were collected, under Gen. Couch, at Harrisburg; while Gen. Brooks, powerfully aided by the volunteer efforts of the citizens, hastily threw up a line of defenses intended to cover Pittsburg. All doubt as to the enemy's purposes being now dispelled, Gen. |