THE CHAMBERSBURG RAID
1862
On October 8, after a final dance and serenade to the ladies at The
Bower, Stuart started out to join the forces that he had ordered to
assemble at Darkesville, from which point he was to lead them on the
famous “Chambersburg Raid.”
The purpose of this raid, which had been ordered by General Lee, was to
march into Pennsylvania and Maryland and to secure information
concerning the location of McClellan’s army, and also to secure
provisions and horses for the Confederate forces.
Not a soldier of the 1,800 picked cavalrymen from the brigades of
Hampton, Fitz Lee, and Robertson or the gunners under Pelham, knew
whither they were going or for what purpose. Most of them, however, had
been with Stuart on his Chickahominy Raid, and all were content to
follow wherever he led.
[Illustration: MAP SHOWING THE ROUTES OF STUART’S CAVALRY IN GETTYSBURG
CAMPAIGN AND CHAMBERSBURG RAID]
In his address to his men at the beginning of the expedition, Stuart
said that the enterprise on which they were about to start demanded
coolness, decision, and bravery, implicit obedience and the strictest
order and sobriety in the camp and on the bivouac, but that with the
hearty coöperation of his officers and men he had no doubt of a success
which would reflect credit on them in the highest degree.
The men in fine spirits reached the Potomac after dark. The next
morning, they crossed the river at McCoy’s Ford, west of McClellan’s
army which was posted north of the Potomac between Shepherdstown and
Harper’s Ferry. A heavy fog hung over the river valley and hid them from
the Federal infantry which had just passed by.
A signal station on Fairview Heights was taken by twenty men detailed
for the purpose and then the column passed on toward Mercersburg. By
this time, the Federal pickets were aware of the raid; but as there was
no large force of cavalry at hand, its progress was unchecked. On and on
the little band of horsemen rode until at nightfall they reached
Chambersburg in Pennsylvania. As Maryland was regarded as a southern
State, nothing belonging to its citizens had been disturbed; but when
Pennsylvania was reached, soldiers detached from the commands for that
purpose, seized all suitable horses, giving each owner a receipt, so
that he could call upon the United States government for payment,—thus
forcing the administration at Washington either to help equip the
Confederate army or to make its own citizens suffer. Stuart, with his
usual gallantry, gave orders that the men should not take the horses of
ladies whom they might meet along the highway.
As the command approached Chambersburg on the night of October 10, a
cold drizzling rain set in. Two pieces of artillery were posted so as to
command the town, and Lieutenant Thomas Lee with nine men was sent into
the town to demand its surrender. No resistance was made and the troops
were at once marched into the town and drawn up on the public square.
Strict discipline was observed and only Federal property was used or
destroyed.
During the night, the rain came down in torrents on the weary, hungry
Confederates. Surrounded by increasing dangers, Stuart with his staff
neither rested nor slept. By that time, cavalry and infantry were on his
track and every ford of the Potomac was strongly guarded. At any time,
the heavy rains might cause the river to rise and cut off retreat. His
only hope was to move boldly and swiftly to a crossing before the water
could descend from the mountains and flood the streams. Stuart decided,
however, not to return the way he had come, as large forces of Federal
cavalry, like hornets, would be awaiting him there. He resolved to make
another ride around McClellan’s army and to cross at White’s Ford some
distance to the east, so close to the Federals that they would not be
looking for him there. The very boldness of the plan was its best
guarantee of success and the next morning the general started his men on
their dangerous march around the enemy.
[Illustration: STUART’S SWORD
From Original in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va.]
Colonel A. K. McClure of the Philadelphia _Times_, then a colonel in the
Federal army and a resident of Chambersburg, gives the following account
of Stuart as he was preparing to leave Chambersburg: “General Stuart sat
on his horse in the center of the town, surrounded by his staff, and his
command was coming in from the country in large squads, leading their
old horses and riding the new ones which they had found in the stables
hereabout. General Stuart is of medium stature, has a keen eye, and wore
immense sandy whiskers and mustache. His demeanor to our people is that
of a humane soldier. In several instances his soldiers began to take
property from stores, but they were arrested by Stuart’s provost guard.”
This evidence as to the discipline of Stuart’s men comes from a Federal
officer, and shows fully the control that the general exercised over his
command.
The wounded in the Chambersburg hospital were paroled, the telegraph
wires were cut, and the ordnance storehouse was blown up by brave
Captain M. C. Butler of South Carolina, who now commanded the rear
guard. He notified the people near the ordnance storehouse that he was
about to set fire to it and then applied a slow fuse. There was a loud
explosion and then the flames burst forth. Satisfied that his work was
well done, Colonel Butler and his escort set out at a trot to rejoin the
command.
[Illustration: STUART’S PISTOL
From Original in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va.]
[Illustration: STUART’s CARBINE
From Original in Confederate Museum, Richmond, Va.]
On the outskirts of the town, there came galloping up from the rear a
young soldier in gray, riding a big black horse. He wore no hat and one
boot was gone. He was covered with mud and was soaking wet, for he had
come into town with the rear guard about midnight in the darkness and
pouring rain. The command had halted for a few hours in a quiet side
street and had set out at break of day as the advance guard.
The young soldier’s foot had been hurt, so he dismounted and pulled off
his boot, in order to ease the pain. He then concluded to lie down for
awhile and perhaps take a nap, for he was very tired. Tying the bridle
rein to his foot, he lay down in the pouring rain and went to sleep.
When he awoke, it was broad daylight and he was all alone. In the
darkness of the cloudy dawn, his comrades had left him sleeping. His big
black horse was still tied to his foot, but his hat, his haversack, and
one of his boots were gone. Rising quickly, he mounted his horse and was
trying to decide which way to go when an old lady raised a window near
by and called out, “Sonny, your folks have gone that way.” With a
lighter heart he thanked her, and set off at a gallop along the
Gettysburg road to which she had pointed. As he sped along, the people
called out, “Go it, Johnny! Goodby, Johnny! Hurry, Johnny!” All seemed
to be in a good humor over the speedy departure of the Confederates. It
was not many minutes before he reached the rear of Butler’s detachment,
and was safe.
Soon after the break of day, the advance column under General Fitz Lee
started towards Gettysburg, but at Cashtown the column turned south
toward Emmitsburg in Maryland. When Stuart arrived at the latter place,
the people received him with great joy and the young ladies of the town
threw flowers at the troops. But in spite of this hearty welcome, the
Confederates could not linger, for they learned that a party of Federals
in search of them, had passed only a short time before.
Going in a steady trot without halting, Stuart passed on to the woods of
Frederick, and captured a courier with a dispatch from the commander of
the party sent out to find him. From this dispatch, he learned the
arrangements which had been made to capture him, and learned also that
the Federals did not know just where he was.
In the meantime, the Federal cavalry was hurrying to overtake him, but
Stuart, aware of his extreme danger, aimed straight for the Potomac. His
tired men and horses marched all night, and by dawn on October 13, they
reached Hyattstown where a few wagons were captured. On the march,
Stuart had learned that a division of five thousand men was guarding the
fords in front of him. Knowing that delay would increase his peril, he
hastened on in the direction of Poolesville where a body of Federal
cavalry was located.
When within two miles of that town, guided by Captain White who was
familiar with the region, he turned abruptly through some woods which
concealed his movements and gained the road leading to the river about
two miles distant. Hardly had the Confederates entered this road when
the advance squadron met the head of the Federal column coming from
Poolesville. General Stuart, who was at the head of the squadron,
ordered a charge and drove the Federals back upon the main body half a
mile away. Thinking that Stuart was aiming to cross the strongly-guarded
ford at the mouth of the Monocacy river, the Federals, instead of
seizing this favorable opportunity to make an advance and crush the
Confederate cavalry, waited for their infantry to come up.
In the meanwhile, General Fitz Lee’s sharpshooters leaped from their
horses and went forward while one of Pelham’s guns was brought up. Under
cover of its fire and screened from view by the ridge upon which it was
placed, General Lee’s command moved on by a farm road to White’s Ford.
When General Lee reached White’s Ford, he found a force of two hundred
Federal infantry so strongly posted on the steep bank overlooking the
ford that a crossing seemed impossible. Infantry in front and cavalry in
the rear! Would it be possible to escape from the snare by which they
were surrounded? Nothing but boldness and swiftness could save them.
General Lee sent a courier to General Stuart who was on the Poolesville
road with Pelham’s guns and the skirmishers keeping back Federal
troopers until the rear guard should come up.
“I do not believe that the ford can be crossed,” said General Lee.
Stuart replied, “I am occupied in the rear, but the ford must be crossed
at all hazards.”
General Lee, therefore, prepared to attack the Federal infantry in its
strong position on the bluff. One part of his force was to assail it in
front and on the left flank, while a strong body of cavalry endeavored
to cross and hold the ford. Lee hoped to be able to get one gun placed
on the opposite bank and then to fire on the Federal rear.
While making his hurried preparations, it occurred to General Lee to try
a game of “bluff.” Under flag of truce, he sent a note to the Federal
commander, saying that General Stuart’s whole command was in his front
and needless bloodshed would be avoided if he would surrender. Fifteen
minutes was allowed him to consider this demand.
After fifteen minutes’ anxious waiting and no reply, General Fitz Lee
opened with his artillery and was preparing to advance his horsemen,
when it was seen that the Federals, with flags flying and band playing,
were retreating in perfect order down the river.
A wild cheer broke from the Confederates as some of their men rushed
across the ford to place a piece of artillery at the top of the steep
bank on the Virginia side of the Potomac. Another gun was hurried
forward and placed so as to sweep the tow-path and the approaches to the
ford, While the long line of cavalrymen and captured horses passed
rapidly across to safety. Once more Stuart had slipped through the hands
of his enemy.
In the meanwhile, Pelham held the Federals in check until all but the
rear guard under Colonel Butler had passed. Then he began to withdraw,
making his last stand on the Maryland side of the ford, where he fired
up and down the river at the Federal cavalry now advancing in both
directions. But the rear guard was still far behind. Major McClellan
tells us that General Stuart had sent back four couriers to hurry up
Colonel Butler; still he did not come. In this dilemma, Captain
Blackford volunteered to find him.
Stuart paused a moment and then extending his hand said, “All right! and
if we do not meet again, good-by, old fellow.”
Blackford galloped off and found Butler with his own regiment and the
North Carolina detachment and one gun, engaged in delaying the advance
of the enemy in the Poolesville road. Blackford rode rapidly toward him
and shouted, “General Stuart says, ‘Withdraw at a gallop, or you will be
cut off.’”
“But,” replied Butler, with great coolness, “I don’t think I can bring
off that gun. The horses can’t move it.”
“Leave the gun and save your men!” replied Blackford.
“Well, we’ll see what can be done,” said Butler, and then he ordered the
drivers to make one more effort. That time they were successful. The
weary horses pulled the wheels out of the mudhole and the gun went
rattling down the road, followed by the tardy but gallant rear guard.
The Federal cavalry and artillery were following and infantry was
approaching in two directions; but the rear guard slipped through the
net, dashed rapidly across the ford, and soon was safe in Virginia.
The joy of the men and their commander at the success of their
expedition was unbounded. The Federals were near enough to hear the
Confederate cheers that greeted General Stuart as he rode along his
lines on the Virginia side.
In the official report of the expedition, Stuart claimed no personal
credit, but closed the report by saying, “Believing that the hand of God
was clearly manifested in the deliverance of my command from danger and
the crowning success attending it, I ascribe to him the praise, the
honor, and the glory.”
The march of the Confederate cavalry from Chambersburg is one of the
most remarkable in history. In thirty-six hours, the Confederates rode
ninety miles, going completely around the Union army. They carried off
hundreds of horses, and recrossed the Potomac in the presence of vastly
superior forces of the Federals. Only one man was wounded and two
stragglers were captured.
[Illustration: GENERAL STUART IN 1862
From an original negative by Cooke, the only negative from life that is
extant]
General Stuart himself, however, suffered a heavy personal loss, for his
servant Bob who rattled the bones so well, got separated from the
column, with two of the general’s favorite horses, Skylark and Lady
Margaret. He wrote his wife that he hoped that they had fallen into the
hands of the good secessionists at Emmitsburg, for he could not bear to
think of the Federals having his favorite horses.
The horses of the Federal cavalry had been so worn out in pursuit of the
wily Stuart that remounts were necessary before the cavalry could again
advance into Virginia. The whole North was astonished and indignant that
Stuart had again ridden completely around the Union army and had again
made his escape.
To the South, Stuart was a peerless hero and he was welcomed with great
acclamation. A lady of Baltimore, as a token of her appreciation of his
gallantry, sent him a pair of gold spurs. He was very proud of these and
in his intimate letters after this, he sometimes signed himself, “K. G.
S.”, or “Knight of the Golden Spurs.”