VII. — STUART CAUGHT IN THE TRAP.
I found the general moving toward Auburn, on a reconnoissance.
Meade had been delayed much by uncertainty as to his adversary’s designs—had scarcely advanced beyond the Rappahannock—and the object of Stuart was to discover his position and intentions.
That was the work always assigned to the “Eyes and Ears” of the army Stuart’s cavalry; and the stout cavalier, now at the head of his column, was on for the railroad, along which the enemy must retreat.
Another comedy was to follow—which came near being a tragedy.
Stuart steadily advanced, and about sunset had passed Auburn, when, as he was riding at the head of his column, a messenger rode up hastily from Gordon, holding the rear.
“Well!” said Stuart.
“The enemy are in your rear, general!”
“Impossible!”
“General Gordon sent me to say so.”
Stuart turned and galloped back. Gordon came to meet him.
“The Yankee army are in our rear, general,” said Gordon. “Come, and I will show you.”
And riding to an eminence he pointed out across the fields, in the gathering gloom, long lines of infantry and artillery moving toward Manassas.
Stuart gazed at them keenly. As he sat looking toward them, a staff officer from the front came up rapidly.
“Well, captain!”
“The enemy are in front, general.”
“Infantry?”
“Yes, with artillery.”
Stuart looked at Gordon.
“A real trap,” he said coolly, knitting his brows.
“Have they seen you, Gordon?” he asked.
“I think not, general.”
“Well, so far all is well. There is nothing to do but to lay low, and take the chances of getting out.”
Stuart’s voice was never cooler. He looked quietly at the huge column cutting off his retreat.
“A splendid chance to attack them!” he all at once exclaimed.
And tearing a leaf out of his dispatch-book, he wrote a hasty note to General Lee. I afterward knew what it contained. Stuart described his situation, and proposed that Rodes, then near Warrenton, should attack at dawn—when he would open with his artillery, charge with his horsemen, and cut his way out.
“A good man in blue uniform now, Gordon.”
Gordon sent off an aid, and the man soon appeared. From top to toe he was of irreproachable blue; and he listened keenly to his instructions.
Five minutes afterward he had dismounted, given his horse to a comrade, and was stealing on foot through the thicket toward the Federal column. A moment afterward he had mingled with their column and disappeared.
Other messengers, also in Federal uniform, were dispatched: the whole force of cavalry was massed, and concealed in the woods: then darkness descended; and the long night of anxiety began.
The situation was not agreeable. Stuart was caught in a veritable trap. On both sides—in his rear and his front—were passing heavy corps of Federal infantry; their numerous artillery; and their long-drawn columns of cavalry. Discovery was destruction; the only hope was that the enemy would not suspect our proximity. If we were once known to be lurking there, good-bye to Stuart and his men!
So the long night commenced. The hours passed on, and still we were not discovered. It seemed miraculous that some noise did not betray Stuart’s hiding-place; but an Unseen Eye seemed to watch over him, and an Unseen Hand to guard him.
More than once the neigh of a horse rang out on the air of night; and two or three times the discordant bray of a mule attached to the artillery startled the silence of the woods. But these sounds were unheeded. They evidently attracted no attention from the enemy.
Leaning down in their saddles, the men, half overcome by sleep, but afraid of a rough waking, passed sleepless hours, looking for the dawn.
Stuart was never cooler. On his horse, at the head of his men, he betrayed no emotion. You would not have known, except for his subdued tones when speaking to some one, that he and his command were in a veritable “tight place.” Cool and resolute, he was equal to any event. Certain capture or destruction of his whole force was imminent.
Thus the night glided away. We had not been discovered. Over the trees was seen the yellow streak of dawn.
I looked round. The men’s faces were haggard from want of sleep. But they evidently felt perfect confidence in Stuart.
He hastened to justify it.
No sooner had light come than he placed his artillery in position. As it grew and broadened, the enemy were seen just on a hill in front of us, busily cooking their breakfasts.
Suddenly a single cannon sent its long thunder, dull and reverberating, through the woods, from the direction of Warrenton.
Stuart rose erect in his saddle, and looked in the direction of the sound, his eyes glowing.
Another followed; then another; then a long, continuous bellow of artillery, making the hills echo.
There was no longer any doubt about the fate of the messengers. Lee had received the dispatches; Rodes had opened on the Federal columns, attacking as that good soldier knew how to attack.
Stuart darted to his guns. On his countenance was a grim smile.
“Attention!” he exclaimed.
The cannoneers ran to their posts, a cheer rose, the next instant the guns spouted flame; shell after shell in rapid succession screamed through the woods—and bursting in the midst of the blue groups, threw them into the wildest disorder.
Stuart did not allow the panic to subside. His sharp-shooters opened at the same instant a determined fire; the great cavalier went at full speed to the head of his column:—then rushing like an avalanche, troopers and artillery, charged the column in front, burst through, trampling it as he went, and at a gallop the gray horsemen, with guns following, broke out; and were again free.
Stuart was out of the trap. From one of the “tightest places” that a commander was ever in he had extricated his whole command.
Once in safety, he turned like a wild boar on his enemies. In ten minutes his artillery had taken a new position—its thunders had opened—its roar told the army, that his feather still floated, his star was still in the ascendant.
Such was that queer affair of Auburn. Few more curious incidents occurred in the war.
A brave officer of the infantry had accompanied us as an amateur.
“I’ve got enough of the cavalry,” he said, laughing; “I am going back to the infantry. It is safer!”