General Stuart has just returned to camp after a most
wonderful and successful raid. He left Richmond two or three days ago with a
portion of his command; went to Hanover Court-House, where he found a body of
the enemy; repulsed them, killing and wounding several, and losing one gallant
man, Captain Latane, of the Essex cavalry; continuing his march by the “Old
Church,” he broke up their camp and burnt their stores; thence to Tunstall's
Station on the York River Railroad; fired into the train, destroying a part of
it, and taking some prisoners; thence to Pamunky River; found three transports
loaded with provender, which they burned; filled their haversacks with West
India fruit, which had been brought on for Federal consumption; then went on
towards Charles City Court-House, encountering a train of wagons; took their
horses, mules, and drivers, and burnt the wagons and contents; thence they went
to a Yankee sutler's stand, took what they wanted, and burnt the rest; thence
across the Chickahominy and on to Richmond; bringing 175 prisoners and a number
of horses and mules. We are all full of excitement and delight, hoping that he
discovered much about the Federal army which may be useful, but which, of
course, is kept from the public; and I trust most fervently that our dear ones
at S. H. and W. may have been cheered by their presence, for they must have
gone very near them, if not immediately by their gates—how the appearance of
our men must have excited them 1 I wish I could see some member of the cavalry
who could tell me all about it—where they went, and whom they saw. General
Stuart must have gone, it is said, within a few miles, perhaps nearer, of his
father-in-law, the Federal General Cooke. I wonder what the old renegade
Virginian thinks of his dashing son-in-law? If he has a spark of proper
feeling left in his obdurate heart, he must be proud of him.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 121-2
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