Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 8, 2025
There was the gallant figure of General Fitz Lee, at the head of his horsemen, advancing to charge what he supposed to be the enemy's artillery near Bristoe, and singing as he went, in the gayest voice: "Rest in peace! rest in peace! Slumb'ring lady love of mine; Rest in peace! rest in peace! Sleep on!"
There was no movement, no evidence anywhere that a living soul was about the place. Keith could barely distinguish that it was Bristoe lying next to him. "Had their camp over there in the corner of the corral when I was here before," he said in a whisper. "Where do you suppose they can be now?" The wary scout lifted his head, sniffing into the darkness like a pointer dog.
Not a blue coat was to be seen. Meade had made good his retreat. Everywhere he had eluded the blows of his great adversary and in parting from him, finally, at Bristoe, had left blood in his foot-steps the blood of some of Lee's best soldiers. It is said that General Meade made this retreat under protest and that he was everywhere looking for a position to fight.
About twelve o'clock, as the rear of that corps was crossing Broad Run, a wide and muddy stream at Bristoe Station, the rebel corps of A. P. Hill suddenly appeared from the cover of the woods in the vicinity, and, running out a battery, opened a severe fire of artillery and musketry upon the column, which was in a degree of confusion, owing to the difficult crossing of the stream.
The sun had not yet set when the advanced guard arrived within striking distance of Bristoe Station. Munford's squadrons, still leading the way, dashed upon the village. Ewell followed in hot haste, and a large portion of the guard, consisting of two companies, one of cavalry and one of infantry, was immediately captured. They had piled ties on the track, but the engine threw them off.
Five of the captured guns, still serviceable, were at once seized and used against the disappointed foe with telling power. This Bristoe fiasco was a stunning blow to the Rebel pursuit, and greatly checked their incursions. But our soldiers held the field so lately won only until dark, and "then followed the rest of the army, whose retreat they had so effectually covered."
But on the evening of the 27th, after the conclusion of the engagement at Bristoe Station, Pope lost his head. The view he now took of the situation was absolutely erroneous. Ewell's retreat before Hooker he interpreted as an easy victory, which fully compensated for the loss of his magazines.
On the night of the 25th he disappeared into the darkness on the road to Salem leaving the Federals under the conviction that he was making for the Valley. On the 26th he moved on Bristoe Station, rather than on Manassas Junction, foreseeing that he might be interrupted from the south-west in his destruction of the stores.
On the fifth we continued on our march to Bristoe Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where we encountered one of the most furious snow storms ever known in this region of country. The wind which bore the snow was cold and cutting. It was a season never to be forgotten by those who were quartered in mere shelter tents, or had no tents at all.
She struck her horse, and he plunged forward, bringing her face to face with Bristoe. "What is it? Tell me, what is it?" "Nothin' but a loose hoss, Miss." "A horse! here on the desert?" looking about, her eyes dark with horror. "But how could that be? Could could it be Captain Keith's?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking