Despite
rain and darkness Stuart pushed on. He said afterward that it was the
darkest night he had ever seen. A captured negro guided them on the
final stage of the gallop and just when Dick was riding back to camp
behind Colonel Winchester, Stuart fell like a thunderbolt upon the supply
train and its guard.
Stuart could not drive wholly away the Northern guard, which though
surprised, fought with great courage, but he burned the supply train,
then galloped off with prisoners, and Pope's own uniform, horses,
treasure chest and dispatch book. He found in the dispatch book minute
information about the movements of all the Union troops, and Pope's
belief that he ought to retreat from the river on Washington. Doubtless
the Confederate horseman shook his head again and again and laughed aloud,
when he put this book, more precious than jewels, inside his gold braided
tunic, to be taken to Lee and Jackson.
But these things were all hidden from the little group of weary men
who rode into Pope's camp. Colonel Winchester carried the news of the
crossing--Early had made it--to the commander, and the rest sought the
best shelter to be found.
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