The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

210 THE MAINE BUGLE.
found himself many miles from his friends, and could get no
tidings of the defeated enemy. Then he had to get back the
best way he could, in the most drenching weather, and over the
most frightful roads. On his safe return, patriotic efforts were
made to cheer up the desponding people with glowing stories
of his achievements ; the illustrated papers had him depicted
on a fiery charger, with his scabbard on the wrong side, point-
ing with his sword at miles of railroad bridges wrapped in flame,
and correspondents exhausted imagination in describing the
ruin he had scattered broadcast. Shrewd Mr. Lincoln, however,
saw that the raid was not a crushing blow to the rebellion, and
had his little joke over it, sadly enough, no doubt, though it is
probable that he did not fully comprehend how fatal to the suc-
cess of Stoneman had been the failure at Chancellorsville.
After Chancellorsville, there was a good deal of bad blood in
military quarters ; great promise had been followed by but
small fulfillment, and scapegoats were needed on whom to
fasten blunders. Generals Stoneman and Averell figured in that
capacity, and General IMcasanton succeeded to the command of
the corps. At this time it was known that Stuart was getting
ready his cavalry for a great raid into Pennsylvania, and his
camp near Brandy Station was busy with preparation ; so Gen-
eral rieasanton, on the 9th of June, 1863, went across the Rap-
pahannock to look for a fight in which to cripple the enemy's
horse and send them into hosi)ital for repairs. This was suc-
cessfully accomplished ; from daj'light to sunset the championship
was hotly contesteil by the rival troopers, ami our men
won the belt, and held it against all comers from that time.
The seeker for disabled cavalrymen could have found one thou-
sand one hundred killed and wounded of ours on that stricken
plain,
"And the slooil with broken rein ran free."
Stuart staggered under the shock, and thereby failed in his whole
campaign ; for he was so late in starting that we got across his
path at Aldic, when he was bound for the Potomac at lulward's
l''err)-, ten days later, and General IMcasanton pressed him back