Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/27

Rh Beale. The command now moved down to Forge Bridge, which they found had been burned. With the timbers of an old barn a bridge was built across the north channel of the river to an island, and men were sent over to collect materials and construct a bridge across the south and main channel, dividing the island and mainland in Charles City county. Lieutenant-Colonel Beale, hearing of this order, moved at once down the south bank to the point indicated, and, finding ample materials, detailed a party under orders of Robinson Taylor who soon built a substantial bridge upon the partly-destroyed foundations of the old one. However, before the intelligence of its completion reached the General, he had, after swimming the horses of his command over the northern stream, commenced to ford the southern one from the upper end of the island. This was successfully accomplished long before sunset, and with the loss only of a caisson and some of the captured mules. To prevent pursuit by the enemy, the bridge was ordered to be burned. We halted for some hours near Charles City Courthouse, and, resuming the march about midnight, took the road leading up the north bank of the James to Richmond, and reached our camp next day.

This bold march entirely around the Federal army elicited warmest praise from the whole country. A complimentary order from General J. E. B. Stuart was read to the troops, and a printed copy given to each officer and man engaged in the expedition. In this order special mention was made of our Colonel and Adjutant, and of one or two privates. A handsome tribute was paid in orders to our gallant Latanè. John R. Thompson, the editor of The Southern Literary Messenger, in a few verses of touching beauty, and the brush of a Richmond artist, canonized his memory, and preserved for after times in lines of life-like truthfulness the scene of his burial.

Lieutenant William Oliver succeeded to the command of Company F, and the youthful brother of Latanè was made third lieutenant.