Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/207

 The Staunton River Fight.

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plans and actions as a cavalry commander in Tennessee, or while covering Pemberton's retreat before Grant to Grenada, and in the signal affair at Holly Springs, fraught as the latter was with results more momentous than those involved in any action of its kind of which I ever knew or heard, should be lost to the history of cavalry; but I fear to trust my memory, and must confine myself to these brief outlines, hoping that some of those who followed him, whose memory is better than mine, may yet do justice to a cavalier whose feats, when written out, must give him a place besides the greatest of those who in time past have ridden to victory or immortality.

Yours truly,

E. DILLON. Morganton, N. C., June 16, 1877.

[From the Richmond Times. November 22, 1891.]

THE STAUNTON RIVER FIGHT.

Colonel Farinholt Replies to General Dabney Maury Certain Alleged Errors Corrected Another Account of that Famous Engagement To Whom the Honor of the Victory is Partly Due Interesting Details.

[The narrative to which Colonel Farinholt excepts appears in this vol- ume, ante, pp. 51-57. The intent of General Maury is evident. It is just to to him to state that he earnestly endeavored to obtain all the facts attend- ant upon the "remarkable victory" before publishing his account. The editor had several conversations with him during its preparation. General Maury states that he was anxious to hear from Colonel Farinholt, to whom he wrote, but received no reply from him.]

The following is an account of the battle at Staunton river bridge, prepared by Colonel B. L. Farinholt, in reply to the account of that memorable engagement from the pen of General Dabney H. Maury, and which was recently published in the Times :

BALTIMORE, MD., November 20, 1891. General DABNEY H. MAURY:

Dear Sir : My attention has been called to a copy of The Times, of Richmond, Va., giving, over your signature, an account of the engagement between the Confederate and Federal forces which took place at Staunton River bridge, on the Richmond and Danville rail- road, on the 25th of June, 1864 (you say the 24th),