About ten o'clock in the morning of October tenth
Early in October the Union Cavalry began their favourite pastime of `` chasing '' Stuart . General Pleasanton with a small force and a horse battery began it , marching seventy-eight miles in twenty-four hours ; but Stuart marched ninety in the same time . He had to . About ten o'clock in the morning of October tenth , General Buford , chief of cavalry , set the 6th Pennsylvania Lancers galloping after Stuart . Part of the 1st Maine Cavalry joined the chase ; but Stuart flourished his heels and cantered gaily into Pennsylvania to the amazement and horror of that great State , and to the unbounded mortification of the Union army . He had with him the 1st , 3d , 4th , 5th and 9th Virginia Cavalry ; the 7th and 9th North Carolina , and two Legions ; and after him went pelting the handful that McClellan could mount . A few tired troopers galloped up to Whitens Ford just as Stuart crossed in safety ; and the gain of `` chasing '' Stuart was over .