Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/110

104 comrades, and laid down his young life on the altar of his country, with all its budding hope and promise, and added another name to the sacred catalogue of martyrs who have dared to die for Duty and for Liberty. The regiment was now mounted, and though it was growing dark, the enemy pressed up, and we exchanged shots at very close quarters, and, indeed, some hand-to-hand blows. Our retreat was without panic and in good order. Our loss was eight killed and wounded. Two privates, Lewis and Haskins, of Company F, were killed. The horse of Lieutenant Davis came in. His body was with the foe.

The enemy appeared in our front, beyond a stream, next morning, but was held in check by our artillery. Our march in the afternoon was along the line of the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and we bivouacked at night without food for man or horse. Resuming the saddle, we marched to Catlett's Station, and near by halted to graze our well-nigh famished horses. We next made a forced march to Buckland, near which we encountered the pickets of General Kilpatrick's command. We were very soon hotly engaged. Before night the whole body of the enemy were in rout, and were pursued by us over a large stream. Lieutenant Cullen, of Company H, was wounded.

The next day our march was through Fauquier county, along the line of our recent advance, and we passed over the field of our fight at Auburn, and saw from numerous fresh graves that our shots had been well aimed. We reached Welford's Ford at dark. The river was very high, but after some delay we effected a passage, and cold, wearied, wet and hungry, bivouacked on the Green farm.

The regiment, now commanded by Captain Hughlett, of Company D, was on the following day ordered to report to General George H. Steuart, commanding a brigade of infantry, and stationed at the railroad bridge over the Rappahannock. We were for three days in front of this brigade, and on several occasions skirmishing with the enemy without