Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/144

138 killed or captured. It was intensely hot, and we moved slowly back through the woods, and over a bottom of dense undergrowth and briers, to the crest of the hill beyond, in an open body of large trees. Here we were halted under the direction of Major-General Lee, and remained unmolested and quietly resting for over an hour.

The enemy, availing themselves of the dense cover in front, moved quietly into the bottom below, and opened fire upon us suddenly and rapidly. The first volley killed four or five of our men, among them Lieutenant John T. Stewart, of Company C, who, after being badly wounded, received a second bullet as his comrades were bearing him off to his horse. Sheltering ourselves behind the trees, and using the carbine vigorously, we checked the enemy's further advance, and successfully repelled an effort to turn our right flank. We were now directed by an order from General W. H. F. Lee, delivered by Captain John Lee, of the division staff, to throw out a line of videttes to connect with General Gary on our right. While this was being done, General Gary rode up and joined the author, who had ridden forward in the woods to direct the posting of the videttes. The General, wishing to know the exact position of our regiment, rode back with us to where it had been left in line. The line was not to be seen. It had been ordered forward to charge, and a yell, followed by a sharp fire in front of the position which they had left, told us where they were. We then rode forward as rapidly as possible through the thick woods and tangled underbrush, and soon heard a volley in the rear. Major Swann soon appeared with a horse wounded, and four men had also been wounded in Company B by a volley from a mounted squadron of Gary's command, and our right squadron was found in confusion. Major Swann was directed to reform and bring this part of the line up. The other squadrons were pushed forward, and gained an open piece of country, where, on the opposite side of the field, could be seen a body of our men in confused order. Colonel Phillips was