Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/145

Rh found at this point, and our line was reformed. We then advanced across a little ravine, and over a narrow plateau covered with bushes. When half way over this a heavy fire of musketry was opened on us from the slope of the hill which bounded the bottom in our front. Our line hastily ran back to the ravine about fifty yards behind us, and the troops in the rear mistook the movement for a panic. Halting at the ravine, the enemy's fire was returned, and, seeing that their position could be easily turned, Colonel Phillips was sent around to the right. He opened fire on the enemy's flank, which held a small barricade of rails, and we at the same time charged over the plateau in front. They broke and ran, and we occupied the barricade which they had abandoned. We were using it as a shield from the fire of some dismounted cavalry on the left of the road, and now became a target for our friends in rear of us. The author had to ride back to tell them to withhold their fire.

The conduct of the regiment, which created a momentary apprehension of a panic, called forth bitter denunciation from our Major-General.

We afterwards learned that our brigade had been formed and assigned position on the right of the road, and Barringer's on the left; that the Tenth Regiment was next to the road on the left, the Ninth in the centre, and the Thirteenth on the right. It appeared, also, that after driving the infantry, which occupied our side of the road throughout the fight, out of the woods, two of our lieutenants—Christian and Washington—seeing a body of mounted Federals on the road which they could approach, ran with their men across the front of the Tenth, not yet out of the woods, and the greater part of the Ninth and Thirteenth regiments, supposing these were the line of battle, ran over and joined them.

When the barricade of rails was reached our men were much exhausted, and very short of ammunition, and they were ordered to lie down and rest. Raising his head above the logs to watch the enemy's movements, Captain William