Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/150

144 our line, now on open ground and fully exposed. Nothing could stand against such a fire. The men were ordered to lie down. The fire had in a measure ceased in the breastworks in front of the left of our line, and Pratt's squadron was ordered to scale the rampart. This was magnificently done. A double line of bluecoats occupied the line of fortifications beyond a transverse on the crest of a knoll. These were intently engaged firing at our men who threatened them in front. From the transverse Pratt's men gave them a galling volley in flank and rear, and instantly hundreds of hands were raised down the line.

The author, unable to leap the fortification, rode down to the railroad and passed through a roadway at the corner, and then, galloping forward to join the men in the works, met Captain Robinson with one or two of his men leading out a body of two hundred or more prisoners. The firing had commenced again. Discovering how few of our men were in the works, many of the Yankees who were about surrendering, ran into a growth of sugar-cane, or sorghum, back of the line, and fired. Several heavy volleys came also from a body of woods near by. As the enemy ran back from the breastwork he right and centre of our line, which were rapidly advancing, directed a steady fire upon them. The enemy had several guns in position on the edge of the woods opposite the railroad, and these were actively engaged for several minutes with a battery on our side. Pratt's men, pushing down the line, were joined by those who had charged in front across the open field, as darkness covered the scene. The brigade was credited with over seven hundred prisoners. Pratt's squadron took three regimental flags. Our loss was not heavy. With one hour more of daylight we would have entailed much heavier losses upon General Hancock's fine corps, perhaps the flower of the Army of the Potomac. Our infantry under General A. P. Hill assaulted the works here on the opposite side in the morning, and the battle lasted till past noon. Two sides of the entrenchments