Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/19

Rh considerable loss. A second charge brought the enemy a no more favorable result.

We remained in suspense until after daybreak, when, reversing our march, we moved through Falmouth, and, with heavy hearts evacuated the Northern Neck. The bridges were fired after we passed, and soon the invading army under General Archer descended from the heights and came pressing down upon the burning bridge. We were ordered to remain and check any attempt of the enemy to extinguish the fire. Whilst engaged in this service, and drawn up in line on the road leading down the river, the enemy opened upon us with artillery posted on the crest of the hill just above Falmouth. The first shell came crashing into our ranks, wounding several, and among them Private R. S. Lawrence. One or two horses were also killed. We stood without flinching, eliciting some praise from our officers, and escaped further injury, though the fire was continued as long as we remained. One man of Company E lost his life, unfortunately, by the accidental discharge of his gun, the ball having entered the lower part of his head and, passing out at the top, carried his hat many feet into the air. Our route was through Fredericksburg, and here all was hurry and confusion, army-wagons rattling away, steam engines hissing, women lamenting, and bodies of troops moving towards the old Telegraph road leading to Richmond.

At nightfall the rain fell in copious showers, yet hungry and without shelter, all save those detailed for picket service, gladly stretched themselves upon the earth and slept soundly after the fatigues of the preceding twenty-four hours.

Massaponax church, on the following day, became our regimental headquarters, and we picketed down to the hills overlooking Fredericksburg. There was a considerable force of infantry in the immediate neighborhood, commanded by General Joseph R. Anderson, and for some days we expected to fight the enemy along the line of the Massaponax. Whilst