Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/25

Rh their drivers supposed, securely, were overhauled and sacked, and, with the horses detached, were left standing in or near the road. On, on, we marched, and reached Tunstall's Station on the York-River railroad before sunset. From column of fours we were now formed into column of platoons, and in this order approached the station, ready to make, or repel, an attack. The country, denuded of fences, offered no obstacle, and our line of march was through the fields bordering the road. Sutlers' wagons loaded with varieties of fruits and confectioneries, and heavier wagons filled with quartermaster and commissary supplies in quantities and variety such as we had not seen before, were standing in the road, deserted by their drivers, and in some cases without the teams. This temptation proved too strong for resistance, and many troopers broke from the ranks to seize and appropriate the rich spoil. In some instances these became laden with more than could be carried. We reached the station and found our advance guard in quiet possession. The telegraph wires were cut, and orders given for the destruction of the muskets with which the depot was well filled. Quickly the announcement was made of a train of cars coming from the direction of the Federal army. Dismounted men were placed in ambush, and others set to work to put obstructions on the track. Our regiment was concealed from view in a valley. A train of cars soon came down the road, and a hundred yards or so above our ambush began to slow down, and was leisurely approaching the station, when a volley was fired by our men. Like a bird startled by the ineffectual fire of the fowler, the engineer instantly let on full steam. The regiment dashed up the hill, and as the train passed at a fearful rate of speed they sent a shower of buckshot and ball in pursuit with what effect we never learned. The train had escaped.

A number of the enemy who had leaped from the train when it was moving slowly, were pursued. Most of them