Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/35

Rh Turner, Wheelwright, and Wright. Our picket was posted behind a barricade across the main road leading down the river. The enemy advanced a column of infantry upon this road, preceded by a few cavalry in the fields as skirmishers. Leaving the barricade, these four youths formed in the field to the right, then full, of shocks of wheat recently cut, and boldly advanced to meet a squad of the mounted men. Their fire was reserved till within good range, and then so well delivered as to cause the mounted men to retreat precipitately. Their retreat was followed by that of the infantry.

Company H rejoined us here. Captain B. B. Douglas had been promoted as major, and assigned to the Fifth Regiment, Virginia Cavalry, commanded by Colonel T. L. Rosser, and Lieutenant Thomas W. Haynes became captain of Company H.

About the middle of July the regiment was moved up and camped near Atlee's Station on the Central railroad, where we remained several weeks, taking our tours of picket duty near our old ground at Malvern Hill. A squadron under Major Lewis was engaged in a skirmish while on picket, and a private of Company A was killed, and the squadron complimented in orders for gallantry.

Colonels Fitzhugh Lee and Wade Hampton, commanding the First Virginia and the Hampton Legion Cavalry, were promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and the regiments formed into brigades. One of these, composed of the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth regiments, was commanded by General Fitz. Lee. Our camp was now moved to the banks of the Pamunkey, near Hanover Courthouse. Here we had regular daily drills, and some progress was made in learning regimental evolutions. Private W. Schley, of Company D, a good musician, who had been detailed for the purpose, instructed the buglers in the use of their instruments, and familiarized the men with the various calls. While at this camp Captain J. R. Jeffries, threatened with blindness, resigned, and Lieutenant R. H. Pratt succeeded him in the captaincy of Company K.