Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/44

38 enemy. They then dismounted and advanced on foot, and now came a contest most unequal. We had but a single squadron armed with carbines and these of inferior quality, while our foes were fully equipped and outnumbered us three to one. Colonel Lee, selecting a wooded slope, posted Captain Knight's squadron in skirmish-line, protecting the flanks with the remaining squadrons mounted. The firing was very rapid, and charge after charge was gallantly repulsed, yet the numbers seemed to increase. Artillery began to belch forth its humming missiles. Captain Knight began to despair, and, being slightly lame, was leisurely retreating from the woods when met by Colonel Lee, who inquired if he was wounded. "No," responded the Captain, "but the enemy are in such force we can't hold the position." He was ordered back, and for hours held the ground, repulsing every effort of the crowd which pressed his front till darkness threw her mantle over the scene. Our men were well protected behind trees and logs, and our casualties were but few. The enemy's losses, we thought, were much more serious.

Our object having been accomplished, we were withdrawn during the night, and traversed the road back through New Market towards Frederick City. We crossed the mountain to receive and cook rations, the first received for two days. Before this was done, however, we mounted and moved rapidly back to the New Market road, upon which a charge was made by the Fourth Regiment, resulting in the capture of a few wagons. The entire force returned to the foot of the mountain, and remained in line of battle till after midnight, when the march over the mountain was again made, and continued until about ten o'clock the following morning. It was Sunday, and our halt was close to a large mill. The regiment remained here until the evening, feeding the horses, cooking, and eating. A party of women seemed amused and delighted at the ragged outfit of our men, and were certainly as intensely hostile as any blue-stocking "school marm" of Massachusetts.