Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/46

40 within twenty yards of the enemy's line, deployed across the 'pike and the field on our left. Captain Haynes, now leading a few men, pressed on, broke the enemy's line, forcing them back somewhat, and bringing out three or four prisoners from the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. This check enabled Colonel Lee to make good his escape, and kept the enemy at a respectable distance. Private Thomas Lewis, of Company B, insisted that the Lieutenant-Colonel should accept his horse, thus enabling him to assist in the speedy rallying of the command. The enemy continued their pursuit for over a mile, bringing up artillery to aid the cavalry. The regiment, however, was rallied and reformed and fell leisurely back without further annoyance, and bivouacked late in the night in the neighborhood of Sharpsburg.

Our loss was the heaviest yet sustained. Two officers, one of them Lieutenant A. E. Fowlkes, of Company G, and sixteen privates were killed, and ten privates captured. The advancing column of General McClellan's army nearly surrounded us, and nothing but our own rapid, though disorderly retreat, prevented the capture of the whole regiment. Captain Hughlett had two horses killed under him before clearing the town. Concealing himself in a lot of Indian corn on the skirts of the village he remained undiscovered all day, and had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing his fallen comrades committed to the earth by the enemy's hands. He saw also that the loss which we had sustained was nearly equalled by that which we inflicted. When darkness came, he sought and received shelter and food from a mother who had two sons in the opposing army, and, after some adventures, he rejoined us on the following day. Worn down by toil and hunger and bruises received from their falling horses, the field-officers of the regiment were compelled to rest a day. A good many of the men followed their example, and found food in the adjacent country. The regiment, commanded by Captain Samuel Swann, was employed in picket and vidette duty on the left flank of the army. Several officers