Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/56

50 was ordered to move half a mile in our front. Not far from the station a foraging party from the Fourth and Fifth regiments was met, who, having reported their regiments as quietly camping with the wagon-train at Piedmont, the advanced guard was recalled, and the Sergeant-Major directed to ride on and provide something for supper. The men of the foraging party whom he met returned with him. When within a few hundred yards of the station a pistol-shot was heard, followed by the sound of horses' hoofs coming rapidly towards us. The regiment was instantly halted, and, with sabres drawn, prepared to charge. The men proved to be the party which had ridden ahead, who stated they had discovered what they took to be a Yankee picket stationed at the intersection of our road with the railroad. A courier was at once dispatched to Colonel Rosser with the information. Major Waller, coming to the front to learn what had halted us, the Colonel said to him: "We must ascertain certainly whether the enemy is at Piedmont, and I have some difficulty about the best way to do it." Private Bell, of Company A, having heard the remark, volunteered to do it if he could get a pistol. One was handed him, and, selecting a comrade, he rode forward. Before the courier who had been sent to Colonel Rosser returned with an order to ascertain certainly the truth of the information sent, Bell and his companion returned, bringing a mounted prisoner captured from the picket itself, from whom all necessary information was obtained.

Bell gave this account of the mode by which he accomplished his undertaking: A few yards from a run which washed the base of the railroad embankment, the road formed a right angle. On reaching the corner here his companion halted, and he, moving on alone, found himself in close proximity to ten or twelve Yankees on their horses on the bank of the railroad. Fearing to turn back he rode into the run, and his horse, suffering for water, pressed up the run until stopped by a fence, which crossed it and ran along the roadside. While his horse was drinking one of the picket