Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/58

52 from diseased feet, barely numbered five hundred men fit for duty. The enemy's cavalry were quickly seen moving towards us, on the road, and to the right and left of it. Our position was at the intersection of the roads close to Barbee's house, the head of the column of fours resting just under the little hill at that point; and within fifty yards of the crossing, with one squadron dismounted and deployed in skirmish-line to the front and right beyond the Cross-Roads.

Some few solid shot and shells were fired at us from guns posted on the slope of the mountain to our right. The road leading to Markham had been strongly barricaded the previous night, and was so still, and a panel of fence on the left of the road removed to make a passageway.

The enemy encountered Hampton, and by weight of numbers pressed him back rapidly. Our skirmish-line, under Captain Stith Boiling, was next engaged. They made a stubborn resistance, and apparently inflicted some loss upon the enemy. They were, however, driven back behind the barricade, and from that line back further to a stone fence bounding the road on the left, immediately to the left of our mounted squadrons. The enemy's mounted column now charged down the road on Barbee's, Pelham's two guns to our left and rear opening a rapid fire on them as they came. When they had nearly reached the barricade the order was given for us to charge. Intending to lead three squadrons to the left of the houses, Lieutenant James K. Ball was ordered to charge with the squadron in front (Companies D and E) up to the barricade and through the open fence-panel, where the ground was open and free of obstructions. Moving with Ball at the head of the column to the crossing, and, pausing to await the next squadron so as to direct it up the left road, the Colonel found himself at the instant of reining up his horse assailed by a party of Yankees who had charged around the houses. When extricated from this personal combat, he found the regiment had fallen back and were reforming a hundred yards in rear of the position previously