Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/66

60 found the object of the movement was an attack upon Gloucester Point. He advised strongly against it, but was overruled, and orders were issued to march early the following morning. A halt was made late in the evening, and the commandants of regiments were summoned to receive orders. The Ninth was assigned to the capture of the fort; the Thirteenth and Second North Carolina to the attack of a regiment of cavalry, said to be encamped on the point, a few hundred yards from the fort, and the Fifteenth Regiment was to be held in reserve. After dark we moved, and after proceeding cautiously and silently halted when in close proximity to the Point. Captain Boiling was sent forward with a party to reconnoitre, and on his return. General Lee concluded not to make the attack; so, facing about, we returned to our camp in Essex.

The campaign of 1863 opened about the 1st of April. Having struck our tents near Occupacia, we joined the brigade, and, marching by Newtown, Waller's Tavern, and Chesterfield Depot, halted and camped for some days about a mile from Orange Courthouse. We then crossed the Rapidan and moved to the farm of John M. Botts in Culpeper, near Brandy Station. On reaching this camp the regiment numbered seven hundred and fifty men for duty. The enemy occupied the north bank of the Rappahannock in our front. A party of Federals one morning crossed at the railroad bridge, and, driving the picket out, occupied a redoubt on our side. The Ninth Regiment was ordered to drive them back and reinstate our picket. The enemy's position on the bluffs beyond the river gave them the power to rake with canister and grape the open plain over which we had to pass in order to reach the men in the redoubt. After inspecting the position, it was concluded that the duty assigned us would necessarily entail severe loss. On reaching the foot of the hills bounding the plain where the regiment was screened by some timber, we halted, and the front squadron, commanded by Lieutenant Boulware, was detached, and after