Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/67

Rh being deployed into line, was sent forward at a trot to charge the redoubt. To our surprise the enemy decamped at a double-quick, and forded the river without firing a shot. The picket was marched back to their old quarters, and the squadron withdrawn before the artillery beyond the river commenced its fire, and the shells fell harmless to us among the trees.

A part of the regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis was employed in picketing the fords on Welford's farm, at Beverly's, and above. A detachment, chiefly from Company C, was at Beverly's Ford. The rain had fallen heavily for twelve hours, and the streams were much swollen. A brigade of Federal cavalry having crossed at a ford above, drove the squadron at that point so rapidly back as to get well in the rear of the detachment at Beverly's before any notice of their approach was given. The reserve under Captain Hungerford were forced to beat a hasty retreat, leaving the dismounted men, with Lieutenant G. W. Beale, on the immediate bank of the river to their fate. Their horses at the reserve post were captured ere they had opportunity to know what was occurring. With rare coolness and courage this little band of seventeen men, fording a stream waist deep, traversed an open country for two miles, and repeatedly halting and facing them, kept a squadron of the enemy at bay, and made good their retreat to the woods.

As soon as the intelligence of the enemy's advance reached our camp, the Thirteenth Regiment, supported by the remaining squadrons of the Ninth, was sent in pursuit. Upon nearing Welford's the enemy was seen retreating rapidly to the ford. The Thirteenth Regiment, charging at full speed under a rapid fire of rifles from the opposite side, reached the ford in time to capture the rear files. The river, swollen by the rains, was too deep for fording, and a good many of the Yankees were drowned in attempting to swim it. Learning that a picket guard that had been stationed farther down the river had not yet escaped, a party was dispatched in pursuit