Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/69

Rh the enemy out. This enterprise was full of excitement. As we ascended the slope leading up from the river, on the crest of which the enemy's sharpshooters were posted, the windows of several houses were raised and the ladies, leaning out, waved joyfully their handkerchiefs. A single volley from the skirmishers greeted us, and they fled. Beyond the ridge the reserve picket—a squadron or so—in column confronted us in the road. With drawn sabres, and our Adjutant's clerk, William Campbell, taking the lead, the squadron charged with a yell. In vain the officer commanding the enemy's party waved his sabre and urged his men forward. They wheeled and fled, and he, gallant fellow, leaping his fine charger over the fence to our right, held his ground till abreast of us, and then after emptying his pistol on us, retreated unscathed by the dozen bullets which were fired at his person. Our men kept up their headlong pursuit after the rally was sounded, and did not retreat until General Averill's regiments in line of battle were uncovered. Enough was discovered to satisfy us that the force in front of our little command was overwhelming. The enemy's artillery had been firing upon us during the whole time, to which our guns seemed to make but feeble replies. Our loss, after recrossing the river, was found to be but two missing. These were the brothers M. U. F. and J. N. Wright, of Company C, the latter of whom was severely and basely wounded after he had surrendered. They both rejoined us before the campaign ended.

About midnight we were ordered to burn the railroad bridge. This structure, saturated by continuous rains for days, was impervious to any fire we could make, and though the effort to burn it was not abandoned till our retreat commenced, the bridge was left standing.

Our march was now made through Orange Courthouse to Gordonsville. About the same hour that we left the Rapidan General Averill commenced his retreat to the north of the Rappahannock. The two men mentioned above, who were prisoners at the time with the enemy, told us on their return