Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/70

64 that, from the conversation of their guards, they gathered the information that this retreat was caused from fear of an attack by us the following day.

After a brief halt at Gordonsville we were ordered to proceed down the railroad to Trevillian's Station, at which point it was reported that a part of General Stoneman's force was engaged in tearing up the railroad. When within a mile of the place two citizens were met who informed us that they had just left it, and that no enemy was in sight. A detachment under Lieutenant Robinson was directed to proceed down the road as far as Louisa Courthouse, unless the enemy was sooner discovered, and the regiment was withdrawn a short distance from the road on the right and dismounted to rest. This was scarcely done before rapid firing was heard on the road which Robinson's party had taken. Mounting and moving at a gallop back into the road, the head of our column reached it just as Robinson's men came up at full speed. The leading squadron was sent charging down the road, and the next dismounted and ambushed in a railroad-cut commanding the road. Another squadron was put in position a hundred or two yards further back under Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, and the remaining ones were ordered to be arranged, some in ambush and some mounted, half a mile in our rear, under Major Waller. Before these dispositions were completed squads of the party charging began to return. A few of the enemy had been killed—some three or four—and one mortally wounded was brought in. About forty-five prisoners were taken. As these were found to represent three different regiments, it was concluded that Stoneman's whole force was in our front. A courier was dispatched to General W. H. F. Lee, and the enemy's advance quietly awaited. After waiting a short time we began to withdraw, when a feeble yell was heard, and a small squad of troopers charged past our dismounted men, and received their fire at very close range, but without any injury to them. Before they could wheel Lewis was on them with a mounted