Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/78

72 through, camped a mile beyond, on the 'pike leading to Upperville. Before we had fed our jaded horses the enemy occupied Middleburg. The outposts were held by troops from other regiments, and after moving a mile farther up the 'pike, we enjoyed a quiet night.

The next morning we were placed in line of battle on the left of the brigade, and to the left of the 'pike, looking towards Middleburg. A battery was posted on the crest of the hill in our front, and some companies of dismounted men were thrown out beyond the guns along the wooded slope of hills facing the town. General Robinson's brigade extended the line of battle to the right beyond the 'pike. The artillery of both combatants was firing occasionally, and quite a spirited discharge of rifles was kept up during the morning.

About noon a courier brought an order for the regiment to move out on the 'pike. We did so, moving diagonally across the front of our line and in column. We struck the 'pike near a blacksmith's shop, and just opposite the ground held by General Robinson's troops, when we were placed in line in the morning. As the head of the column reached the 'pike Lieutenant Ball's order was heard: "Draw pistols; fire!" The Colonel was about to countermand the order to fire, supposing the men beyond the 'pike were friends, but, on looking up, saw a squadron of the enemy where Robinson's men had been, and in the act of discharging their carbines at us. The direction of Ball's squadron was immediately changed, and, charging across the road with sabre in hand, they drove the Yankees before them. A force of the enemy was seen a hundred yards or so distant in the 'pike, and to the right of it. The other squadrons were led in a charge against these. Before clearing the woods which skirted the road a considerable body of the enemy's cavalry was discovered in line to our right. Changing direction, our squadrons were now thrown on this line. We broke them, only to find, however, another line beyond, which, returning our charge, drove us back, beyond the shop. We had, too,