Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/79

Rh a galling fire from the sharpshooters posted below the woods. We had scarcely rallied, beyond the shop, when a column of the enemy appeared in the 'pike, in fine order, and with glittering sabres, charged bravely np to within a few paces of our front, surrounding one of our guns. A charge was ordered, and we dashed at them. A shot fired by James R. Courtney, bugler of Company C, killed the captain. The enemy retreated, and we pursued them down to the field where the fire from a body of dismounted men, or infantry, again drove us back. In this charge Captain John W. Hungerford, of Company C, was killed. He was the sole remaining male member of a noble family. Few nobler gifts were laid upon the altar of civil liberty than the life-blood of this heroic Virginian.

The Thirteenth Regiment now came forward on the left of the road; and we reformed as its support, and while drawn up in line on the 'pike our killed and badly wounded were removed. We were here the target for a battery, and a piece of shell having disabled the present writer's arm, he rode back to the surgeon. Colonel Chambliss afterwards led the two regiments in a charge upon the line below the woods, and, failing to carry it, retired with the brigade in good order, and bivouacked a mile from the scene of the fight near the 'pike.

Private Robert Sandford, of Company C, was particularly distinguished for gallantry under the eye of the Colonel in our second charge. The latter rejoined the regiment on the day following—June 21st—and we moved to Dulaney's, where the brigade advanced to meet the enemy, but was soon faced about, and narrowly escaped being surrounded. We were some two miles to the right of the 'pike leading to Upperville, and were pressed by troops of the enemy numbering certainly twice as many as our brigade.

Our line of retreat was on a road, the general direction of which was parallel to the 'pike. Hampton's brigade occupied the latter road. Jones' brigade was to our left, as we faced