Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/99

Rh market-house, with their ammunition almost exhausted, a squadron of Federal cavalry charged up Main street, receiving the fire of the whole force. Their leader was killed, and the men, seeming not to know what else to do, came at full speed up through the town. The infantry gave them a volley at close range, disabling several horses and wounding a number of men. Our mounted men, occupying the road under Lieutenant Beale, now charged, driving the enemy into a field, and capturing the entire party. They belonged to the First West Virginia Cavalry.

Two Federal guns were placed in the yard of the Female College, and were fired upon us; but no shot was returned. As soon as Haynes reached the farther end of the town with his body of sharpshooters, the Thirteenth and Ninth regiments again occupied the Main street.

Late in the afternoon loud cheers along our line announced the presence of General Stuart, whose horse's feet clashed against the pavement at the side of the street as he dashed forward to the front. The enemy were now retreating from their position above the college across to the turnpike leading to Williamsport, and down that 'pike. We speedily followed them, the Thirteenth Regiment in front, and ours next to them, on the 'pike, and a large cavalry force that had arrived with General Stuart to our left on a line parallel with the 'pike. We moved down the broad macadamized road at a trot. Before we had gone a mile, shells thrown from guns posted on the crest of a hill in front of us began to burst over and near us. As we approached the hill these guns disappeared, but no sooner had we reached the crest and began to descend into the valley beyond than they opened upon us from the next elevation with renewed vigor. At the foot of the hill, in the bottom, a small body of cavalry was stationed some three hundred yards in front of the guns. As we approached, this party fled to the left of the 'pike into a small body of timber which stood near, and were pursued by the Thirteenth, leaving the Ninth on the 'pike, with a few