Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 03.djvu/293

Rh a new position, again opened upon them with telling effect, scattering them in every direction. They were pursued by Hampton's brigade, which took a few prisoners, but owing to the darkness and the fact that the enemy had opened fire upon us with infantry and artillery from the woods, he considered it prudent to retire, which was done with the loss of only one man.

This proved to be the rear guard of Sumner's column retreating towards Vienna, and I afterwards learned that they were thrown into considerable confusion by this attack of Hampton. With a small portion of the cavalry and horse artillery, I moved into Fairfax Courthouse, and taking possession, obtained some valuable information, which was sent to the Commanding General. On the night of the second the command bivouacked near Fairfax Courthouse, except Robertson's brigade, which, by a misapprehension of the order, returned to the vicinity of Chantilly before the engagement.

While these events were occurring near Fairfax Courthouse, the Second Virginia cavalry, Colonel T. T. Munford, had proceeded by my order to Leesburg to capture the party of marauders under Means which had so long infested that country and harassed the inhabitants. Colonel Munford reached the vicinity of Leesburg on the forenoon of the 2d; and learning that Means with his command was in the town, supported by three companies of the Maryland cavalry, on the Point of Rocks road, he made a circuit toward Edward's ferry, attacked from that direction, and succeeded, after a heavy skirmish, in routing and driving the enemy as far as Waterford, with a loss on their part of eleven killed, nine severely wounded, and forty-seven prisoners, including two captains and three lieutenants. Our own loss was Lieutenant Davis killed, and several officers and privates wounded. In this engagement, Edmund, a slave belonging to one of the men, charged with the regiment and shot Averhart, one of the most notorious ruffians of Means' party. The enemy's papers acknowledged that theretheir [sic] entire force, of 150 men of the First Maryland and Means' company, were, all but forty, killed or captured, stating that our force was 2,000. Colonel Munford's entire force was 163 men, of whom but 123 were in the charge.

On the morning of the 3d, General Fitz. Lee, pursuant to instructions, made a demonstration with his brigade and some horse artillery toward Alexandria, Hampton's brigade moving by way of Hunter's mill to the Leesburg turnpike below Dranesville, encamping near that place. Robertson's brigade, having also crossed over