Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/11

Rh sagacity of a successful general, and, under the blessing of Divine Providence, we are indebted to his prompt and vigorous action, and the determined bravery of his men for this signal victory, which, when the odds are considered, was one of the most brilliant achievements of the war, Gen. Lee's command in action being less than 800.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Maj.-Gen. Commanding.

March 23d, 1863. , A. A. & I. Gen'l A. N. Va.


 * I have the honor to submit the following report of an encounter on the 17th instant between my brigade and a division of the enemy's cavalry, certainly not less than 3,000 mounted men with a battery of artillery. My first intimation of their approach was a telegram received at 11 A. M. on 16th from headquarters, A. N. V. At 6 P. M., scouts reported them at Morissville, a little place 6 miles from Kelley's Ford. At 1 A. M., another report informed me that enemy had encamped at that place, coming from three different directions.

I that night reinforced my picket of 20 sharpshooters by 40 more. I regret to say that only about 11 or 12 of them got into the rifle pits in time for the attack of the enemy (owing to an unnecessary delay in carrying their horses to the rear), which commenced about 5 A. M. The force in the pits, under Captain Jas. Breckenridge of the Second, behaved very gallantly, holding in check a large force of the enemy, mounted and dismounted, for an hour and a half—killing and wounding 30 or 40 of them. I also ordered the remaining sharpshooters of the brigade, under that very efficient officer Major Morgan, First Virginia, to move from their camps by day-break to a