Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/440

432 my guns at Hanover, and correctly conjectured whose they were; but left me no clue to his destination on leaving York, which would have saved me a long and tedious march to Carlisle and thence back to Gettysburg. I was informed by citizens that he was going to Shippensburg. I still believed that most of our army was before Harrisburg, and justly regarded a march to Carlisle as the most likely to place me in communication with the main body. Besides, as a place for rationing my command, now entirely out, I believed it desirable.

The cavalry suffered much in this march, day and night, from loss of sleep and the horses from fatigue, and while in Fairfax for want of forage, not even grass being attainable.

In Fauquier the rough character of the roads and lack of facility for shoeing added to the casualties of every day's battle, and constant wear and tear of man and horse reduced the command very much in numbers. In this way some regiments were reduced to less than one hundred men; yet when my command arrived at Gettysburg, from the accessions which it received from the weak horses left to follow the command, it took its place in line of battle with a stoutness of heart and firmness of tread impressing one with the confidence of victory which was astounding, considering the hardness of the march lately endured.

With an aggregate loss of about 2,200 killed, wounded and missing, including the battle of Fleetwood, June 9th, we inflicted a loss on the enemy's cavalry confessedly near 5,000.

Some of the reports of subordinate commanders are herewith forwarded—others will follow—and it is hoped they will do justice to that individual prowess for which Confederate soldiery is most noted, and which the limits of personal observation, and this report, deprive me of the power of doing.

Appended will be found a statement of casualties and a map; also a list of non-commissioned officers and privates whose conduct, as bearers of dispatches and otherwise, entitle them to favorable mention.

The bravery, heroism, fortitude and devotion of my command is commended to the special attention of the Commanding-General, and is worthy of the gratitude of their countrymen.

I desire to mention, among the Brigadier-Generals, one whose enlarged comprehensions of the functions of cavalry, whose diligent attention to the preservation of its efficiency, and intelligent appreciation and faithful performance of the duties confided to