Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/436

424 of the most trusty and reliable men of the command. Before 12 M. of that day the captain was summoned from headquarters to find a fair corpse lying out in almost womanly beauty, shot through by a minie ball, " wounded in the house of his friends," from a sad but in those days reasonable error. A scouting party from Colonel Strange's regiment had been sent out without notice to the picket lines. French had ridden down to a spring at the foot of the hill, leaving young Fourquerean. This scouting party came suddenly upon him—he endeavored, as he supposed, to escape from the enemy and make his way to his comrades—refused to halt when ordered to do so—and by an unerring and fatal shot from the rifle of ———— of the Albemarle company ended his youthful career. The sorrow, and regret of this soldier was so evident that none had the heart to utter a word of reproach or blame. The writer has since the war talked over the scene with him and heard his repeated regrets. A member of the company reminds me here of a touching incident. Just as the body of this young soldier was brought in and laid out in the rear porch, there came, borne upon a gentle breeze from the camp of our neighbors, First Virginia infantry, the sweet strains from their band, "Do they miss me at home, do they miss me?" It was a sweet coincidence, as they knew nothing of our sadness. We were not then used to death and carnage, and had not grown callous.

After the departure of the "Black Horse," by general order the "Albemarle troop of cavalry" and later the "Rappahannock cavalry," commanded by that excellent officer, John Shack Green, reported to Captain Lay to whom the command was assigned. This, however, was temporary; but a permanent squadron, consisting of the "Powhatan troop," the "Little Fork Rangers," of Culpeper county, Captain Utterback commanding, and a "Fauquier troop," commanded by Captain Adams, was formed, to be attached and report directly to headquarters, and Captain Lay was assigned to the command. This squadron, as such, passed through the battles of "Bull Run" on the 18th and of Manassas on the 21st—on the field during the whole of each day—and received handsome official notice from Generals Johnston and Beauregard for efficient services rendered. Being on the field within sound of the voice of General Johnston, this squadron was the first ordered in pursuit when the rout commenced, were the first at Sudley church, and on the way to Washington, when ordered back by a courier, reaching camp about five A. M.—over twenty-two hours in the saddle.