Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/531

 530 Southern Historical Society Papers.

responded with alacrity to every call made upon them. I had about five hundred men engaged between the Brooke pike and the Mill road and six pieces of artillery. The enemy supposed to be between 3,000 and 3,500 men with five pieces of artillery.

Lieutenant Hudgin, with four pieces of artillery, was ordered to report to General Barton on the Mechanicsville road, and one sec- tion from Hankins's and one from Rives's batteries were sent to report to General Lee, before the fire of the enemy on my front had ceased they having left my command for the time, I have not traced their operations, though I have been informed that they were not else- where engaged.

The loss of the enemy is not known, they being able, under cover of a dense fog, to carry away their killed and wounded.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. H. STEVENS, Commanding Richmond Defences.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT JAMES POLLARD.

HEADQUARTERS Co. H, NINTH VA. CAVALRY,

March yth, 1864. Major- General FITZ. LEE :

GENERAL, Early on the morning of the 2d I received in- formation from my scouts that the portion of the column which attacked Richmond on the ist March was attempting to escape through King William and King & Queen counties to Gloucester Point. I immediately sent a dispatch to Captain Magruder (Forty- second battalion) to join me, and started in pursuit with the remain- der of my company (about twenty-five men), having sent the rest to scout and picket the numerous roads and ferries.

I overtook the enemy about 4 P. M., and attacked his rear, skir- mishing with him for several miles. I then turned off on a by-road to head him, sending a few men to harass his rear, was reinforced by Captain Magruder with about thirty men and a number of the Home Guards, and placed them in line of battle at a point that the enemy was obliged to pass. I then sent for Captain Fox (Fifth Virginia Cavalry) and he joined me with as many of his company as he had been able to collect (about fifteen men) just in time to meet the