Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/537

 536 Southern Historical Society Papers.

HEADQUARTERS, 5th April, 1864. Respectfully forwarded for information of the Department.

R. E LEE, General.

LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT POLLARD.

COMPANY H, NINTH VIRGINIA CAVALRY* April 9th, 1864.

GENERAL, I have the honor to report, in reply to your order

of March igth, received to-day, that early on the morning of I

got information from my scouts that the enemy were crossing into King William moving towards King & Queen. I immediately started with my company to meet him at Dunkirk, the only ferry at which a boat had been left on the river, but he secured a wood boat at Aylett's several miles lower down the river and crossed his men, swimming his horses. I pursued and attacked his rear, skirmishing with him for several miles, when I turned off to get ahead of him at a point which I knew he must pass. On my way to this place, I met Captain Magruder, Forty-second battalion Virginia cavalry (to whom I had sent in the morning to join me) and some Home Guards, who placed their men at my command, arid I put them in the position which I had chosen about dark. Later in the evening I heard that Captain Fox, Fifth Virginia cavalry, with some of his men, was at King & Queen Courthouse and sent for him to join me, which he did, arriving on the ground about ten or eleven o'clock, and a few minutes before the enemy advanced and Colonel Dahlgren was killed. Captain Fox then took command and we remained in position until daylight, when he ordered me to take my company and find out the position of the enemy and they surrendered without showing fight.

I have the honor to be, General,

Your obedient servant,

JAMES POLLARD, First Lieut. Com } g Co. H, Ninth Va. Cavalry.