Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/250

 244 Southern Historical Society Papers.

except the pursuit of the Yankees. Without loading- my pistol I rode up on the hill, which commanded a view ot the Summit Point road, and seeing the enemy running, and having no idea that our men were in front of the Yankees, went back and reported that the enemy were running. John Terrill went to reconnoitre, but never returned, having been driven off, but afterwards had the good for- tune to capture a straggling Yankee. When I got back I found Bonham and Craton quarreling about Jones's mare. Craton and I were mounted, Craton on Jones's mare, Bonham and Jones being on the ground. As suddenly as if they had sprung out of the earth, a small party of the enemy attacked us, capturi d Bonham before he could mount his horse, recaptured Jones, and after chasing Craton and myself nearly a mile captured Craton, I alone being left to tell the tale.

But the adventures of the main party must be told. Captain Blackford and our men drove the force, under the immediate com- mand of Jones, in confusion before them to the main street of the town, and there, much to their astonishment, met about a hundred troops drawn up in reserve. Without hesitating at all, they at- tacked, broke through, and after getting clear of the enemy re- treated, but not at all in good order. The enemy pursued for about five miles, but it was not a panic by any means, for when they crowded our men too closely, the latter turned and always drove the advance of the enemy before them.

That night we mustered our forces, and found that our losses were six or eight missing — none killed or wounded that we could learn — the only casualty on either side being the wounding of Jones in the hand, and four bullets in his mare. Some of these facts were after- wards learned from the returned prisoners, Craton being the first, having made his escape from Fort McHenry.

Now what were we to do ? We had hoped that by making a gal- lant fight, capturing a number of the enemy, and returning to our command from a victorious field, our transgression would be for- given. But it was just the reverse. We had been whipped, and badly whipped, and instead of having a number of prisoners in excess to show, the balance was on the other side. To complete our misfortune, on the way we heard that the commanding officer of the brigade. Colonel Lomax, had said, when he heard of our absence, that he would see if he could not hang some of those gen- tlemen of Company B. We had got within a few miles of camp when we met some of our own company. From them we got the pleasant