Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/364

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church, and were enjoying a bountiful supper. It was the work of a minute to disarm these men and send them to the rear, with the information that nearly all of the vanguard were guarding prisoners, and that I needed help, but would not wait for it. On we dashed, and about a hour after sunset we came in full sight of Pope's wagon- train at Bristoe Station. It was a time of intense excitement. Minutes lengthened into hours, and hours would have been days. The lurid lightning was flashing thick and fast, the thunder would have dwarfed a corps of man's artillery; the rain was a down-pour, mules were tramping and neighing, smouldering camp-fires were fast going out, but the lightning occasionally revealed wagons, mules, and hay. And, above all, we did not know when to expect our support.

SOUNDS OF REVELRY.

Near by us sounds of revelry broke upon our ears, and the music of the violin and the tread of the dancers oddly mixed with the sur- rounding sounds and scenes. E. M. Ware and C. W. Hubbard ventured up to the banquet-hall, and brought the information that the house was full of dancing officers and women. But we were afraid to make arrests lest an outcry be raised. While waiting for reinforcements, a Federal surgeon the lightning told us what he was rode up to us. He was rushed to the rear, with orders not to say a word. He was splendidly mounted, and oh, how I wished to exchange my outfit for his. Stuart, Fitz. Lee, Roony Lee and Ros- ser all came up together. Orders were speedily given for the attack, Rosser to charge straight ahead and to tear up the railroad-track, but no axes had been prepared for this work. Suppose they had been, who can tell what would have been the result ? Rosser headed his men in the charge, but before they had gone a hundred yards the whole regiment was floundering in a railroad-cut filled with water. This difficulty was overcome, but we had to undergo a still worse one on the east side of the track; and yet this was also surmounted without the loss of life, but not without the loss of temper. By the time we had shaken off the water from ourselves, and poured it out of our carbines, the main attack on the right had begun. Yells, cheers, groans, reports of pistols and carbines, and the clashing of sabres were heard, and the noise of the train that was returning from Pope's headquarters was rapidly nearing. This was our business, and so Rosser drew up his regiment in line facing the track, and ordered a fire upon the passing train. This was done in good style,