Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/190

 182 Southern Historical Society Papers.

condition to be returned to Mother Earth, and we again pursued our journey south.

The gallant Captain E. E. Bouldin, at present a practicing lawyer in Danville, and at that time captain of the Charlotte cavalry, was bringing up the rear with his company and the Churchville cavalry. The idea that they could ride over us was not entirely disabused from their minds at Middlebrook, so, gathering up all the energy they could command at Newport, two miles further on, they "made for us. ' '

Slowly and stubbornly the rear guard fell back or rather, was pushed back until the regiment was reached. The order came for my regiment and the i6th or lyth to dismount and take a position on a high hill overlooking the road, and the horses to pass on. This did not take but a moment, comparatively, and we arranged our- selves as best we could along the crest of the hill. We lay down flat on the ground to await developments. In the distance could be seen the Yankees, very active and busy, closing up by fours, prepa- ratory to a charge.

It was shortly after noon, with the sun putting in its best licks on this June day, when all of a sudden there was a yell, and the road for a quarter of a mile turned blue. Our rear guard was resting in the road parallel to our dismounted men.

Now had come the time that they expected to fulfil their cher- ished hopes of riding over us. Kind providence had favored us in the construction of that road. It made an oblique bend just in our front, about the fourth part of a circle, and gave the whole firing line "timber to work on." When they got to the proper place there was a roar went out from our lines that would have waked the snakes in February. They

" Reeled, and shook, and fled,"

with Captain Bouldin's company right after them, pouring hot shot into them, and not letting up until the enemy were forced back on their infantry line.

This charge was made without orders, but Captain Bouldin saw the chance to put in some good work at this juncture, and he effect- ively did so. This put an end to the riding over business by these cavalrymen. How many we killed I don't know, but quite a num- ber, I should say. The killed and wounded on their side we had to leave for their disposal, as we had to move on when the infantry came