Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/91

Rh on their front and right. To avoid the fatal mistake of firing into friends, an injudicious member of the 9th called out, "Are you the 'Bucktails'?" "Yes, we are the 'Bucktails'," came the ready response from the brush. Almost instantaneously with the response came a hot volley of musketry. The troops surmised to be "Bucktails" by the Pennsylvanians were "bred in Old Kentucky," being the first Confederate regiment of that State. The confusion caused by this blunder was soon allayed and the 9th held its ground until the end of the fight.

Stuart, seeing his battery partially, if not wholly, disabled by the Federal fire, ordered the 6th South Carolina and the 10th Alabama to charge forward towards the brick house held by the "Bucktails." He hoped, by a vigorous charge upon their centre to dislodge the enemy from their strong position. These two brave regiments responded with alacrity, but the forward movement brought them into the open field where they became an easy target for the sharpshooters in the Thornton House, the battery on the hill, and the opposing lines of infantry.

This destructive fire was too much for the intrepid Southerners, so they retired to their original position near the disabled battery.

About this time a report reached Stuart that a large force was moving on the Washington pike to Ord's assistance. This report was correct, for General Reynolds, with the First Brigade, had started for Dranesville at the sound of the first firing.

Stuart, being outnumbered and hard pressed, and knowing that his wagons were now safely beyond the reach of the enemy, determined to withdraw. This he did without any further loss, his disabled gun being carried off by hand. The enemy made no serious attempt at pursuit, and Stuart went into camp for the night at old Fryingpan Church, about six or seven miles from the field of battle. It is true that Stuart left the field in possession of the enemy, but had he delayed his withdrawal until the arrival of Reynolds, he would have found himself confronted by at least 10,000 troops, and his situation would have been, extremely hazardous. Ord and Reynolds, gathering their dead and wounded, returned to Camp Pierpont at night. On the morning of the 21st, Stuart, reinforced by the 9th Georgia and