The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-12-10
THE NORTH CAROLINA CAVALRY.
TIE late sSkirnafsh on the Potomac.

CAMP AsHE, Nov. q, 1861.
The LIST North Carolina Cavalry has been in a
| fight at last; and brilliant little affair it was.
/ Indeed, it is said to have been the most brilliant
foray of the war; and, of the participants
in the charge, will endeavor to give you report
! Of the whole affair
On the morning of the 18th inst. large body
| of Federal cavalry, numbering over leo, dashed
| down upon our pickets, stationed along, near,
/ stream known as " Difficult Run" about eight or
nine miles from camp Lieut. Cowles, COM
pany A, commanding the post, seeing their ap-
proach gave our signal, but they not returning it
properly, he ordered his command present to fire
upon them. A few shots were fred-one of
which, we have since learned, took effect, breaking
the leg of a Yankee, and Wounding his horse.
They Immediately wheeled and fed-that is, the
Yankees-and made sundry extravagant reports
along their route returning to their camp
AS it was evident that large bodies of them had
been prowng along our lines for several days with
mlschlevOus purposes, our commander, Col. Ran
SOM, determined yesterday (26th) to take sufi-
clent force with him, and see if he could not sue
ceed in capturing them According y on yester-
day morning a detail Of 120 men was made for
the purpose who proceeded about II o'clock to
our line Of pickets; relieving the two companies
who had been cut the nj ght and day past. The
companies thus relieved constituted also portion
Of the scouting party, they having been ordered
to the rear a reserve or rear guard. We passed
on for several miles without our lines, and in
westwardly direction; turning our course towards
Vienna, we learned that a large body Of the
enemy's cavalry was only about half an hour in
advance and ascertaining that there fine
prospects for fight, the countenances Of the men
frightened up with lively expectations. 1t soon
became very evident that we were near upon them,
and our Col ordered halt Immediately west of
Vienna; and riding along our column, already
formed into fours with his face beaming with
Joyous emotions he told US that we were them;
land now, boys,' he says, Il want you to show
them the stuff you made Of They are between
and our camp, and We must put them through,
no difference what their numbers are p owe are
ready" the spontaneous expression of nearly
every man; and on went, through town and out
in the direction of our camp.
We had not reached the summit of the hill i'm
medately South of the deserted village, before
our scout reported them just at the foot on the
other side, in unknown numbers. Rising the
hill, front ranks poured a sharp fire into their
column, from their rifles and carbines, and instant
ly the clear loud tones of our Col. Ransom rings
along the entire line, heard above the shouts and
rattle in front, "Charge, boys charge! [ know
you wont disgrace yourselves!" And then, such
wild, keen shout rent the air, never yet has
fallen upon my ears, and our column commenced
pouring down the hill. On, they flew, and
louder the shouts; and [ sped down the
road, my gallant char ger, rapidly passing man
after man, soon found myself gazing upon the
splendid bodies Of the Yankees, their beautiful
blue overcoats spreading on the evening air, as
they had wheeled after firing one or two perfect
ly harmless rounds at US. Maj. Gordon led on
the column, and very soon was far ahead of any of
his men. We all knew now that their entire |
force flying rapidly before us, and every man
of strove the harder to overtake and capture |
his prisoner. We had chased them about a mile,
capturing and killing several, when they made a
sudden wheel to the ri eht, ard made out in d. |
rccton of their camps with all the speed of har d.
yards from where they wheeled, they made an
effort to rally their and offer fight.
1t was supposed that they falling out |
upon reinforcement Of infantry, and some of our
officers made an effort to arrest the progress Of
men, in order to obtain the advantage of the |
situation, and give them another charge in better
order. But a few men rushed on heedlessly-
dashed out the lane, and made good time towards |
the blue coats, who again fired another harmless |
volley. Some four five of our mentrcm Com
pany d. and or two from some other compa-
ny, returned the fire and charged the whole body |
Of the enemy, who immediately wheeled and put
spurs and went at death rate again in direction
of their camp. They hotly pursued, with |
a reckless bravery unparalleled, by many of our
men as could break ranks and pass the blOckaded |
portion of the road; for meanwhile our men over
taking and capturing about twenty in the road |
and fields before they had wheeled to the right, |
and the command having been issued to rally, the |
road had become almost impossible, and no alter
native was left but for our men to leap the fences
and take through the fields, which several did |
quite successfully, pursuing the fugitives about
two miles, to point beyond the railroad, and so |
contiguous to their lines that they deemed it mad
yisable to go further.
Col. Ransom now coming up to the angle in
the road, he ordered the rally to be sounded; but
the wild notes of the buges had no restraining
influences upon the impetuous daring of the brave |
men SO holly engaged in pursuing the flying Yam
KEGS. Attaining their ardent desires as success
fully as possible they returned, and in an hour
we were looking around upon the fruits of our
first fight and first victory-26 prisoners besides |
killed, and one severely wounded, and left in |
care of citizen, Is Sharp's rifles, "a Navy re-
peaters, 26 sabres and belts, II horses, with all
their equlpage, with many other articles of impor-
lance all amounting to five thousand dollars
IN value, were the result of our expedition The
prisoners, you will discover on their arrival in
Richmond, are fine looking specimens of Yankees
nearly all genuine Ame ricans. Their officers
made their escape, except two Sergeants and two
Corporas. Those taken regretted very much |
that we had not taken their commissioned officers.
One Of those killed was supposed to be Lie ut
Lane, of Philadelphia. All were splenddly