The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-06-18
'The Great Cavalry Fight.
PIeusamton'. EDgRgeu"nI with stuart
ON the G5aplahE nnocEk-- sbefeRt of Ihe
Rebels

! IN 1NtUAO Al DEALEION, uullc y.
| About the middle Of last week, information
of pretty positive character was received at
headquarters, concerning the massing and
drilling of a large force Of the enemy,s eavaI-
ry in the vicinity OF Culpepper,
| The bold reconnaissance across the Kappa
hammock OH Friday last, below Fredericlls-
burg, had more than one object. Its first OBJ
iect was 10 discover the exact whereabouts Of
the rebel army, which was accomplished Sat
urday morning. Its second object was to re-
main where it was as u diversion, while we
hastily gathered together a force 10 feel Of
and if prudent, to attack this threatening mass
of cavalry opposite our extreme right flank
! Saturday evening the composition Of the
force was determined upon and all the cavai-
ry that could be made Immediately available
was detailed for the work under command Of
General Pleasanton General Stoneman hay
ing been relieved assisted by Gems. Buford
and Gregg, and Col Dufe as subordinate
commanders. In addition, two small brig
AIDES of picked infantry, under General Ames,
| of the lth corps, and General Russell, Of the
9th corps, were detailed to accompany the
expedition A detail Of artillery was made
in the proportion Of one battery to each brig
ade, the batteries, with the cavalry, be-
ing in charge Of Capt Robertson, Chief of
Artillery on Gen. Pleasantons staff
The infantry force selected challenged par
ticular admiration. The regiments were small
but they were reliable-such for instance as
the 3D. 3rd and 9TH Wisconsin, ID, and 33rd
Massachusetts,, 9th Maine, S6th, and 124th
New York, and one or two others of like char
acter.
| The force, when completed, did not, by sew
eral thousand, reach the reported number OF
the enemy, from twelve to fifteen thousand,
but then, as far as cavalry was concerned, we
sent all that could be spared, and, as far as
Infantry was concerned, the sequel proved
| that fully as much was sent as could be used
to advantage.
On Monday evening" Gen Bufords column
| left Warrcnton junction, and, followed by
Gen. Anes from Bealeton, bivouackcd for the
night near the Bowen Mansion, about one
mile from Beverley's Ford. Gen. Gregg, ia
king his own and Col. Duties command, NOV
ed to the left from the junction. and encamp-
ed for the night in close proximity to Kelly's
Ford, where Gen. Russell had already arriv-
| ed.
| At dawn Gen. Buford's command was in
motion. Col. Davis brigade, led by two
squadrons Of the 8th New York, and support
ed by the 9Th Illinois and 3D. Indiana, had
the advance. Our cavalry soon reached the
river, dashed i'll, dashed up the bank, and
were well on the opposite side before the reb-
els III their Notifications were aware OF then
presence The suddenness of the movement
completely surprised them, and they at once
broke for the first friendly timber, which was
about one fourth of mile in their rear. Our
cavalry followed rapidly, and in these woods
the first severe skirlnish occurred, in which
we speedily lost one of the most valued Off
GERS of the command, Col. B. T. Davis, Of the
9Th New York cavalry, and Captain i'll the Isl
Regular cavalry, and the same gallant officer
who led the gallant charge out of Harpers
Ferry last fall, and captured I.Ongstreet's am
munition train. When the rebels who were
Idismounted, reached the woods, they began
to slirmish, and detained our force there long
enough to give the alarm to Jones brigade
they being encamped Just beyond in the out
er edge OF the woods Though their horses
were grazing in the fields, yet they speedily
fell i'll, and in u very short time two or three
Isquadrons came charging down the road anc
through the timber Hurting their force up
on the 8th New York, they broke it and fore
ed it back, and killed and wounded quite 9
number Col Davis, who was gallantly
leading the advance, turned to rally them
and. waving his sword to the Sth illinois,
shouted, ''come on, boys" when a rebel rode
out in front of him, and fired three shots from
his pistol at him, the last one taking effect il
his forehead, and inilicting a mortal wound
Quick as Thought Lieut.. Parsons, Acting A
A. General to Colonel Davis, was at the side
of the rebel, and raising i'll his stirrups, will
one well directed blow Of his sabre he laiC
his head open midway between eyes and cLin
and the wretch fell dead in the dust at hi
horses feet.
By this time the gallant 8th Illinois, though
meeting with a hot reception, in which Capt
Clark and Capt. Forsyth were both wounded
had charged upon the rebels and driven then
back upon the main body of the enemy, VIII
were now engaged in deploying and forming
: in the rear of the woods and just behind thei
} camp nearly two miles from the river
Major Writings command now came u
to thesupport of the Illinois and Indiana troops
Gen. Anlcs also brought his infantry over
and deployed them on the left of the road a
skirmishers, and then pushed them out il
line.of battle to the edge of the woods in from
Of which the enemy was drawn up by squad
rons. with artillery at the intervals, whicl
omitted 10 opportunity to shell everything il
SIGHT that had motion to it. Thus far the Ell
, envy evidently had but one brigade at hand
and the few prisoners taken said they belong
ed to the 9th, 9TH, and 18th Virginia cavalry
of Gen. Jones' brigade. Gen. Pleasanton nov
directed Gen. Buford to make preparation t
charge this force in the flank, while the in
fantry and artillery engaged it in front. Gen
Buford, having driven the enemJA picket
) and skirmishers in the open fields on the RICH
of the road, sent in the 9Th Pennsylvania, sup
ported by the 9TH and 9th Regulars to charg
the line on the flank. The Pennsylvania
steadily and gallantly advanced out of tn
; woods, III excellent order, and then dashet
across the open field in an oblique direction
toward the cnemy's guns.
They went up almost to their very muzzles
through storm of canister and shell, anC
z would have taken them, when suddenly there
l dashed out of the woods on their right flank
in almost the very spot where they themselve
had issued, two whole regiments Of the enemy
on the full charge. Retreat was almost Gu
T of, but the regiments now subjected to fire
III front, and on both TANKS, charged back
cutting their way out with considerable loss
The 9th Regulars came to the rescue, bu
the fire was so severe that even these veteran;
could not stand it, and they fell back with
some loss, In this charge we lost about the
only prisoners captured by the enemy during
the day.
The enemy was now being reinforced very
rapidly, and in short time Gen. Pleasontor
found that Buford's small division was oppos
ed by three strong brigades Of rebels, with ar
tillery to match.
After the repulse of the 9th Pennsylvania.
the rebels made two rapid attempts to gain
our rear, and the approach to the ford, both
on our right and Oh our left, but particularly
on the right. But they were handsomely
foiled by Buford, and for two hours there was
very sharp skirnisling rapid Smelling, and
admirable maneuveriDg by both sides, in the
open undulating fields on our extreme right
A brigade of the enemy's cavalry came down
1.-The road which branches off to the right from
ReuerI...s and made dash for the ford. But