Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-22
From the 9th Cavalry

your paper, out we were ordered 10 move
before l could finish it, and | should not
be surprised were it so now. Some of
you will recollect that | paid you a flying
visit in the forepart of last month. |
reached the army on my return, on the
Sth of June, and in half AN hour we were
on our way to the Rappahannock. We
stopped for the night at Morrissyille, and
early the next morning crossed the river
at Kelly's Ford and shaped our course
for ~Stevensburg, n small village about ten
miles from Culpepper. Gen. Gregg was
crossing at the same time at Beverly
Ford, some six miles above.
One squadron, under Major Stanhope
and Capt. Cryer, led the way at full
speed and the rest of the brigade moved
on more steadily. The first squadron
found the enemy in some force in the
town, but drove them out at a run. Soon
they were compelled to retire in turn be-
fore two regiments of the enemy, who
advanced upon them. Slowly retiring,
disputing every inch of the ground. they
held the enemy in check until the main
body came up. A brief skirmish ensued.
when two squadrons of the 9th, and one
of the lst Mass. charged the rebel Skin
mishers and drove them in upon the
main body, which force attempted to
stay the tide, but in vain. No sooner did
our sabres appear cleaning in front than
a panic seemed to seize the whole mass +;
they broke and fed in the widest confu-
sion, chased, captured and cut down, on
the road toward Culpepper. Then, when
heavy masses of the enemy were seen APP
preaching, u boys were with difficulty
recalled from the pursuit. We captured
about forty prisoners, and left the enc,
my's dead along the road in profusion.-
Our own loss was two or three wounded,
one of whom, Sergeant Dunlap, of Com
pany G, has since died.
Meanwhile General Gregg was being
hard pressed on the right, and We were
ordered to his relief; but the fight was
nearly done. We had thrown our force
upon the main body of Lees great army,
and nothing remained but to make good
our re-crossing. This we accomplished
without loss, bringing all of our wounded
and many of our dead.
We remained on picket and in camp
until the main army changed its base,
and on the 18th ult. started from Manas-
sas Junction towards Aide. Wereached
that place about three o'clock in the af-
ternoon, and found the rebels in full pos
session. In fact, as we afterwards learn
ed, they were just coming through the
town to make a raid upon US. After a
brief skirmish, we drove them through
the town, but they planted their batter
les and drew up on the hills beyond, de-
termined to check our passage. The 9th
was ordered to the front, and we dashed
through the town in columns of fours.-
As we reached the further edge the rehs
opened on us with four guns. On We
went at a gallop-shells bursting to the
right, the left, before and behind us, but
strangely enough o struck our line
We formed in a hollow Jut of range of
their guns.
There was a body OF rebel infantry il
a rayine beyond us which the Harris
Light Cavalry had Vainly tried to dis
lodge. We were ordered TO charge them
and with a wild yell the regiment went
- FN.zz- - ...1 Al. ,.I,l .l,lls
as we rose the crest of the hill. but we
needed them not. just at the foot of
the hill was a gully from three to six feet
deep and from four &c twelve feet wide.
This was filed with rebel infantry, and a
line of fire burst from it as we came on.
we stopped not, nor faltered, most of our
horses clearing it at a bound though a few
F went down. Once over, woe TO the reb-
els. We made sixty prisoners on the
spot, and left several stiffening on the
field. Three of our brave fellows were
killed and twelve wounded, including
Major Stanhope, who has since died of
his wounds. At dark the rebels with
drew, and we camped for the night on
the battlefield.
On the l9th We pushed on in pursuit of
retreating rebels. We found them at
Middleburg and h.d a severe fight, driv
ing them before us. The 9th were not
engaged 10 any great extent, being placed
as the support of a battery the greater
part of the day.
On the 2lst, a lovely Sabbath morning,
we again moved on the rebels. While
the church bells at home were calling
our friends to the house of God, our can
non were calling the deluded rebels to His
judgement baF. They fed from hill to
hill and we followed, driving them from
post to post. As We reached the last hill
overlooking the town of Upperville, the
columns of General Buford came in
sight, driving the rebels on a road to our
right. General Fitzpatrick, our fiery con
mander, ANXIOUS to be in town before the
regulars, ordered the 9th, who were in
advance, to charge, and away we vent
two hundred and fifty against five thou
sand. Just as we reached town, we found
them in line behind a stone wall, impass-
IDLE for our horses. 1t was well for both
parties that the wall intervened.-
Well for the rebels, else our sabres would
have cut deep into their column. and
well for US, otherwise not a man would
have escaped.
Before their tremendous fire we recoil-
ed, sheathed our sabres, unslung our car
bines and went at them. Other troops
came to our aid, and the rebels fed
Through the town they fed and we fol-
lowed. fighting from house to house, and
from wall to wall. Individual instances