Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-12-14
Blvor.c. 4.h Reg. \. C. Cav. D


Me-. EBFroR: As moveInents If vast
importance are now trAnspiring in this
part of the moral vineyard, and knowing
that the people at home are deslrous of
information. lrom the hills of expected
conflict, | nave concluded to spend a few
moments in preparing 4 short narrative.
giving all the reliable information cab
gain in relation to- the affairs on the
Rapidan. On the Goth ult, the auietIdc
of our supposed winter quarters was put
in motion by the dashsnS q q dozen
couriers frantically by, aHd soen the
order came tor the commanders, of the
regiments 10 provide their commands
with ammunition, sufficient for o battle,
and also be ready with % seven Gays
r%ations, to march at any moment In n
few moments the second order came 10
mount and move to the front. So We
had to bundle up our traps at 10 z. NJ.
and move off to parts unknown, through
the cold. We proceeded six miles towards
the Rapidan, were halted and permitted
to dismount and build little 6res to warm
our frozen extremities. Soon on the
9th, the column Was pat in motion,
and IN front, headed by the gallant IN
esteemed Generals, Hampton anti Gordon.
Gordon's Brigade moved off, to the tight
f of VidierSvllle, arrived at the Plank road,
} when Gen. Stuart, as usual when a ignt
is on hand, appeared. The 4th was
ordered to front, mounted: one squadron
Of the 9th and I'd were ordered to sharp
j shoot on foot, and soon the carbines
commenced and were replied to by yankee
c infantry by the thousand, apparently
& Gen. Gordon gave ths ordsr-Gyao
e sabre-CHARGE! Away went the 4th
headed By the gallant Captain Johnson
o and Adiurant Moore, but as Gen. Gordon
c always sees as far into the front as any
: body, he ordered the 4th to halt, as i
i was impolitic to charge an infantry
as column, posted as it was, and for abou
re one hour We were held in plain view o
p the enemy, subjected to the fire 9th
K hoTrlbie position, Capt. j. i. BryeeYCl
les E, was severely wounded in the foot
Capt. johnson, Co.. A, Commanding th
i, rcgiment.) 1t. Wilson, Go. g.; 1t. Lori,
nc Co. d, and two of Go. A, had their horse
shot dead only one man was s~eriousl
or wounded. We were thsn ordered to fa
or back to a better position, where we wer
p joined by Gen. Young's Brigade and
a pOl " L q. L. LII > COfDS.
sharp skirmish ensued, resulting in tn
&c repulsc cf the enemy.
r. On the 28th, Gen. Hampton with
rd portion. Of his, division made a raid i
q, the rear, engaged the yankee cavairy
whipped and routed them, pursued the
for four miles into their camps, capture
400 prisoners, destroyed ar amount
stores, &c, &c, turned about for O,
ID. lines, run into a corps of infantry, whic
caused the loss of about n half Il
prisoners, the balance were brougf
om safely into Dixie: our loss quite .smal
10 only one killed in our brigade-(a men
en Der of the lst Il. c. Regiment, The he
y, cavalry regiment ever mustercd.) Ge
ey Gordon had a horse shot under him.
as Sincs that date our division has bet
doing picket duty down about Antioc
be Church, and sharp shooting against Il
Is yankee infantry by the day on the rig
er, of lines.
1t The boys are all in fiBc spirits, al
VI feel confidence in the. skill of their Con
'nd nander-in-Chief to plan and their abili
my being fortified by justice and honor
icn execute, and Ycrory must and will per
on car banners. 1t is very quiet to da
OIL no cannon even firing, but The voleal
ess crater will break loose and that soon.
I'VE Of the slight engagements of Saba
nd! last between the infantry, &C., you
rs! advised. Therefore, | will close for [
ing present-pardon this.
the Yours Respectfully, NJ
Co. A. 4th Reg n e. Ca,