The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-19

broke Tor the first friendly timber, which
was about One-inulth Of q mile in their
rear.
! >klRMlsTi IL THE WOODS.
Our cavalry followed rapidly, and in
these woods the first severe Skirmish Oc-
Cured, IN which We speedily lost one of
the most valued officers of the command,
Colonel 3. T. Davis, Of the Eighth New
York cavalry, and captain in the First
Regular 'avalrv, and the same officer who
led the gallant charge ont of Harper 5
Ferry lest fall and captured Longstreet s
amlnuni ion train. When the rebels, who
were di>mounted, reached the woods, they
began t. skirmsh, and detained our force
there long enough to give the alarm to
Jones brigade, they being encamped just
beyond in the outer edge of the woods.
Though their horses were grazing in the
fields, yet they speedily fell in, and in q
very short time two or three squadrOns
came charging down the road and through
the timber Hurting their force upon the
Eighth New York, they broke it and
forced i, back, and killed and wounded
quite a number.
DEATH OF COLONEL DAVIS.
Colonel Davis, who was CALAMITY lead
ing the advance, turned to rally them, and
waving bis sword to the Eighth Illinois,
shouted, "Come on boys" when rebel
rode out in front OF him, and fired three
shots from his pistol at him, the last one
taking effect in his forehead, and intiicting
a mortal wound. Quick as thought Lieu
tenant Parsons, acting \. A. General to
Colonel Davis, was ut the side of the reb-
ell, and rising in his stirrupS, with one well
directed blow of his sabre he laid his head
open midway between eyes and chin, and
the wretch fell dead in the dust at his
horses feet. Parsons is but ayOuth his
adversary was a strong, athletic man, yet
the former, though young in years and
slight in stature, nobly avenged his com
manders fall
4 CHARGE
General Buiord having driven the enc
my's pckets and skirmishers in the open
fields or the right of the road, sent in the
Sixth Pennsylvania, supported by the
Fifth and Sixth regulars, to charge the
rebels on the flank The Pennsylvanians
came Vi, h their work in splendid siyle
This IS the regiment formerly known as
the dancers, " and they had q matter of
pride to settle in this charge. Steadily
and gallantly they advan ced cut OF the
woods in excellent order, and then dashed
across the open field in an oblique direction
toward the enemy's guns. They went up
almost to their very muzzles, through
storm OF canister and shell, and would
have taken them, when suddenly there
dashed out of the woods on their right
flank, in almost the very spot from which
they themselves had issued, two whole
regiments OF the enemy, on full charge
Retreat was almost cut off, but the regi-
ments now subjected to a fire in front, and
on both TANKS, charged back, cutting their
way out with considerable loss. The
Sixth regulars came to the rescue, but the
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. Major Morris, of the
Sixth Pennsylvania, was seen to fall from
his horse, and is probably wounded and a
prisoner. Captain Davis of the same regi-
ment was killed. Captain Lieper was
wounded, and Major Hazeltine had his
horse shot under him. Captain Dahlgren
Of General HOokers staff, model of cool |
and dauntless bravery, charged with the
places. lie describes the charge as ore
of the finest OF the war.
DEFEAT OF TIE REBELS.
The enemy was now being reinforced |
very rapidly, and in short time General
Pleasanton found that Butor IS small d.
vision was opposed by three strong bri-
gades of rebels, with artillery to match.
After the repulse of the Sixth Pennsyl.
vania, the rebels made two rapid attempts
to gain our rear and the approaches to the
ford, both on our right and on our left,
but particularly on the right. But they
were handsomely foiled by Butord, and
for two hours there was very sharp skr-
nishing, rapid shellng and admirable ma
by both sides, in the open and
fields on our extreme right.
A brigade of the enemy's cavalry came
down the road which branches off to the
right from Beverleys, and made dash
for the ford. But they were too late. A
coupe of squadrons and section of artil-
cry interposed They never got nearer
han mile to the point, and during the
TWO hours that they remained in position
hey suffered severely from our shells and
,kirmishers.
About one o'clock Buford again began
% press the enemy, and this time he show
I'd evident signs of uneasiness, and soon
withdrew his force from our right flank as
though he had a fire in the rear. About
he same time we heard Greggs gus, and
some prisoners taken from Robinson,s
North Carolina brigade just then, report
I'd General Russels infantry advancing
through the woods on their right flank and
ear General Gregg, from the sound of
he firing, was evidently in the vicinity of
Brandy Station. Pleasanton now pushed