Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-03-25
THE BATTLE OF KELLY's FORD.

To tie Editor Of The Wing:
The history of the cavalry Of the army Of Northern
Virginia repete il il with Of csnhct endu-
rance svd constant danger showing holiness both on
the part of ndivNuals and masses, that has command
ed the admiration and fear of enemies as well as
the commentator OF our own people, will probably to
the end of the war furnish scene TO be so wildly
remembered by those who participated in IT, or more
worthy TO be recorded to the honor of our arm of the
service and the State of Virginia. than the battle OF the
18th instant at Kelley's Ford on the Upper Kappa
hammock.
Early ON that morning, the enemy attempted the
crossing ia the face Of the sharpshooters of the %
Virginia cs,Glry commanded by Capt Breckenridge
From the rifle pits tbs gallant ohcers assisted their ad
yce emptyng saddle alter saddle and repulsing them
three times win heavy loss, until having o, nded all
his ammunition, ana empded even his pistols lac was
compelled to retire-not being properly supported by
detachment from another regiment, which had been
sent to his aid. Not being able to reach their horses
time more than twenty OF our sharp-sbooters were
can ured here Meanwhile Information of these events
reaching brigade, We gathered our available force
between 900 and 1000 men, and moved Gown to meet
the enemy who had shown the for them unusual daring
of crossing our side Of the river. Their neOf dis
mounted skimshers discovered not nile from the
ford and indging iiom their slow advance that they
might have retained only small force TO guard the
Ford while their main body advanced by another road
hooing to get unobserved into roar-our General
the gallant Fz Lee hestated not TO attack them mme-
datey Our carbineers were thrown forward until the
regiments could be gotten into position, and once the
Sd Virginia cavalry ordered to charge. The
nv ssharpshOoers lined the woods the side of the
main road--auother column of cavalry with artillery
in POSITION were concealed in byroad leading of To
the right With impetuous speed, led by Col Oven,
on dashed the Sd. Little cared they for the of
carbue balls that greeted their approach they swept
down stone fence until then undiscovered, endeavOr
ing to find an opening through which they might pass,
to reach their foes. They, though protected by
fences dsmayed by the tremendous yells OF boys,
broke in confusion aud had the 81 only been able To
to have gotten them would have been then and there
utterly routed But in vain. did COL Owen look fof
opening through which to lead his men, The fence was
mpasabe, and swecpng oil To the left in almost perfect
order the 81 formed again for another charge. Now
came down The well known RosseR with the 9th. Few
his superOrs in GOODNESS and Judgment in the field Blu.
two little regiments could not encounter the immense
force that disclosed in imposing in the
field behind the woods aud stone fences and in the face
OF a fearful storm OF cafbine balls these two rcgi-
menLS slowly retired TO the open eds the left in the
vain hope that the enemy woul show
fair fight on the grOttid where we could
cross sabres with them Here the noble Pelham received
his death wound-a loss rrepirdble TO the Cavalry D
vison-9nd Puler-Mtjor of the 5th-Cel to rise no
more.
While these events were transpring far down on the
extreme lei the I'd, led by Maj Breckenridge Glanced
TO meet the siarpshooters and supporting column Tint
wasSfapidy advancing. In the middle Of the field n
large ditch Distracted their but one SQUAD
able to in time Struggling manully thew
were compelled to retire slowly-eavng behind them
Major Breckenridge, whose horse being disabled was
unable to make good his escape. His high spirit was
compelled to submit to the modification of capture
But not with IMMUNITY did they advance, relying upon
their immense superiority in numbers. The lst sun
ported by the 4th upon the flank OF Que of their
sqHldrons and nearly annihilated it. Colonel Drake won
high commentator from Gen. Stuart on this occasion
Sill advancing the left with heavy !orce of dis
mounted men in the advance of their line of cavalry
they forced back the 9Th and 3D. in spite of two gallant
charges, which served only to retlrd for time their
progress.
Retiring to position where an open field, nearly
mile in breadth and more than two in length, gave
fair opportunity for The of cavalry, brigade was
drawn up in line of batte-the 4th on the extreme
right, then the "a, Sd, 81 and lst Here awaited
for nearly half an hour the advance of the enemy
Afraid to come beyond the support of their artillery
their progress vas slow and We, who are accustomed
to Stuarts and Lees quick movements, grew inpatient
aud even thought they had given up all thought Of fur
ther advance Bukpresently the line of woods "a far
as we could see frnsed with the smoke from the
rifles of their skrmishers, aud carbineers were
hotly engaged with a force nearly ten to one.
Now came the order from Fz Lee that when the |
charge commenced on the right t must be carried on
down the whole line.
few shots from our two pieces of artillery, which /
now for the irst time brought into action the