The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-19
ARMY OF cHE PoToMAC, June 8

ma IED.
ARMY OF .rIE POToMAC, June 8.
The recent fight was desperate hand
to-hand encounter. Col Davis, reported
killed, was born in Mississippi, was ap-
pointed to West Point from Alabama in
1850; entered the army in 1854; re-
manned loyal when his State seeded:
was promoted to Captain in the LIST ORA
goons, July 18th, 1861; led.a squadron
of cavalry at Williamsburg, and was nomi-
mated for Brevet Lieut.. Colonel in the
regular army, but not confirmed; was ap-
pointed Colonel of New York cavalry by
Gen. Mcclellan; rescued the cavalry at
Harpers Ferry at the surrender in Sep
TENDER, 1862, and was brevetted Major,
and confirmed
WASHINGTON, June 1O.-Yester,lay the
greatest cavalry battle of the war was
fought on the Rappahannock. The result
has been the defeat of the rebels, whose
captured correspondence shows that they
were about to make most extensive raid
into Maryland and Pennsylvania, under
command of Stuart. with some $4,000
cavalry.
1t was known at Hooker's headquarters
that Gen. Lee had assembled his cavalry,
supported by artillery and infantry, be-
tween Culpepper Court House and Bever-
ly's Ford, designing soon to send them
upon raid, and Gen. Pleasanton was
sent, with a portion of the divisions of our
cavalry commanded by Gems. Buford and
Gre g respectively, to intercept them.
The force under Buford-portions of the
Let 9Th
and the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry-reach-
ed Beverly Ford early on Monday evening
and crossed the river unopposed shortly
after midnight
The force under Gen. Gregg portions
of the Sth and 9th New York, Sth Illinois,
and Sd Indiana Cavalry-reached the ford
at midnight, and commenced to cross at
four A. M.
Buford's force, which was on the right,
first met the enemy's pickets half mile
south OF the ford, when severe engage
ment Immediately commenced, the rebels
being in heavy force, and resisting the adj
vance of our troops with continuous hand
to hand fighting. When Gregg brought
his force up to the fight and became en-
gagged, the enemy gradually gave way,
disputing every inch of ground desperate
ly. However, in this way, the Federals
made more than dozen charges into the
midst of the rebel ranks, relying almost
entirely upon the sabre, Which they used
with terrible effect. The enemy, on the
other hand, repeatedly charged, relying
on their revolvers for the most however.
Both sides were repeatedly driven back.
In the course of the battle, though we sue
ceeded in driving the rebels-Fitz Hugh
Lees and Wade Hampton division of cav
airy, with artillery, all commanded by Gen.
Stuart-back to point about five miles
southwest of where their pickets were first
encountered, where Pleasanton found the
enemy so heavily reinforced with infantry
and artillery as to make it prudent to re-
turn to this side of the river
The return was commenced about p
NJ, Gen. Pleasanton bringing Off about 200
prisoners, his own wounded, ard the bodies
of his officers who had been killed in the
engagement.
The 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, which
was in the advance, under Butord, lost
heavily, including six officers killed, woun-
ed, or missing. The 9Th New York had
the advance under Gregg, and, under the
command OF Col. Davis, who was killed
on the field, after slightly wavering, ac-
quilted themselves with much gallan:ry.
On the return to this side of the river,
the enemy skrmished frequently with our
rear guard, doing us no damage to speak
of, however
As yet our loss has not been definitely
ascertained. The proportion OF horses
Killed on both sides, in this almost unex-
ampled handto-hand cavalry battle, was
very large The field from where Buford
and Gregg first became engaged, through
out the whole distance of five miles over
which the enemy were driven before get
ting back to their rentOrcements, was
strewn with dead and wounded rebels
Two batteries of Federal artillery were
engaged, and the enemy had the same.
Much credit is given to our artillery for
bravery and efficiency
In force the enemy Outuumbered us
From documents that fell into the hands
of General PeaSanton, it was ascertainel
that Stuart was to have started on lis in
tended raid within an hour or two Of the
time our forces came up with him.
New YORK, June 1O.-The New York
Times estimates Stuart's force at from TO-,
900 to $4,000. He has been massing.
drilling and supplying them since the bat
tie of Chancellorville, at Brandy Station,
five miles south of Culpepper. 1t was I'M
derstood to be raid into Maryland and
Pennsylvania. Hooker sent to the vicn-
ity force of cavalry and artillery equal
to that of the rebels, with several thousand
picked infantry, the latter under General
Russell, of Massachusetts,, and General
Ames, of Maine Pleasonton, Fitzpatrick,
Butord, Davis, Gregg, Duties, and host
of other superior cavalry officers are in
command, Pleasonton being chief COM
mander. His forces doubtless reached