Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-30
Communications.
CAxp OF THE Fouarn N. Y. CAvAIny,
 Near Potomac Greek Station, Va,
 March 2sth. lsss

March 2sth, 1888.
 MR. EDrroR :-As there are Q number ol
 men in this Regiment from Litcb6eld County,
 l would like to say few words to their friends,
 through your paper; but as I never enjoyed
 the advantages of good education, do not
 know as I shall be able to put it in tho proper
 form for publication.
 In most of the Cavalry fights between the
 Union forces under General Avsrill, and ths
 Confsderates under Fitzhugh Lee, on the l5sh
 inst, see that the Fourth New York Cavalry
 have been set down as acting c6wardly. This
 is not SO; as l was present at the feht, and saw all that was to be seen, from the com mencement of the fight at the ford, until our forces had re-crossed the river as sundoWp. Now you must know that all the way an ia- listed man can hope to be known, is by the name of his Regiment, and it is not e Do wondered that he should feel injured to hear his Regiment branded as towards, 6specially when it is not the case. On the morning of the 17th, when we left Morrisviile, detaeh-
 nent of the Fourth under the command of :. Capt. Hart of Company O. had the advance. When we reached Kelly's ford, we found the road leading down into the river obstructed by large trees felled across it ffom each way. and the other side of the river lined with rife pits, filled with sharp-shooters detefnined to die pute our crossing. Capt. Hart ordered all the good shots to dismount and shelter themselves behind the trees as much as possible, and to keep up sharp fire on the rife pits, while the Pioneers cut the trees out of the road, and 60 we'll was this order obeyed, that the enemy dared not show their heads to take aim, eoass. quently their firing had very little effect. Az soon as the road was cleared, party of the 4th, lead by Lot Domingo of Co. L. dashsd into the river, followed by two squadrons of the lst Rhode Island and one of the 9th Ohio. The enemy now made one desperate effort to repulse the crossing party, and poured volley after volley into their ranks but our brave boys pressed on, regardless of the storm of bullets which hissed around them. Lieutenant Do. mingo was the first to cross. He partly turn. ed in his saddle, waved his sword, cheered his men, when he was shot and mortally wounded. Lieutenant Bregreaw of Company K, was next to him; and his horse was shot before he roach. ed the shore. By this time, our men were @ near to them that the enemy broke and ran, but they did not get away; for our boys, as soon as they were across, amused themselves by running down and capturing ths flying rob. 'ia- All the accounts of the aiair that have seen, say that Lieutenant Druwn -vr -ssv- rIrss Rhode Island, was the first man across, but from my position behind friendly oak within one hundred and fifty yards of the snsmys rife pits, I had good view of the ford, and know that this is not SO. ;:a.cf lel tiIY
 After our Division. were across, ws moved off on the Culpepper road, but our advance was sOon stopped by Fitzhugh Lee as the head of his brigade. Our line was soon formed, the left resting in the edge of cedar thiekss, and the right on the bank of the river.
 The enemy formed a. a.squadron of columns, with the famous Black Horse Cavalry in ftoas, and charged across the open fields. intending to force our left flank. General Averill had anticipated them, and placed a section of the 9th New York Artillery at that part of tho field, and hid from the enemy by tho esdasss The rebels came on in fine style, yelling as if they thought that was all they had to do. so drive us back across the river. Az soon as they came within range of grape and cannis- ter, our column opened on them, doing iearfnl execution among them. Lee, finding thas part of the field too hot for him, move q of parallel to our front, hoping to find some place not as we'll guarded as the left. In this hs was mistaken, and he soon found it out; ter- he remainder of our battery, which was placed in various convenient places along the frons ,f our line, commenced work in earnest, mak. ng their position rather uncomfortable. On ,ur extreme right, we had party of dis q mounted men, Belonging to the leth Penn Iylvania Cavalry,) thrown forward into an old ,arn-yard surrounded by stone fsnce. When he enemy came opposite these men, they rs- ceived yolley from two hundred carbinss, which made them face to the rear, and chaFgs every one on his own account.
 It was our turn to yell now. and such shout as burst along our whole line is not oflsH heard. We chased them about two miles and under cover of their intrenchments and woald have driven them out of them, if our ammuni- ton had not given out. They were too badly whipped to. modest us, and VIC re-orossed the river at our leisure. M
 We captured nearly one hundred prisonsrs and number of horses. The expedition prov that our Cavalry. well handled, is mora than match for Secssh any day.
 feel that it is no more than rieht that the truth should be known. especially as shis rs- port about the Fourth New York Cavalry was caused by the malice or jealousy of scme psr- sons whom I will not name for the pressns, but hope they will be duly rewarded tor shsir kindness M ssG. r. Vs
 4th New York Cavalry.