The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-06-21

here our brigade was in advance The Ist, I'd,
a5d, and 9th regiments were dismounted and dou-
ble'quicked ins6ith much speed as old veteran
infantry, The scene was grand. The hot rays of
| the last day OF May seemed preparing welcome
Tor the first summer month"; and was fast declining
as.our boys, jaded and worn rushed over a ffill
aud saw the long black lines of the enemy sweep
Ing over wide plain, rushing to gain the position
that lay before them. At the same time the white
clouds OF smoke from our cannon gave ASSURANCE
that we had help from behind, our boys dashed
Impetuously forward hardly waiting to fire. The
key to the position the railroad station Ma
jor Mcneil, of the 9th regiment, rushed upon it,
amid shower of balls that greeted him and his
party from behind the, buildings, and took the
place with some prisoners, and held ID, using it to
the best advantage against the exposed columns of
the enemy.
While the first and second regiments did gallant
service the left, the third on the right kept at
bay, under heavy fire, the enemy in their attempt
to carry their front. After contending unsuccess-
fully for the desired position in 'front.' large body
Of his infantry moved around and threatened our
right flank, and, at the same time, another moved
against the left. The centre was then drawn back
j'aha held Its position until dark when the enemy
showed no farther disposition to advance The
whole command was then withdrawn leaving the
lst North Carolina in line, mounted, who rcmaiuad
in their saddles all night and was relieved early
next morning by the I'd North Carolina.
The ashland Fight.
The enemy manifested signs of advancing. His
long lines Of cavalry could be easily seen moving
out Our pickets slowly fell back upon the Ash
land road, after the command that had moved on
the road and roads parallel with the main
road. Oar cavalry was all withdrawn to that point
where the Ashland road crosses the telegraph road
near Ashland While we halted here about noon
-Gen Young with our brigade bringing up the
rear-the enemy commenced pressing us. Gen
Young disneunted the brigade and placed it on
the right Of the Ashland road, and put himself
at their head, and was just leading them in the
charge, when be tell, severely wounded.
Capt Gaines, Of his staff, dashed at their head
seconded by the gallant Major Cowles and Major
Mcneil of the 1st and 5th, who rushed on through
the woods and carried the point, driving the enc
my, while Ma jor Moore, of the Sd, swept with bis
right on up the road. Lomax moved on the left
Gen Rosser in the meantime obiqued' around un-
observed, got upon the enemy's rear and rushed
upon him, capturing large Shorse and pack mule
train, driving them helter skelter back upon the
Court House, and by sup6Own the field at all
points was cleared, thus crOwuing efforts with
brilliant cavalry victory, and, as was subsequent
y developed, nipped in the bud another destruc-
tive raid that was planned upon grand scale on
our communications The captured pack mules
laden with "Aonr doings" for the officers, and
the men had seven days rations with them, and
were laying In supplies as they came by, levying
contribution upon the citizens their route. An
amusing incident in this connection NAV as well
be recorded : La their rear, amid the stampede
caused by Rosser's sudden descent upon Them,
thick trail of beans was discovered and tracked for
short distance to where an old sh aggy looking
mule was lying on the ro1d side, struggling be-
tween pair Of shafts Of upset cart, with a
profusion of beans scattered around from under
the cart body. One of our troopers, curious to
know what other contents might be under the body
Of the upurncd cart looked when, 10 and behold.
blue-clad BOBBY, who ''dd be the driver" like
errapin under the application Of fire Goals, unen-
scCncing his head bawlcd out, Don't kill me- for
Gods sake, don't kill me-" The Captain told me
TO take the gintlemah's cart and peas. "Im your
prisoner, I'm your prisoner" This, with other
unmistakablc items, was to constitute part Of the
supplies for these doughty rascas on their proposed
raid. But, fortunately, they found themselves
nicely headed by the close watching and hard
fighting Of our wary and gallant chieftain. Our
loss in this engagement pretty heavy while
the enemy severely chastiscd, leaving his dead
and many wounded in our hands, and one hundred
prisoners, besides fuc lot Of horses and mules
The Fiyu at Ho,cc's Shop
After this affair, closely watching for any fur
ther development on this part of the line, and
metal again with US, Gen Hampton moved down
p illli's left on Friday morning, the Sd inst.
He passed throsrh the cpemy's abandoned works,
which were Of the most elaborate kind and one
must say that to have displaced the enemy from
such works. on favorable positions, must have
called into play the General,hip Of Jackson
We should, indeed, be grateful to heaven that his
genius still lives n faLk Increment through a
swamp by y j Hill, under the gallant Gen j. B.
Gordon, from which the enemy apprehcnded no
approach, unlocked the whole position and SO the
works were taken with light loss, which otherwise
would have been attended with slaughter incalcu-
liable. Our command moved through the left Of
these works, crossing the Totopotamy creek,
bearing around, and struck the encmy's right flank
the Mechancsvie road. Gen W. Fl +. Lee
iHmediately dismouDtcd the I'd and 5tG re"meuts
of the North Carolina cavalry brigade, and placed
them under Maj Roberts of the ID, who led Us in
at once with charge. driving.the enemy steadily
and rapidly before US, our artillery opening furi-
ously upon their lines. On the disnounted men
pressed. Though the enemy constantly re-
inforced, yet they driven before US into
their works Our boys quaied not, a ca1en storm
met them in the face, but on they dashed with
deafening yells rushed over and carried the first
line. The enemy retreated to the second line
large body of infantry was seen double-quicking
around on the left flank. Maj Roberts quick eye
observed this and at the same time Gen Lee sent
US orders TO retire, which was done slowly. Here
Mai Roberts received wound, and was borne off
the field. We took position on HILL 800 or 500
yards from the woTks-each man to a tree and