Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-29
BY w. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON.

4
! On the crest Of Fleetwood took
place bitter and obstinate struggle.
1t was one of those fights of the giants,
which once witnessed is never forgot
ton. The cannoneers of tho horse
artillery fought as savagcly, hand to
hand, rs the regular cavalry; and the
crest became the scene of mad
wrcstlc, rather of wild beasts than
men.
All at once the form of Davenant
appeared amid the smoke. lie had
come rapidly from tho front, and now
throw himself into the combat like the
bloody hound to which Stuart had
! compared him. His checks were
flushed, his eyes fiery. Lcaping from
his horse, he seized the sponge staff of
gun, from which all the cannonccrs
had been driven, and ramming home
q charge of canister, directed the gun
upon column Of the enemy.
Before he could fire, Federal cav
alryman rode at him, snd cut furiously
at his bare head with the full weight Of
his sabre.
Davenant did not try to draw his
word-the attempt would have been
useless. In his hands he had a weapon,
and with swing Of the rammcr he
swept the cavalryman from his sad
dlc*. He fell headlong, covered with
blood, and Davcnant aimed and fired
the load of canister-leapcd upon his
horse, and drawing his sword, plunged
into the melee, his eyes flaming, his
voice rising loud and inspiring above
the combat.
1t was stubborn, superb strug-
gle. Three times the encmy's guns
were charged and captured three
times the Confedcrates were furiously
charged in turn, and the pieces recap.
turcd by the enemy. A final charge
OF the grey cavalry carried all before
it. The Federal artillery was seized
upon and their cavalry driven back
but at .that moment heavier force
still was seen advancing upon Stuart
from the direction of Kelly's Ford.
1t was splendid spectacle. They
came on i'll solid column, and rapidly
formed line Of battle on tho slope of
Fleetwood, with drawn sabrcs, and
flags floating. AS they moved, they
seemed to shake the very ground. I
had never seen so great q force of
cavalry drawn up, and the critical
moment of the battle had plainly
CONF.
At that instant, the great field pre-
scented remarkable appearance. Cav
airy were charging in every direction,
and it was hard 10 tell friend from foe.
Stuart was fighting, SO to say, from
tho centre outwards. The enemy
were in his front, in his rear, and on
both his fanks. If they closed in, ap.
parently, he would be crushed as in a
vice. The iron hand would stranglc
him.
That moment tested the nerves
Stuart's "hcart of oak" bore the strain.
He was aroused, stung, his checks
burned, his eyes famed-but the nan
was sufficient for tho work. I looked
closely at him. "Do or die" was plain
on his face. From that instant I ncv-
er had any doubts about Stuart.
He rushed two pieces of artillery to
a knoll in front of the line of Federal
horsemen. A moment afterwards two
reports were heard, and two shells
burst precisely in the middle of the
line, making a wide gap in it, and
checking the charge which had
begunt.
All at ohce I SOW q column Of cav
airy coming up from the river, and
turning to Stuart, said:
General, what cavalry is that ?"
"Hampton'sP' Stuart exclaimed
"Bring it up like lightningp't
I set out at full gallop, and soon
Ieached the column. At the head OF
it rode Young, the beau sa5ruer OF
Georgia, erect, gallant, with his brave
eye and smile.
! I pointed out the.enemy, and gave
the order.
GAIL rightl" exclaimed Young, and
turning to his men, he whirled the
sabre around his head and shouted.
! "Forward p
! The column thundered on, and as il
passed.. recognized Mohun, his flash
ing eye and. FURNISHED sabre cleaning
, from the dust cloud.
"Charge !" rose from hundred lips
Spurs were buried in the hot fanks
: the mass was hurled at the enemy
and clashing Like thunder, swore
against sword, swept everything be
fore it. Not siugle shot was fred
! the sabre only was used. Thssnemy
, were broken to pieces; what 7 saw
was wild melee Of whirling swords