Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-29
Great Cavalry Fight of the War.
ny JOHN EsTEN COOK.

At daylight along thunder came up
from the woods of the Rappahannock.
Tho greatest cavalry combat Of tho
war had begun.
At that sound Stuart 'lcaped to the
saddle and rode rapidly towards the
front. Fifteen minutes afterwards his
Headquarters had vanished. On tho
.gresn slope of Fleetwood not a tent
was visible.
Is the reader familiar with the
country along the Upper Rappahan-
mock? Ifso, he will remember that
tho river is crossed in Culpepper by
numerous fords. The principal-be-
ginning on the left, that is to say, up
the river-are Wclford's, the Railroad
bridge and Kclley's foris.
Stuart's left, under VIM. H. F. Lee,
was opposite Wclford's; his centre,
under Jones, opposite Bcvcrly's; his
right under Hampton, towards Kcl-
lcy's, and force under Robertson was
posted in the direction Of Stcvensburg,
to guard the right flank. -
This force amounted to seven OF
eight thousand cavalry.
The Federal column which now ad-
vanccd to attack it, is said to embrace
the cavalry of General Hookcr's army,
and must have numbered moro than
twelve thousand sabrcs.
Stuart rode on rapidly down Fleet
wood Hill, and was soon opposite
Beverly's Ford, where the enemy had
crossed in force. General Jones was
heavily engaged, and the Napoleons
of the horse artillery were roaring
steadily. Every moment the round
shot crashed, or the shell tore through
the woods about three hundred yards
in front Of the pieces, where the dis
mounted cavalry of tho enemy'had
effected a alodgment. They kept up
hot fire at the cannoneers, and the
steady rattle of carbines further up
the river told that Lee was also en-
gagged.
In face of the bursting shell, the
blue tirdillieurs could not advance. and
Stuart sent an order to Hampton to
move i'll and attack on the right.
The troopers Of the Gulf States cd
vanced at the word; their dense col
umns were soon seon slowly moving,
with drawn sabre, across the plain
the moment Of. decisive struggle
seemed rapidly approaching, when
suddenly heavy blow was struck at
Stuart's rear.
l had been directed by him to asccr-
tain if everything had been sent Off
from Fleetwood" and to sec that no
papers had been dropped there in the
hurry of departure. Going back at a
gallop I soon reached the hill, and
rode over the ground recently occu-
pied by the headquarters. The spot
seemed swept. Not paper was
visible. All that I could see was q
withered 1boquet, dropped by some
young officer of the staff-a relic no
doubt of the last nights ball at the
village.
I had already turned to ride back
to Stuart, when my attention was
attracted by column of cavalry ad-
vancing straight on Brandy-that is,
upon Stuart's rear. What force was
that? Gould it be the enemy? 1t
was coming from the direction of
Stevensburg; but how could it have
passed our force there i?
t"Lookr' ] said to an officer of the
horse artillery, one battery of which
was left in tho reserve Of the hill,
"look! what column is that2'
at must be Wickham's," was his
reply.
al am sure they are Yankees"
"Impossiblei' he exclaimed.
But our doubts were soon termi,
mated,
., From the rapidly advancing column
two guns shot out and unlimbered
Then two white puffs Of smoke
spouted from their muzzles, and the
enemy's shell burst directly in ou,
faces. 4 $3.50
The horse artillery returned the
fire, and hastened back with the in.
telligence to Stuart I
ut is only squadron, suppose
hsseplied with great, coolness. "Ge
ssck and getslI the jeavatry you can
and charge the guns and bag them l''
s.s%Itis impossible to imagine anything
ealmer than the. speakers voice.
know, however, that the attack WA
more: critical than he supposed. Has
aenfhg obaek,,a = came up with tw'
regiments, and then ascended the hill
at fulEganop, leapihgthe ravines ant
dart1ng taMards.fhs ctest.
Suddenly it blazed with: staggering
voIieys. The Federal cavalry hat