The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-02-18
Great Cavalry Fight of the War.
,,oBBY JOHN EsTEN COOKE.
Tod cci; tJt. = 49,

At daylight-a long thunder came up
from the woods pf> the Rappahannock'
The greatest cavalry combat OF the war
had begun.
At that sound Stuart leaped to the sad.
die and rode rapidly towards the front
Fifteen minutes afterwards his headquar
tiers had vanished. On the green slope
of Fleetwood not a tent was visible:
Is the reader familiar with the country
along the Upper Rappahannock! Ii SO,
he will remember that the river Is crossed
in Cuipepper by numerous fords. The
cipalEbcginning on tile left, that is
10 saw. np the river-arc Weltord's, the
Railroad bridge and Keiley's fords.
S1uart's left. under VIM. FL. F.gLee, was
onposite Welford's, his centre under Jones
opposite Beverly's; his right under lamp
ton towards Kclley's, and force under
Robertson was posted in the direction OF
Stevensburg, to guard the right fank:
This force amounted TO seven OF eight
thousand cavalry. -.
The federal column which now advanc-
ed to attack it, is said to embrace the
cavalry OF. Gen. Hookers army, and must
have numbered more than twelve thous-
and sabres.
Stuart rode on rapidly down Fleetwood
Hill, and. was soan opposite Beverly.'s
Ford, where the enemy had crossed IN
force Cen. Jones was heavily engaged,
and the Napoleons of the horse artillery
were roaring steadily. Every moment
tfle.round shot crashed, or the shell tore
throu oh the woods about three hundred
Yards in front of tile pieces, where the DIS
mounted cavalry Of the enemy had attec-
tedEa Judgment. They kept up hot fire
at the cannoneers. and the steady rattle
of carbines further up the river told that
Ice was also engaged.
In:tace OF the bursting shell, the blue
tiraiaieurs could not advance: and Stuart
sent an order TO Hampton to movein ana
attack on the ght.
Tbe troopcrs Of the Gulf States advanc-
ed at the word !; their dense columns were
soon. seen slowly moving, with drawn
sabre; across the plain; tho moment Oh
decisive struggle seemed rapidly. ap-
proaching, when suddenly heavy blow 9,i,
was struck NJ Stuart's rear -
I had been directed bv him to ascertain
If ,seveyrthing had been sent Oft from
Fleetwood" !" and to see that no papers had
been dropped there in the hurry of dc,
nartnre. Going back at II gallop soon
reached the lill, and rode over the ground
recently occupied by the headquarters
The spot seemed swept. Not a paper
was visible. All that l could see was Il
withcrcd boqael, dropped by some young
officer of the statf-a relic no doubt OF
the last nights ball at the village.
had already turned to ride back to
Stuart, when my attention was attracted
by a column ofcavalry advancing straight
on Brandv-that is, upon Staarts rear.
What force was that? Could it be the
enemy? 1t was coming from the direction
of Stevensburg; but how could 1t nave
passed our force there!
aLook !" l said to an officer OF the horse
artillery, one battery of Which was lett
in the reserve of,the hill, "look what col
umn is thatW
at must be Wichllam's s." was his reply.
sI an sure they are Yankees
"Impossib!c!', he exclaimed.
But our doubts were soon terminated.
From tho rapidly advancing column
two5gans shot, out aud u,llmocred; Iheh
two whito pufss of smeke spouted from
their muzzles, and the enemy's shell burst
directly in our faces.
vThe horse artillery returned the hre,
and 4 hastencd back with the intelligence
TO Stuart. -,
at is only squadron, Is uppose," he
replied with great GOODNESS. go back
and oct all the cavalry you can, and
charge the guns and bag them" !"
1t is impossible to imagine anything
calmer than the speakers voice. knew,
however. that the attack was more crlti-
cal than he supposed. fastening back, l
came up with two regiments, and then
assembled the hill at full gallop, leaplng
the ravincs and darting towards the crest
Suddenly it blazed with staggering
rollcrs. The Federal cavalry had rushed
s,roi1ht across the fields towards the hill
-oscended the eastern, and met us. Com
;ne in squadron front they struck the
Confederate advancingin columns oftours
and in eoafuson from the rough ground
They recoileG thrown in disorder:
and with loud cheers the enemy swarmed
all over Fleetwood Hill.
The battlo seemed lost. Stuart was
cut off and hcmmed in between two pow,
erful bodies of Federal cavalry, supported
by infantry and artillery.
ALI that saved us at that moment was
the ado or die" fighting of cavalry and
horse artillery.
ON the crest of Fleetwood took place a
hitter and obstinate struggle. ltwas ono
of those fights of the giants, which nc once
witnessed is never forgotten. The can
noneers of the horse artillery fought as
savaeely, hand to hand, as the regular
cavaIry :; and the crest became the scene
os a mad wrcstie, rather Of wild beasts
than men. Donont a.,