Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-06-24
"Reminiscences or the 2nd Vrgiuia Cav.
AIry,

lay about in Stafford county, near Fred
ericksburg. The Stafford raid of Fitz.
Lee had stirred up the animosity of this
host, and we anticipated that they would
return our visit.
kelleys Ford was the natural route
for visit to Culpeper CHI. or Gordons-
vile; and we proceeded to entrench
our picket at Kelley's Mill, and to OBJ
struct the ford, so that, if possible, the
! picket might be able to hold an advance
sufficiently long to give our cavalry bri-
gade time for preparation to receive the
invaders.
We cut ditch on this side, opposite
the entrance to the ford on the Fauquier
side, fastened telegraph wire-about
breast high-to the trees fronting the
ditch, Above and below the simple
track of the ford, we fastened telegraph
wires, so as to force the attacking party
to come squarely on in front of the
ditch.
On the morning of the 18th March,
1868, Capt. James Breckenridge, of Bot
etourt with part of his squadron of the
2nd Cos. Z and ID commanded the
picket at kelley's Ford. He had six
teen ritlemen in the ditch and his re-
serve with horses on the hills-within
rifle shot Of the ford At daylight we
received word that the picket was at
tackled, and we moved with 800 men to
It's support, and arrived near the place to
meet the enemy and Join battle.
have not now space to give an ac-
count Of that strange days fighting, in
which 800 men and pieces of artillery
defeated and drove across the river d.
500 men with five pieces Of artillery. |
propose to describe the picket fight Of a
| gallant brother captain, who was killed
in the last battle of the lost cause the
gallant life Of splendid man wasted in
a series of fights in which we had no
chance. Whether the fighting from
Petersburg to Appomattox-a handful
of tried and gallant patriots, wasted and
starving, against an overwhelming host,
llchly caparlSoned for war-was proper,
was Judicious, was statesmanlike; wheth-
er it should have been avoided, or peace
made at Hampton Roads whether the
civil government, the military, or the
people were to blame-l stop not to en-
quire. Mean men and skulkers lay the
blame on others We thought we were
right thought we were fighting right;
thought the government was doing its
best We blamed no one then but the
dodgers and bomb-proofS." We blame
no one now. "God is wise" Had we
died on the battlefield, we should have
blamed no one. jeff Davis did not
make us fight-we put him forward.
Gen. Lee did not force US to the tield, >
he was the leader Of our choice. Force
could not have started the rcvOlution,or
formed the Confederacy, and force could
not have held ii "a hours.
Three thousand mcn-headed by a
fine regiment commanded by brave
Dutchman-advanccd on the ford, and
were met by sixteen deadly rifles,
sweeping the ford. Again and again
was that column dashed into the tire,and
horse and rider We're Sin one red burial
blent" The Major reached the wire,
when Breckinridge's pistol sent ball
through his shoulder, and he retreated
to the other side. The rifles from the
hill gave some assistance. The artillery
opened on the ditch, and for some time
shower of shells almost covered it.
Captain Breckenridge and his men lay
close and when the enemys bugle
sounded the charge-the l6 men stood
to their carbincs and as the column
swept into the ford the deadly rifles
emptied the saddles, and filled the ford
with men and horses. For more than
three hours was this fight continued,
The enemy were furious, and our am
munilion was falling. The enemy were
charging to the wire. and their bodies
were covering the sand. The carbine
ammunition was exhausted. The PTS
tolls were being used, but there was no
time for reloading. Captain Breckin-
ridge sent out one man to have the
horses ready and in face of the enemy,
regained his horses, and skirmished in
front of the advancing column-losing
but two men.
When the enemy got to old Mr.. kel-
Tvs at the mill, they called him out and
asked of the strength of our force. The
old man proudly told them that sixteen
men held the ford, with reserve of
about the same number. The colonel
turned to his men, cursed them, and told
them that it was a disgrace to their
army that a brave captain with a COM
panv had held three thousand men in
check for three hours. Botetourt and
Franklin may well be proud Of the men
who that day expected death, kneeling
in that ditch, and destroying all letters
from dear ones at home, to prevent their
falling into the hands of the enemy.
The Parker and Hollands, of Frank
lin, and the Breckinrdges and Brughs.ot
Botetourt, shed as brave blood on the
bosom Of our old mother, as ever ran in
cavalier veins" They thought that
they fought for liberty.
They walked in the paths their faith
ers had trod,
Let them pass with their swords to the
presence Of COP"
amherst (To.) Enterprise.
THE WASHINGTON AND Ono RAIL
RoAp.-This road is to run from Wash