The National tribune., 1890-06-05

"thuudering ho0fs" had indulged in some
unauthorized charging, which drew from the
Division Commander q very emphatic order
that troops once assigned a position in line
would, under no circumstances. leave 10 with
out orders from himself or someone designated
by him as competent to give such orders. This
order prevented tie 81 Pa. from charging al
the moment the enemy had exhausted him
self
TO sHoW HOW DIFFICULT 1T WAS
10 obey This order literally. as required. IL is
only necessary 10 stale that individual officers
and mcu rode forward into the ranks of the Con-
fedprNtes aud engaged i'm hand tO-hand contests
Had THIS charge, composed Of the lst, Sd and
OH 2. Cav, been delivered, as seemed newt
able when il started. both from its wild cheer
ingand lhr numbers in the column. and not have
ended surprisingly " in air. Reno would have
been precisely n the right position 10 have
prevented them. after having been broken on
tie troops in their front from retiring 20 form
again. and with the % and 4th Pa, which were
on IL rigbl and rear, the field would have been
cleared aud these organizations lost 10 the Con-
fcdegacy. But the aDoriige effort Of the enemy
90 reach our line in the face Of the whitening
Ere Oi the C Pa. rendered the preparations be-
1u- Lagu tsr the counter charge Of no avail.
The order Tor the 81 Pa. 20 charge now came.
8un car5ines were dropped and sabers drawn.
9Bd ihe enemy Wcre driven entirely from the
leo. numbers being captured and wounded.
Mhi.e The events narrated above were hap
peniaE. the right Of the center, the 5th u. :.
Cav, under Walker, was pushing forward on
tbt extreme .e.t as rapidly as the deep bitches
which ~ veTFed the fields here would permit,
driving back . strong mounted skirnish-line.
Lee BOW. ih has other two regiments the
= and 81 NA.. estimated by our officers az 200
or so we are told by Maj. Mcclellan that
these two regiments were stronger than the
- z. 81 4
!ociIve beiag tie battery which was burrying
into position. Prisoners captured from this
column stated that tbe charge was led by Gen.
Stuart 10 person. Ii was better managed than
that On tie right aud was driven nearer home.
IL was ga.iHutly met by the 5th Regulars the
Gin Ohio and br Reno. with his squadrons Of the
lst u. -, gfd FePnised with severe loss &c the
enemy, " 30 was uOB driven from this his third
position a. a.. points.
Reno vitb the reserves, did not return to
the line 81 al. bnt reached point nearly one
mile IA advance where be was joined By the
whole command. From this point there was
no enemy visible, except flying dctachments
and two guns.
This lelt Gen. AveTeil's command victorious
a. al points. Aota foot Of ground once gained
had been yielded By any part OF his line No
pursuit could have been efcctual Undoubtedly
this command could have gone 10 Culpeper
without aeT.Uus opposition But why should
IT. Lee, WH0 was the true objective could
eas y aaFe Kept out Cf the way. The full re-
suit hoped :oT in this expedition across the
Tircr, o. the enemys own ground, had been
realized.
The Confederate cavalry had been met with
about equa! force On a field well known 10 him.
but strange 70 nc, and bad been driven from il.
J o reach bin The Duiou cavalry had effected
TIE crossing Of q deep and rapid stream in the
face Oi ns0st formidable distractions and de-
terinlEca opposition BY the enemy
Being an isolated enterprise of q single small
cavalry division, whose horses had been weak
eHed ~ IN aFdugus aud cngrOssiug picket-duty
Throughout the Winter. and unsupported on
this Ocrasi0n by any cooperation oT the army,
from which u Was separated by a distance of
over - nil cs, with dangerous river between,
y D. ollcE.t 10 imagine any sense Of duty
Which Houc have prompted its commander
q have pgae farther.
Ii wac nos 80 o'clock not much Of day
light vas let. Tie horses having marched 80
L8iIes over heavy roads the dag previous. and
seven miles Tie morning before the action com
menced, and after that having been engaged
directly win tie enemy or ia support
NAKTss MANY cHARGEs,
and rapidly shifting from place 10 place on the
field over soft ground. were much tagged. Reno
Teuaiuc3 at the ETthest point reached by
our pag.le. without being aEsaiied by the enc.
ms, gAG until the field was cleared The uris.
OBers and wounded were carried across the
river, and the dead were buried. There were
two DflcefS 50 badly wounded that they could
not he fsken from the Geld aud they were Ief,
81 q farmhouse with Surgeon aud some rnedi.
czi supplies. / have since been told by Gen.
AyereI that he left the bag Of coffee for Gen,
Ice, with the following note:
DEAR FITz. Heres yo1T coffee. How q Won,
hOTsrz AyFnEIi i,
The whole division retired across the rive,
that evening without molestation aud en-.
cHmPc1 ~ ADHisyille, aud on the followJuo
day returned 10 the army, bringing with il an
ezperieGce which thrilled the country and as.
sgTed the cavalry arm Of the service that the
days n unjust criticism Of its operations had
come 10 an end.
The most substantial result Of this fight wa,
tie feeling of confidence ia its own ability
which the volunteer cavalry gained. This
feeling was not confined 10 the regiments en-.
gagged, but WAS impaired TO the whole of our
cavalry. The esprit de corps and morale was
greatly benefited. Kelly's Ford was the NAL
ing Of our cavalry. The effect was apparcnf
TOO, upon the Confederates. for they also lad
been taught lesson, and from this time untU
the end Of the war the proves of their antago.
nlsis was, 10 put IL mildly, held in high esteem
The engagements which followed each other
IN rapid succession during the Summer OF fbis
yeaT-Brandy Station Aldie Upperyille Mid.
dieburg, the work on the right flank az Ger.
tyssuTg, the fights at BOonsboro Williamsport
and Shepherdstown-all go TO prove the cor.
FectDess Of this deduction. The troops en-
GhfEGPnRa NKas s., a.