Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-12

iOdu W LOOK hllts MH-iN nv "''
to halt until the attack in the centre was
made, when he was to dash across TO
Mingo Ferry road. attacking the post
on that road, and cutting on all retreat.
guarding at the same time against an
attack from Fort Powhatan. Rossers
brigade and Millors detachment moved
on by r,tds direct toward sycamore
Church. General Rosser was TO carry the
position of the enemy here. and after
doing so TO push forward at once to Sc
cure the cattle. General Hampton says
the three columns all reached n" points
TO which they were ordered without giving
alarm. Our long wait was about to end.
our maps were soon TO be broken.
ROSSER ATTACKS THE ENEMY.
At 8 In the morning Rosser over on the
right made the attack. At the sound or
the first shots every man in the road who
had dismounted sprang to his saddle ana
we heard the wcll-known yell. that cry
known az the Rebel YELL" and which
had struck terror TO our enemies on
hundred bloody fields. Ii is an eXuitant
sound. unshrouded by the form OF words.
and on our right 1t rang out on the early
morning air from lusty lungs. and In
minute every horse was In fun gllop
In our road and we were upon the picket.
who seemed to have no idea OF an enemy.
although we had been so near him since
or 10 o'clock that night. We rode the
pickle, down and found the camp on both
sides Of the road. some. of course. were
up and on guard. but the majority OF
the Federals were IN bed in their little
buttoned tents.
CAPTURED IN NIGHT CLOTHES.
We ran them out and took them prIs-
al, EAr he
First District OF Columbia Cavalry, and
! think we took the most Of them with
their camp and splendid horses. | re-
member how forlorn they looked as we
mustered them later In the day, many
sitting on barebacaed horses with nothing
on but their shirts.
General Rossor, it appears. had about
rs much as ne could attend 70. He en-
countered Colonel Spears, Eleventh Penn
sylvania Cavalry. the same command
that had made a name for itself as
fighting regiment. They made good
fight for their meat. but Rosscr finally
whipped them and they fell back. leav-
ing their dead and wounded in the Held,
as well as their camp. General Dearlng.
on the right. made his attack according
to programme. and WAS entirely success
full
THE MONSTER CATTLE DRIVE.
General Rosser without delay began to
drive out the cattle. and General Hamp-
ton says: There were 2.iSo head OF them.
General Hampton Gays IN his report TO
General Lee that he withdrew all Of his
forces before A. NJ. and the different
columns We're united before reaching the
Blackwater.
That's all right In the abstract, hut now
comes the return. which General Lee said
he feared more than anything else. Be
fore We united at the Blackwoter the
command / belonged 10 moved on 10
Prince George Courthouse. and looked for
the opposing troops Some OF the cavalry
found the enemy. and. while others cut
down trees on the edge of a piece 81
woods. tried to toll him up where Ne had
our. artillery posted with Jismounted
support.
THE GUNBOATS OPEN FIRE.
They did not at once show n disposition
to come oU:, but very soon Uncle Sam
gunbOats III James river got our range
and. as We did not go down there really
- fight We took the back track at trot,
stimulated by the bursting of huge
shell every now and then i'll uncomfort-
able proximity.
As ! said. We moved al a trot. In fact
when we were not on a gailop. We were
making haste to join the columns at the
Underwater, Ro.ser ahead with the cat
tie. followed by General Dearing and
Colonel Miller, General Lee bringing up
the rear
After the command had crossed the
Blackwater We trailed towards the plank
road a neral ROsser adviser G.heral
Hampton that a large force Of the enemy
was approaching on that road. General
Hampton ordered him TO take position at
Ebenezer Church, and to hold the road
there and send the cattle by Hawkins
VILE, crossing the plank-road two miles
in the rear OF the line of battle. which was
at once formed Major Nenable. General
Hampton's adjutant-g-neral and Major
Ryals. prov ost-marshal, took charge OF
the cattle, and were to put them across
the Nottoway river at Freeman's Ford.
General Rosser held his ground, and Colo
mel Miller and General bearing soon came
up TO his assistance.
LEES MEN TAUNT THE YANKEES.
General Lee came into the fight before
it was over. and / well remember how his
dismOunted men, as they advanced to a
mill-pond trough the bushes, called TO the
Yankees to come over and get their bulls
and beloved at them in derlsion. We had
soma little hghting-not half as much a.
we antcipated-and before o'clock We
had left our enemy far in the rear and
crossed the water by dam, and were
trotting toward our own lines. We had
captured some prisoners, and among then
telegraph corps. They were eplendic
looking fellows. much better dressed thar
the ordinary Yankee soldier. and theii
wagons and teams were splendid. Ir
faH
| our wagon with six mules fell down the
| bank. and to make the road clear 1t was
| bodily thrown into the water so we could
| cross.
| THE GALLANT M'CALLA KILLED.
shall never forget how sorry l felt fol
| the telegraph men, who had 10 drop al
| their dignity and trot to keep up with The
| hurrying column. Among the killed wa:
| the gallant McCalla, OF the First South
| Carolina Cavalry. He and Hogan. one o.
| Buffers scouts. were along and rendered
| valuable service. We had travelled lg
! miles and had two fights, and, best of all
| had furnished fresh meat for Genera
| Lees starving army. many Of whom haC
not tasted fresh meat for months.
| THE NUMBER OF HAMPTON'S MEN
| / have always understood that Genera
| Hampton's entire force on this expedition
| was about 1900 cavalry and four piece
| Of artillery. two of McGregors guns an(
| two of Harris battery. of which all Souu
| Carolinians have heard.
| WHAT THE FEDERALS SAY.
| Now let's see by the record what on
friends the enemy" were doing all thi
| time. 1t seems that they had gotten VIM
| of the proposed raid.
| The first | find in the "Oiiicial Records
| OF the war OF the Rebellion" is dis
| patch from Colonel George II. Sharp t
| General Humphries. chief Of staff to Gen
eral Meade. simply stating that he ha'
information from prisoner from III
| Seventh Virginia Cavalry, who reporte'
| that Hampton had broken through a
| Sycamore Church. and had captured 2,5O
head OF cattle. with but little loss. etc
| HUMPHREYS ordered General Davis (
strike the returning enemy at once.
HAMPTON REPORTED FOURTEE.
THOUSAND STRONG.
The next is a dispatch at a. NJ. OF tn
| 18th from General Kautz TO Captain IL.
Weir, assistant adjutant-g general. TO tn
| effect that his pickets had been driven j
| from Mt. Sinai Church TO Powhatan stag
road: that the commanding officer OF tn
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry though
! quite a number of horses had been car
turcd. He did not consider II serious.
the reserves had not yet been DISTURBED