The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-07

uyy GREATEST cAyhTRy BsTTLR
or THE PREsENT hGE.
,,,eresting Description OF the right ana
what Led Up to II by ''''"'' WIN
Borckc ard Cap,ain scheibere

.ror COPY 10 tae STARE hio'"''
red from last SunS"F'
exclamation Of the bat'ic from ~ ~ We
20 1850 y. VI.
... ,,riradcs Of the hostile cavalry
....,o ,Grcer) and their artillery had
80, p,sscssion OF the heights near
y.,,ay mcnacins the confederate caval-
an t,c rear and aankiug them the
,i division Dumo) followed leaning
90 .hc woods.
r, tse meantime the following had
..rponcd among the lines Of the enemy
n sumts sht;
The forces Of General Gregg consisting
has bccn stated, Of the left column
..risirs thc second and third divisions.
rad crossed the Rappahannock almost
,.n,adercd az Nolly's Ford.
r..,-tson. who had been completely
,-..a hv surprise by this movement, did
,.l dare % throw himself with full
far.t upon the head Of the adversary
which would have been the only ihinS
Or him 90 do considering the great dan
r.r which Stuarts whole corps was 'hon
running. ..,,,e, .,
r.,.s Run. the third division marched
M tba risht through thick woods to-
IDS Brandy Station. II did not meet
...fb amy resistance. because the cavalry
.l...rfs NiDkham and Butler. after
,..Irr hecu sent To- the front by stuart
,.,..ealcd towards Stcvonsburg, ana atter
...frfine took position on hausbor-
anon Mountain Instead OF confronting
,te dangerous third division OF Gregg
t.v faced the second cavalry division
Of tie enemy
put even the second cavalry division
G.rHel. thcn on Sos way TO Stevensburg'
vas rather zoo strong 10 be stopped by
+Is tNo reeiments OF Stuart. \ hot
ieht cnsuel. in which the brave Colonel
Tlucr Cost leg by q shell. Ills COM
manl belug without leader al once
reccded before the superiority OF the
enemy and nnailv fen back IN wild
confusion. involving I'm its fight even
the Fourth virginia cavalry tN ickhahl
which previously bad covered Itself Win
Glory on numerous battle neids
Wiekham alone did not lose his head;
with a dfsmounici SQUADRON ne ielfeatcu
t.t1 Bafh0ur's farmhouse, where ne &c
,.-1ed himself hcr0icaliy for a long time
fo delay the further advance or me Ill
,.ion Uufin and u prevent its deploy-
a. from Stevcnsburg How Important
t resistance was i'm the further de-
,..nment OF the combat will be seen
s.m subsequent events.
While the second division was delayed
r..r stcycnsburg. in the manner Just
ribed. the third division. Gregg, ad-
,.r.cl without the least obstacle and
vf.t made S. so much worse. entirely
,rrolced. after leaving the woods Of
Nut DCmphng on the heights of Bran
lv station. the Confederate cavalry was
r, little surprised 10 see the rear Of the
enemy ENGAGED in o. hot fight with its
sister divisions in the valley below. This
l.rnened between 10 and - o'clock.
Instead Of being carried along with a
violent attack by the situation. Gregg
only ordered his regiments 90 occupy The
all tons while Die sent forth Percy Wick
HAMS brigade to take possession OF the
v..tsoel plantauon. The battery of
C.ntain Martins received orders To dis
mount and 90 open ire upon the COnfed-
crate masses in the valley, therefore crea-
ing confusion and terror in the ranks Of
Sfuarts men, The situation was at that
moment an extremely perilous one for
tho whole confederate cavalry
Tfere was great danger that some
ert..prising general might throw his bri-
gales un0n the Unsuspecting cavalry
l.ocs OF Stuart. who were then only
about two or three miles away, with their
backs turned and at the same time
ba.Iy ugaged I'm the hottest kind OF a
fcht against superior masses Of infantry
and cavalry.
DO SIS said that only the delay OF the
froud division Dufie kept Gregg from
making "a bold stroke. in cavalry battles,
however, the god Of war counts :he
uuutes' Not knowing how TO make
re OF them, Gresg soon lost forever one
o.. those precious chances Of gaining
CORY which are so highly esteemed by
all true cavalrymenl
General Stugrts followers knew from
Dis stern cOlntenance and his sparkling
eyes that he recognized at first glance
ue IAN gravity Of the crisis and the
eurence Of the impending danger which
itene1 the existence Of his whole
cIs Nevertheless his plan was de-
lrtte and well calculated. intending
FIST to frighten the adversary and after
rtuIng over him ia this manner 10 con-
otrate an the troops he could possibly
spare n front in order TO drive back the
dangerous enemy.
only "a man who has himself been in a
melee of cavalry can form an idea of
The picture OF the battle at that juno
'lfe An incessant rush Of cavalry
masses, followed by counter-thrusts. and
accompanied by clamors and yeils; the
combating forces Of cavalrymen cnvel-
tHeI I'm dust and completely invisible;
ne whizzlms Of bombs and shrapnels
iN' reports Of rcvOlvcrs and carbnes
Willie the pcll-mcll Of defeated troops.
o. dlsmounted riders. OF ridcrless horses.
" couricrs and aids, OF frightened ne
g1cs with their masters hors-
o. Of ammunition trains Sock
ir shelter against the fire animated the
? flrc and made 10 so much grandor for
te reason that over 10000 csvalrymen
fought against each other on a COM
lalauVcly small ncld.
Blf we have 10 return % the beginning
a. tho enlargement I'm which Stuarts
clear Thought formed the only guiding
tfeii whose first desire was to push
forward in order 10 secure some relief.
iI0 fu0 nearest regiments. not directly
c-arol in The night AGAINST Buford. tho
Twelfth Virginia cavalry OIarmam.
cny followed by The Thirty-nfth Nir-
gala Cavalry Battalion CNhite) wcre
ordered 10 turn about and 20 advance
eN"h'r 10 frEhtcn back the head Of
le anproaching division Gregg.
'' 'he same time Stuart sent orders
ID '.e divisions ". Lee. Hampton. and
lii-Nae Jones. then engaged in battle
A'-r beverly Ford. 20 place at his dis
I.H what regiments could be spared.
. of The regiments WAS commanded
tH1 Rorckc but being infected
Tie general terror and fearing the
..Ieft riy of the a. Cmy il failed 81 the
"'' decisive moment during the counter
rye and took flight carrying Won
.e along. Who vainly endeavorcd to
h Inc stream Of fugitives ana to rally