The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-04

.ov- minutes iL'er 'our,crs
notice, ana direction 10 alarm the
rusneu III css.yds OF our corps 20 IN
various eoi'l'lll'.'s,snaiag officers OF what
FORM ,ne oo,'ii a~d TO bring mem special
han n"ppe,eu .ut ts part they would have
to take in the COMING 49," "n,,io, ,s,.
cen. Stuart was Of tne vp'av, '.'a,
thc enemy very seriously J'',, ~ .,,s
advancing on a grand scais' Drt ,., u'l
forcd widely as 70 the hi.'''~ 80 =.
he should be me-. IN my ,'. .sas ~
would have been better " ,..,,,,' e,,,y -,
~ corps, as well as the Nv. - -.
OK our mounted artillery, 10, 20. IL 800
upon the heights SUI - 1.hfs Ill
plain before in a senii-cir.i &c ! Ms "oulu
ba,.e aila,vea ,ha otemy 20 deploy from
tho distant woods which then covered
him. and after he had come INTO easy
reach OF our artillery, ana inc latter
had efectuallv covered him with shell.
our entire cavalry force should have rush
ed down upon him, and crushed uItn by
an immense attack.
Stuart, however. whose zeal would not
listen TO any delay ana VINO S]s sFeauy
provoked that the enemy nau succeeded
in surprising Jones. Insisted on hunting
I'D the adversary at once anu attacking
him, whenever he might mo MIN was
Immediately dispatched 70 'hs 'front.' by
my commander to inform myself and
subsequently him Of the conuluon OF
affairs. while he promised 10 io'io" WIN
the commands which be "ou'u nist Ind
ready for action.
alter uassing our guns and while APP
nroaching the uieco Of woods. where
Jones sharDshooters were engaged in
hot fire with the adversary, ] noticed the
latter with superior forces charge the
former and Jones regiment, winch occu-
pied the most advanced position. This
charge completely demoralized Jones
command. which rushed back IN mad
fight upon the squadr0ns behind II, carry
ing the latter along. while the larger
part of the dismounted men We're taken
prisoner. This created genuine panic.
The open field to the right and left
was covered with cavalrymen, dashng
madly 10 the rear, and riderless horses:
trains and ambulances chased recllessly
backwards over various roads, and from
the dark Of the adjacent woods broke
forth new masses OF hostile cavalry with
loud rejoicing and bent on hot pursuit.
Suddenly flash came down from the
heights, and the previous confusing noise
became drowned ~ the roaring thunder
OF the guns Of the brave Beckham. which
sent dense hail Of grape shot and she'll
upon the pursuing enemy, quickly chang
ing his cries of rejoicing into howl Of
pain The blue lines, which. up TO that
time had been advancing steadily, began
TO hesitate. and, seeing the shots destroy
their own ranks. they turned and hastily
rushed under the protecting cover Of the
woods. from where they only recently
had come forth triumphany. leaving be-
hind them their dead and wounded.
Our mounted artillery had added another
laurel branch to the luxurious wreath
which it had carried of in the many bat
ties and skirmishes
At this juncture General Jones was en-
abled TO collect his scattered squadrons
ana to form them anew with his reserve
regiments.
In the meantime Stuart had arrived
with reinforcements, having quickly form
ed his forces for the battle. The Hamp-
ton division formed the centre. with VIII
liam Lees division on the left, While
Fitz Lees division held the extreme left
flank, the batteries covering the most
advantageous positions.
Colonel AIunford, who commanded the
larger part of Fitz Lees forces, on ac-
count Of the latter's sickness, entirely
misunderstood Stuarts orders as to the
position which he was expected to hold.
Lieutenant Goldsborough Of our stan,
who was sent by Stuart to repeat the
orders. fell into the hands Of the enemy,
and it so happened that this whole force
Of cavalry remained comparatively mac
tive for a large part Of the day. and only
towards evening, just before the final
decision. It joined in advancing against
the right flank Of the enemy.
The combat was restored, and the dance
could begin anew. The invitation came
without much delay Soon the fight
broke ont again, this time along the
whole line. which was about three miles
long. The firing Of the dismounted sharp
shooters crackied merriiy, drowned occa-
sionally by the roaring Of the guns OF
the one or the other side. and the war
whoops Of the again-and-again charging
squadrons. In this manner the fighting
contiued FOR several hours without any
decisive success for friend or foe. {. W.