The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-10


tered them like cham before the wind.
one man in Company b was pierced
with fourteen bullets. 4 was informed OF
many interesting and thrilling incidents
that occurred during the conflict but
did not witness them. as. being at the
head OF the column when We entered the
orchard, the command Left into line
threw me on the right Of the line. ana
found matters IN my own immediate VI
entity so intensely interesting that
had no time TO gaze afoun0 10 see what
was transporting la other parts Of The held.
When We broke their auks the enemy
scattered In every direction, and We scat
tered In as many directions. also I'm pur-
suit Companies u and / OF our regiment.
the Sixth, came MP In time 10 join In the
pursuit. Thus had our small force OF
about 200 cavalry attacked and routed
a vastly superior force OF the enemy.
numbering about 500, and consisting OF
cavalry. infantry, and artillery. although
that force had formed ia battle array 10
ropol our attack. Besides their killed ana
wounded we captured about 200 prisoners
aud their artillery and wagon-train. The
remainder OF our regiment dld not get up
I'm time 20 Join in the pursuit ON The
following day / heard General Ewell re-
mark 10 Colonel Fournoy after express
ing his regret az the loss sustained, 'But
you made n glorious charge
Among the prisoners was Colonel Ken
Icy. the Federal commander. who was also
wounded by a sabre cut, / think, on
the head in tho ranks Of Company *,
Of The Sixth Virginia, he had cousin,
a Mr.. II. VI. c. PaXsOn. IL so happened
that on the following day Paxson was
among the number detailed TO take the
prisoners TO Winchester. Colonel Henley
being I'm the ambulance recognized Pax
son. and called him. After cOnvelsing
few minutes he asked Paxson what regi-
nent he belonged TO. On being told, the
Sixth Virginia Cavalry, he replied: "Do
you know that you men made the great
est cavalry charge yesterday on recoIuf
and he went on 20 state that be had
formed his mon TO ropel our attack, ana
they had stood their ground until we
were ln their midst. yet they had been
overcome. and that history nowhere re-
corded an instance where so small a
force Of cavalry had charged and over
come so greatly n superior force ui IN
fantry. supported by cavalry and artillery.
Mr. Paxson is now residing near Peoenia,
| Va. and viii verify the statement just
made
CAPTURED by CAVALRY.
From the foregoing it will be seen that
no Confederate infantry whatever had
anything 10 do with the capture OF the
Federal force under Colonel Henley. soon
after the fight the report gained credence
that the First Maryland Confidently
and Wheats Battalion had captured the
| Federal force nj Front Royal yet ! have
! mover heard any member Of either or
| those gallant commands making any such
| claim.
in substantlatlon OF the fact that this
| Federal force was captured by the four
| companies Of the Sixth Virginia cavalry
| named, / viii now quote from tho Official
| reports Of some of the officers engaged.
! Colonel Henley says. 81 still pushed on
| in an orderly, military manner, ana mao
| actually gained some four miles from
/ the river when Major Nought rode up
| from the rear and Informed me that ne
/ was closely pressed. 'Ihe III
| fantrv ln the field poured i'm a very close
! vollcv. which nearly destroyed the lead
| ing company, but did not check tho adj
| vance OF the succeeding squadrOns, when
! charged in the most spirited manner
! Large numbers OF them. turning into the
| field. charged upon the men there, who
| continued fighting desperately until
! nearly all were captured, some nNe or
six officers and about 100 men alone
! escaping. There was no SURRENDER
| about it,"
| General Jackson says: Delayed by
| difficulties at the bridge over the North
! Fork. which the Federals had made an
| effort 10 burn Colonel FlOurnoy pushed
| on with Companies a, j, j., ana Is OF
| the Sixth Virginia Cavalry, and came
| up with a body Of the enemy near Cedar
| wine. about five miles from Front Royal.
| This Federal force consisted of two COM
| panies of cavalry. two pieces OF artillery,
| the First GederaD Regiment, Maryland
! Infantry, and two companies Of Penn
| sylvauia infantry, which had been posted
| to check our pursuit
"Dathing into the midst Of them, Cap
! tain Grimsley Of Company j. I'D advance
! these four companies drove The felrrals
| from their position. who soon. however
| reformed I'm an orchard on the right OF
| tho turnpike. whom second gallant
! charge being made upon them. the enc
! mys' cavalry was put 90 flight. the ar
! ulery abandoned, and the infantry now
] thrown into confusion. surrendered them
! selves prisoners of war
"In this successful pursuit our loss
| was twonty-six killed and wounded.
Among tho killed was Captain Baxter OF
| Company *, while calamity leading his
! men i'm the charge
Colonel Flournoy in his report says.
"The enemy had fired the bridge across
! North river. which delayed the pursuit.
/ -Four companies Of the Sixth crossed the
! river fin time 10 oycrtake the enemy at
| Cedarsyiue about three miles up the
! pike, where they ndd formed 10 receive
| the charge Company l.. Captain G.. j..
! Flournoy, was ordered in front, and on
! the left: Company *, Captain Baxter.
! and Company 4, Captain Dulaney TO the
| right. and Company b. Captain Grimsley
| directly up the turnpike.
COMPANY =.
Company y was first upon the enemy
| and charged most calamity right through
! their lines, breaking them and throwing
] them into confusion. This company was
| supported by Company H. from the LETT
! and Companies * and a on the right
! The enemy was driven from this posi-
tion. but soon reformed in an orchard on
! the right of the turnpike, where these
/ companies again charged and put them
| TO complete route.
! "Wheu the charge was commenced, their
| cavalry took 10 flight The two pieces OF
! artillery were abandoned and taken, and
| nearly the entire infantry force taken
| prisoners.
! Company u. Captain Richards, and
/ Company /, Captain Row, come up IL
| time 90 engage in the pursuit. The other
! companies of the Sixth and Second regi-
| meuts were prevented from coming In
/ time 20 take part on account Of the diff
! Guilty i'm crossing the bridge which alone
/ prevented their taking the most active
| part in the fight.
| THE officers and men engaged acted
| with the greatest intrepldity and courage
| executing every order with promptness