The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-10-19

0tI t;rouac around Atlee's Station
% q srer w. county, Virginia, the 1st day
# s pau, ,.,,s 1864. We had been there
~ '1 Two days, moving there after
'.. 's .srsre cavalry fight 1t Haw's Shop.
as l'.,,, ~ had but recently been killed at
'al, ''las Tavern, and Hampton was
m,Odipg s' the cavalry corps of the
'r Of Northern Virginia. Riding
So zaiH' ,v bivouac little after sunrise
|. .. ,be morning of the I'd Of June,
n,on asked me to mount couple
} },' as;nepts and ride with him in the
n ..,;ou of Hanover Court House.
So ..b;0r a point where road coming
peaks Station crossed the road
,s ;, sere on in the direction Of Ash
:; We found ourselves Immediately
,he rear of division Of the enemy's
a,r,lry which had passed on toward
.hl.nd and was then just in front of
The road was narrow and OBJ
,,ucted by thick, bushy forest, in
.,.eoueuce of which one could see
:, a short distance, and while the
,smv was not in sight 80 recently
la the rear of his column passed that
n. water from branch was still run
s;,s into the tracks made by his
,,ses in the mud on its bank, not
sI83,viug had time to fill.
81 General Hampton directed me to
allow up in the rear Of the enemy
,utously, and galloped back to
j,ther the balance of his command,
Ith view to making a flank attack.
soop overlook the rear Of the enemy's
3oump which had no rear guard out,
u Ind completely surprised them, dashed
|Dto the rear and captured a great
3nmber Of them. The effect of this
s,r attack was to scatter the enemy
|,|,u every direction through the woods,
resking up his organization; but in
! \ loug SO iucumbered my men with
Brsoners horses and wagons, and be-
..aors General Hampton could relieve
Ess by the proposed flank attack, I
}ss loaded down with my captures
ssEaud had but small force and very
,rd fighting to do.
d | had kept only two squsdrons in
g|She saddle unincumbered; the balance
Ht the command was guarding the
lrisoners and captured property.
Being in no condition to press the
nemy, I was preparing to halt and
tlsDgthen my position 30 that I
hight hold it until Hampton could
reate diversion on the flank in my
avor. But the enemy in the mean
ine discovered my presence, rallied,
I'd came back at me with all he had
@it. My men knew from the prison
Fs that confronting me was division
cavalry under General Wilson.
General Wilson and his men did not
NOV who was confronting them, as
hsy had captured no prisoners.
When the head of the attacking
blumn Of Wilson came in sight Of
SAy two little squadrons, it halted,
pt within close pistol range, and the
esd Of my column, which I was still
oHly moving to the front, also
8zlted, and the two opened pistol fire
each other. I knew if Wilson
:; 'Ezz;;aaasaseodded in getting his men to make
aAs charge, my little command could
's withstand his heavy column, and
ould be captured, and all the prison
and property which I then held
aculd be recaptured. 1t was neces-
lry that I shonld make a2 ez..-sce-a: ez..-.:sce.:.:
ary effort to save myself and my cap
81 res. \ curve in the road prevented
3 Fllson from seeing the rear of my
2nmand, he was therefore unable to
slmate its strength and not knowing
}lo was, and somewhat demoralized
8 rear attack, his men hesitated
pout charging me. My men, how
eF' knew their numbers were few,
ed that the enemy in front Vas
II and appreciating the situa-
i0n we're cautious, TO say the least.
was important for me to make a
7sA at the enemy, IL nothing more,
prevent him from laundering down
IS Isl me, for l knew that if they sue
s0ed In charging me I was lost. I
3ae 70 the 'front.' exhorted my men,
a begged and implored them to
earse the enemy, firing at the enemy
s.eli with my pistol. The enemy
slns my command hesi.ate, urged
s men forward" and they swese on
+s verge Of moving had actually be.
81 fa 20 move--when one Of my couriers,
s'0ath about seventeen or eighteen
's Of age, who was q member Of
' regiment from which these two