Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-19
Battle Of KeAey'S Ford,
CuLpeper County, Va, March II, '63

In writing this article do so to describe
simply the incidents of the battle which
| came under my own observation. 1t was
| my first experience; my first battle. had
| left the Virginia Military institute at 10
| years of age, and although under age, vol
\ unteered my services to the Confederate
states army. My father furnished me with
a splendid horse, well equipped with a
big cavalry saddle, large stirrups, spurs,
| a haversack, oil cloth and blanket.
started out for the war. My saber, pistol
and carbine were furnished me on my
arrival at camp.
joined Captain Morgan Strother's COM
| pany; the Madison cavalry, afterwards
known as Company c, Fourth Virginia
| cavalry. The regiment was composed OF
| the following companies; Company "A.
| Prince William county; Company 3, or
| chesterfield; Company Z, OF Madison;
Company d. Of Culpepper; Company b. Oh
| Powhatan; Company +, Of Goochland;
Company G, of Hanover; Company H. OF
| Fauquier. The last was the famous BLACK
| Horse" cavalry. The regiment was com
manded at different times by the fellow
! ing colonels: Beverly IL. Robertson w.
| H. Payne, W lillian G. Wickham, robert
Randolph and William b. Woodbridge
| What vivid emotions filed my mind! The
| training at the Virginia Military institute
| had only tended 20 strengthen and inten-
| sify my desires to become soldier, ana
| often awakened in me dreams OF glory
and romance. l did not stop TO CONSIDER
| the hardships and dangers that were TO
| follow. Fitz Lees brigade was In winter
quarters on the Rappahannock river rev
miles above the old town Of Fredericks-
| burg guarding the fOrds-Banks, Uni
ted States and Elys. Some time in Janua-
~, 1863, we moved our camp two miles 10
the north of Culpepper courthouse, on the
Wallach farm, where we built log nuts
/ Or pyffh prfg
comfortable We had a plenty to eat dur
ing these few months. We spent most OF
the time in attending to our horses, read
ing, smoking and had but little guard duty
to perform, and although mere boy
was struck with the most superb morals
of the Confederate soldier in Lees camp.
and more especially with the kind treat
u1ent Of prisoners who fell into our hands
through Moseby's men. Just about Gay
break on the morning OF the I'th OF
March, 1853, we were aroused by the souno
of the bugle call Ito boots and saddles.
each regiment rapidly formed in line and
marched off in the direction OF Kelley
ford a few miles north of us, on the Rap
pahannock river The gray mist OF the
morning had given away to crimson hight
of the rising sun, not cloud coulo De
seen.
splendid plight for the coming conflict
| There was something stirring in the jovial
voice of Fitz Lee and his face was lit up
as he listened to the occasional shots
| from our pickets In front. With little
| handful Of men Captain Randolph. OF the
l. ack Horse company, was dlsputihs
| every inch of ground along the river
| banks and in front Of the advancing col
umns Of AverilPs 5000 cavalry; while tltz
| Lees brigade only numbered 500. we
had passed Fleetwood hill and Stevensburg
when the gray columns of Fitz Lee moved
| rapidly towards the river, throwing out
| sharpshooters along the whole line in
front. General Averill commanding the
| federal cavalry, had by that time sue
ceded in crossing the river, and had adj
| vanced mile or two towards Culpepper
court house. At 3 O'Clock our whole line
| of cavalry had halted behind large body
| of timber and at 10 o'clock the crack OF
| the carbine could be heard along the pick
ct line, each regiment being in position
| to attack at a moments notice. Just then
| l was ordered to report to Major Morgan
| of the First Georgia regiment. who after
| wards became lieutenant colonel, he was
in command OF the picket line and from
him I received an order to General Lee.
on another part of the field sitting quiet
| ly on his magnificent bay mare Nellie"
In rear Of his brigade, accompanied by two
or three of his STAFF officers. One of his
| staff asked him why he was waiting.
Turning to me he ordered that l wait
few minutes and then turning quickly III
| his saddle throwing his leg over the POM
mel and raising his field glasses to his
eyes, he replied to the question asked by
| his staff officer: "He is coming now"
We turned our eyes in the direction Of
| Culpeper court house. and in a few min
utes a single horseman came into view
| In full gallop towards us. The long
strides of his horse were rapidly lessening
the distance between us and him. and as
he annroached nearer I noticed that his
| horse was champing the bit, while the
white foam was dripping from his TANKS,
| his nostrils expanded and his head erect
as he was being urged forward by his
| dashing rider. I noticed General Lee
| closely. his eyes sparkled as he suddenly
| exclaimed: ut Is Jeb Stuart" He was
alone and near enough by this time for
us to hear his voice as it rang out upon
the stiffness: