The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-01-01
yI} STORIES.
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Battle Of 1>elley's Ford Culpeppe1countv.
Va, March H. 'G3
atlanta Journal.


battle which came under my own oh
scrvation; my first battle. I had left
the Virginia Military Institute at II
years of age, and, although under age
volunteered my services to the Con
fcderatc States army. Ny father fur
nlshcd me with splendid horse. we'll
equipped with a big cavalry saddle,
lar"e stirrups, spurs. Il haycrsacl., oil
cloth ana blanket l started out for
the war. My sabre, pistol and carbuc
were furnished ne on my arrival 4,
camp.
joined Captain Morgan Stro,ller' $
company. the Madison cavalry. after
wards known as Company &, Fourth
Virginia cavalry. The regiment was
composed OF tic following companies:
Company A, Prince William County
Company B, Of Chcstcrield Compa-
ny 9, Of Madison: Company D, of
Culpcppcr; Company l., Of Powha,an
Company +, of Goochland; Company
e, Of Hanover: Company ii, Of Eau
quier. The last was the famous
Black Horse cavalry. The rcgi-
ment was commanded at different
times by the following colonies: Bev
erly II. Robertson, w. II. Payne.
William c. Wickham, Robert Ran
dolph and William 3. Wooldridgc.
What vivid emotions filed NY mind,
The training at the Virginia Military
Institute had only tended tc strength
un and intensity my desires to become
" older, and ritch awakened in me
ag.> q. s."ry AMI romance. did
-nnl sop IL caa>iacr the harJships and
danger, tina! were to follow. 'i,z
ice : brigade wa> il winter quarters
on the NappahaunccA river. few
miles above the old town OF l'redcr
lex -ourg, guarding the fords Banks,
United States aud F,lys. Some time
in January, 1868, we moved our camp
two miles to the north of Culpcrpur
Courthouse on the Walleck farm.
whore we built log huts, covered with
our tents, making them quite comfor-
table. We had q plenty to eat during
these few months. We spent mos. OF
the time in attending to our horses,
reading, smoking, and had but little
guard duty to perform, and although
mere boy, was struck with the
most superb morals of the Confcder-
ate soldier in Lees camp, and more
especially with the kind treatment of
prisoners who fell into our hands
through Mosby's men. Just about
daybreak on the 18th Of March, 1863,
We were aroused by the sound of the
bugle call ito boots and saddles"
Each regiment rapidly formed in line
and marched of in the direction of
Kelley's ford, few miles north of us,
on the Rappahannock river. The
gray mist Of the morning had
given away to the crimson light of
the rising sun, not cloud could be
seen.
Our boys were in fine humor and in
splendid plight for the coming con-
flict. 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 piokets IN |
front. With little handful of men
Captain Randolph, of the Black Horse
company, was disputing every inch of
ground along the river banks and in
front of the advancing columns of
Averills 5000 cavalry, while Fitz
Lee 8 brigade only numbered 800. We
had passed fleetwood hill and Stevens
burg, when the gray columns of Fitz
Lee moved rapidly towards the river.
throwing out sharpshootcrs along the
whole line in front. General Ayerill
commanding the Federal cavalry, had
by that time succeeded in crossing
the liver, and had advanced a mile or
,wc towards Culpepper Courthouse.
At clock our whole line Of cavalry
had halted behind large body Of
umbcr and at 10 O'clock the crack Of
the carbine could be heard along the
picket line, each regiment being in
position to attack at moments no
Iice. Just then l was ordered to re-
port to Major Morgan. Of the First
deorg!a Regiment, who afterwards be-
came lieutenant colonel. He was in
Of the picket line, and from
him 1 received an order to General
lee, on another part of the field sit
ting quietly on his magnificent bay
mare, Nellie" in the roar of his
brigade, accompanied by two or three
IF his staff officers. One Of his staff
asked him why he was waiting. Turn
ing to me he ordered that I wait few