Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-12

l the ala or artillery.
 In the charge of the Virginians Stuart lost his gallant boy artillerist, Colonel John Pelham. Pelhan's guns were not in the fight, but he had chanced to hear of the affair and rode to the field with the head of column along with his chief, who also was there by accident. When the Virginians charged on the farmhouse, Pelham rushed to the front, waving his sword and urging on the troopers with wild battle shout. He was struck dead by shell from Averell's guns, and the fiery cavalcade swept on over his body.
 After it's repulse at the farmhouse the Third Virginia was joined by Colo nel T. L. Rosser's Fifth Virginia, but in second effort both were Sriven back by the rapid carbine fire of the l Pennsylvanians and Averell's guns. Meanwhile FiH-H Hugh Lees right had charged AverelPs left and ridden all most up to the battery. This charge was also repulsed, the Federal troopers making gallant countercharge.
 Finding his force outnumbered three to one, Fftz-Hugh Lee decided to meet the foe on ground of his own choosing. He drew back and formed his line at the edge of an open field 600 yards | wide. Four cannon crowned a knoll which overlooked the roadway. Aver ell's column followed the retiring Confederates rapidly and marching through wood suddenly came upon Lees battery and troopers in their new 1 position The wide field on the Federal side was covered with dry stubble, which was on fire. F1tz-Hugh Lees guns raked the roadway, but in the face of it all the Federal troopers rushed on, beating out the flames with their overcoats and blankets as they advanced.
 On looking the ground over Averell decided not to push the attack. From appearances which were deceiving he thought that the Confederate battery was behind earthworks and the ground was such that he could not carry it by flank attack. His artillery ammunition was imperfect, while that of Fitz- Hugh ! Lee was terribly deadly Whenever the l Confederate gunners made target of flying troop of Federals they invaria ply landed a shot.
 Seeing that Averell would not take the initiative, Fitz- Hugh Lee ordered g. grand cavalry charge. 1t was rash venture and one he would not have un- dertaken after the blue and gray had crossed sabers a few times, as they did frequently thereafter in 1863. He put every squadron in, leaving no reserve and having nothing for his troopers to rally on in case of defeat except the four guns of his battery. Averell's bat tery had 15O rounds of serviceable am- munition held in reserve in anticipa- ton of charge. When Lees troopers rode forward, the battery opened with shell at 1,500 yards, changing to spher- ical case at 1000 yards and to double shotted canister at 400 yards.
 Lees Fourth Virginia regiment en- countered rail fence when half way across the field, and the troopers tore it down under a galling fire from the Federal carbines. This regiment, with the Second Virginia, constituted Lees right wing. Together they aimed for Averelfs battery. Meanwhile Lees left wing came to deep run, which checked the line, and 1t was forced to change from line formation to col umn of fours under fire, file across the stream and then deploy into line of battle. Averell's cavalry met this charge by firing at long range from the woods screening that flank. The Con- federates tried to sweep around and reach the Federal guns which lay di- rectly in front of the Fourth and Sec ond Virginia. Between this column and the battery were two strong fences in- closing the main road of the region. By the time the troopers reached the road they were broken up into small squads and the impact of the charge lost. The regiments three in number the First, Third and Fifth Virginia turned back and made their way to the hill from which they started.
 On the other flank the desperate charge of the Second and Fourth Vir- ginia met with stubborn resistance to the last. After passing the fence these troopers dashed for Averell's guns. The gunners left their pieces, but oppoR- tunely the First Rhode Island cavalry rushed to the point of danger and in sharp hand to hand fight drove of the Virginians. The defeat of the Second and Fourth Virginia was not rout, however They rode back to the old ground to reform without molestatton. Even the gallant Rhode Islanders, who made the hardest fight in AverelPs col umn, were satisfied to have rescued the battery.
 With the retreat of the Second and Fourth regiments came Averelps chance to destroy Fitz Lees brigade. Lees men had been beaten in fair fighting. They were fewer in number than the enemy by almost three to one and had suffered most in the fighting. But Averell excused himself from fur ther attack on the ground that he had heard the drum beat of infantry in the Confederate lines the night before, that Fitz Lees position was protected by rife pits and the guns protected by earthworks. He could not attack by the flank and believed that direct at tack would end in disaster. In fact, he