Saint Mary's beacon., 1904-11-24

Battery, S. II. A, encamped near
The one mile Toll Gate on the Rich
mond and Williamsburg road. On
The morning of June 18th boots and
saddles" sounded from in front OF
Capt Pelham 5 tent. Weaccording-
" aof ia position and tool upsx:lssl
line OF march ia the direction OF
reporting with one sec
tion Of the battery, commanded by
the gallant 1st Lieut.. James Breath
ed, to Brig. Gen. ]. E. B. Stuart, com
manding the Cavalry Brigade. We,
of course, imagined all sorts of routes
that we were going to take, but did
not for one moment imagine that we
were going on that magnificent ex
pedition that startled the world in
its conception and execution. Stu
arts force consisted OF the 1st Va.
Cavalry, commanded by the then
Col. F'itz Lee; the 9th Va. Cavalry,
Col. W. II. F. Lee, (Genl. r. e. Lees
SOM; the JEFF Davis legion, of Miss :,
Lieut.. Col. w. T. MaStin. No field
officers of the 4th Va being available
for this expedition, the detachment
from that regiment was divided ac-
cOrr'l.- between the 1st and 9Th
Va. |.~-iry. In order to deceive
the enemy and divert his attention
from our real route, we marched
north via Brooke Turnpike, eDcamp-
ing that night on the Winston farm
near Taylorsville, % miles from
Richmond. Genl. Stuart took this
course in order to make the enemy
believe that he was going to the
Valley Of Virginia to reinforce
Genl. T. J. Jackson. That night we
sent up signal rockets by prear-
rangement with Gen. X. E. Lee,
notifying him that we had reached a
certain point as contained in his in
structions to Gen. Stuart. Scouts
returning in the early morning Of
the 18th reporting that the road to
Old Church was clear of Federal
troops. We again resumed our
march, turning the head of the col
umn in that direction, reaching Han
over G. e., about 9 a. IN. We found
il in possession of the enemy's cav
airy, consisting of two squadrons,
a companies) of the 9th U. S. Cav
airy. Our advance at this point
was led by a detachment of the 9th
Va. Cavalry, commanded by Adju
tant Robbins. They dashed into
Hanover c. H., capturing several
men aud horses. The 9Th Va, were
mostly from this section of Va, con-
sequently they led the advance and
furnished guides for the expedition.
When we reached the bridge span
ming Totopotomy creek we meet 1t.
Lieb of the 5th u. S. Cavalry with
squadron. The ground being in the
favor of the Federal cavalry, they
accordingly concluded to receive our
advance. Tt. Lieb halted his CON-
mand near the north approach to the
bridge. Adjt. Robbins OF the 9th
Va, threw out fianking parties, caus-
ing the enemy to retire in great con-
fusion to the junction of the Old
Church and Bethesda church roads
leading to Mechanicsville. Here the
command under Gen. Lieb, 9th q.
S. Cavalry, was reinforced by Capt.
Royals squadron of the 9Th U. 5.
Cavalry, who drew up his squadron
to receive the attack. Stuart did
not wait a minute, but gave the COM
mand to charee the enemy. Pei
ham battery Immediately wentinto
position, thinking that we would
have something TO do. but the oppor-
tunity not presenting itself we did
not have the pleasure of setting our
dogs Of war a barking. The squad
ron that charged Capt Royals com
maud of the 9th and the 9th U. S.
Cavalry was Crutchfeld's of the 9th
Va. Cavalry, commanded by Capt.
Lata,c of Co. F. The charge was
rade l. column of fours and with
sabre Capt ROYAL and Capt. Latane
met n hand 10 hand fight, Royal
with Lltaue with sabre.
Rova, 80 .r advantage, having q
pistol. Lag..ue was the best swords
man OF the Two. The contest was
unequal The result was that the
brave and dashing Latane. the pride
and the idol OF that magnificent 9Th
Va Cavalry, fell by d pistol ball
from Royals pistol. but not until be
had been severely wounded by La
tane's sabre. The enemy was driven
back in great confusion. but being
Regulars, they soon reformed and
again presented their front to the
gallant 9sh Va. Cavalry. Being again
routed, third stand was made with
the same result. AT this moment
Col. Fitz Lee, with that peerless