d in a
position of unusual difficulty in the event of coming into contact with
the enemy.

The Court have further found, from the evidence adduced before them,
that the column under Lieut.-Col. Booker was proceeding in this
order and had reached a point on the way leading from Ridgeway to
Stevensville, at about two miles from the former point, when the
advanced guard became aware that the woods on the right and left fronts
of the line of advance were occupied by the enemy; and are further of
opinion, that the movements then directed by Lieut.-Col. Booker and the
subsequent disposition of the force at his disposal (up to a time to
be subsequently mentioned), were in strict accordance with laid down
principles, and such as at least to hold an enemy not greatly superior
in numbers in check, if not to drive them back--and that the manner in
which the movements directed were executed, the advance of the companies
of the Queen's Own sent out to strengthen the skirmishers on the left,
the advance of the right wing of the Thirteenth Battalion extended on
the right of the road, and No. 10 Company of the Queen's Own rather to
the right, was highly creditable to the officers and men, particularly
as during the whole of these movements the force was under fire from an
unseen enemy under cover of the woods, our troops being in open ground
and exposed to the effects of such a fire, which fortunately, though
well sustained, was not very effective.

The Court is of opinion that to this point the direction of the attack
and the position of the attacking force was well and skilfully managed,
and the enemy had been forced back to a considerable distance from the
position when first encountered.

The Court find that at this time, and when everything looked favorable
for the attacking force, there occurred an alarm, of the truth of which
a moment's reflection on the part of the men with whom it originated,
and who appear to have been some of the advanced skirmishers, would have
shown the impossibility. It was to the effect that a force of cavalry
was advancing upon our force, and instantly the cry of "Cavalry", spread
with electric rapidity from the front to where the Colonel stood in
reserve, with which part of the force Lieut.-Col. Booker as commanding
officer remained, and thus assuming the cry to have its origin in the
fact that that officer gave the order "Look out for cavalry!" squares
were formed instantly to meet cavalry, both by