ibed
hereafter, gave Hooker possession of Loudon County, and threw the
invading column far to the west. If the enemy had succeeded in
posting forces in the gaps of the Bull Run range of mountains, and
in occupying the wooded country between Thoroughfare Gap and
Leesburg, they would not only have hidden all their own movements
from view, but would have had command of the Potomac from Harper's
Ferry to within thirty miles of Washington, so that they could have
operated on either side of the river.

While Gregg's division were thus engaged, Colonel Duffie started
under orders with his regiment from Centreville for Middleburg, by
way of Thoroughfare Gap. The enemy (W. H. F. Lee's brigade) were
already there, but he forced them out, and kept on to Middleburg,
which was reached about 9.30 A.M. He found Stuart's rear guard or
escort there, and drove them out. Stuart fell back to Rector's
Cross Roads, and sent word to all his forces to concentrate against
Duffie. Duffie barricaded the streets of the town and prepared to
hold it until reinforcements could reach him from Aldie, not being
aware that there was any impediment in that direction. At 7 P.M.
the different rebel brigades advanced on him from the direction of
Aldie, Union, and Upperville. By sheltering his men behind stone
walls and barricades, he repelled several assaults, but at last
was surrounded by overwhelming forces, and compelled to retreat by
the road upon which he had advanced in the morning. He fell back
until he crossed Little River, picketed the stream and halted there
to get some rest. This gave time to the enemy to surround him,
and by half past one the next morning all the roads in the neighborhood
were full of cavalry; an entire brigade being formed on that which
led to Aldie. He tried to force his way through the latter, but
was received with heavy volleys on both flanks, and with loud calls
to surrender. He directed Captain Bliss and Captain Bixby, who
were in advance, to charge through everything in front of them,
and the way was cleared for the main body, which at last gained
the junction of the Aldie road with that which leads to White
Plains. He then retreated on the latter, with his men all intermixed
with those of the enemy and fighting every step of the way. He
finally disengaged his force from this _melee_ and made his way
through Hopewell Gap back to Centreville, losing two-thirds of his
command.

In this affair at Middleburg,