to give us a taste of their
quality.

At first they called out to come on and get their "greenbacks," seeing
the small party in advance with the General, but as the regiments rode
into the field, which was large enough to make a display of the entire
line, they stood but to exchange a scattering fire, and then moved in
retreat along a road running parallel to the main road and leading to
"Amelia Springs." The Seventh, from position, was the leading
regiment, and moved at a gallop in pursuit. The road swept round a
point of wood on the left and an old field on the right grown up with
pine. In advance rode five well mounted men of the regiment, as a
lookout, led by the adjutant--General Gary immediately behind
them--and the head of our column, the Seventh cavalry, next. As the
advance guard rounded the bend in the road it was swept by the fire of
the enemy, who had halted for that purpose, wheeling instantly in
retreat as soon as they delivered their fire. Four men out of the
five, all except the adjutant, were hit, one of them in the spine,
"Mills," an approved scout, and one of the best and bravest men in the
army. Throwing his arms over his head with a yell of agony, wrung from
him by intense pain, he pitched backwards off his horse, which was
going at full speed. The horse, a thoroughbred mare, kept on with us
in the rush. (I will here say that I never saw the young man again--he
was just in front of me when he fell--until three or four years after,
in a pulpit, as a Presbyterian preacher. He had gotten over his wound
without its doing him permanent injury). On we went, picking up some
of the rear of the party who had not moved quick enough. The main body
had gotten where there were thick woods on both sides of the road,
where they halted to make a stand. But we were upon them before they
made their wheel to face to the rear, or rather while they were in the
act of making it, and so had them at advantage; we were among them
with the sabre. The work was short and sharp, and we drove them along
the road clear of the wood into the open field, where there was a
strong dismounted reserve. Here we caught a fire that dropped two of
our leading horses--Captain Caldwell's and Lieutenant Hinson's.
Caldwell's horse was killed dead. Hinson's fell with a broken leg,
catching his rider under him and holding him until relieved. A heavy
fire swept the woods and road, so we dismounted the brigade as fast as
the men came up, extendin