g the dismounted line along the front of the
enemy's fire, and moving to the left as he fell back to a stronger
position. As we moved in advance they gave up the position by the
house they had first taken, fell back across the field and ravine to
the top of the opposite hill, where they halted in force and threw up
temporary breastworks, made from a rail fence, and from that position
repeated the invitation to "Come and get greenbacks." We moved up,
occupied the ravine immediately in their front, which was deep enough
to shelter the mounted officers, the line officers and the men being
dismounted. Here General Gary determined to hold his position, until
General Fitz Lee, who commanded our cavalry, came up, not deeming it
advisable to attack the enemy in his present position and numbers. In
half an hour's time General Fitz Lee came up with his division,
dismounted his men, formed line, flanked the position, charged it in
front, two or three heavy volleys, a shout and a rush. The enemy
finding his position untenable moved off to the main body, not more
than two or three miles from them--moving rapidly, as we found several
of their wounded on the roadside, left in the hurry of their retreat.
We moved on slowly after them--the sun being nearly down--to "Amelia
Springs," some two miles off, crossed the creek, and, though we had
commenced the fight in the morning, were politely requested
(everybody knows what a military request is) by General Lee to move
down the road until we could see the Yankee pickets, put the brigade
into camp, post pickets, and make the best of it--all of which we did.

We did not have far to go to find the pickets--about a mile; posted
our own two or three hundred yards from the brigade; sent to the mill
on the creek at "Amelia Springs" and drew rations of flour and bacon.

I had here one of those unexpected surprises that sometimes gleam upon
us under the most unpropitious circumstances. As we rode up to the big
white house on the hill General Fitz Lee stood giving orders for the
disposition of the troops. Our men were in numbers filling their
canteens with water at the well in the yard, when a lieutenant from
the Hampton Legion came from the well with his canteen in his hand.
"B.," I said, "I am very thirsty; will you give me a drink from your
canteen?" "Certainly, sir," said he, and handed it to me. I took a
large swallow and discovered it was excellent old apple brandy. I had
eaten nothing since a