ahead of
us--General Dick Anderson's corps. He was there, as it turned out, but
his corps had been expended a day or two before; it had been
completely fought out, for we had no better officer than Lt. General
Richard Anderson, an old West Pointer--cavalry at that--and a South
Carolinian to boot.

It was, however, "hammer and tongs" down there at all events--shell,
grape and canister at short range. Custar's division of Sheridan's
cavalry had taken the chord of the arc, and reached the depot just
about the time we got to the village. A knowledge of his movements had
caused our being sent forward, his object being to strike the
artillery train, which was in advance of us--sixty pieces, under
General Walker. Three batteries were left at the depot to hold it,
while the rest retreated along the Lynchburg pike. The three batteries
were six guns under command of Major James C. Coit--consisting of two
guns Pegram's battery, Va., Lieut. Scott; two guns Wright's battery,
Va., Lieut. Atkisson; two guns Martin's battery, Va., Capt. Martin;
with sixteen men, Kelly's battery, S.C., Lieut. Race, who assisted in
working Wright's guns.

While we were closing up our scattered ranks, and getting the brigade
ready for action as rapidly as coolness, skill and courage could do
it, a department officer (I think he was) came galloping up to us from
the scene of action, apparently under orders from himself to get out
of the way; but the natural insolence of his class broke out in spite
of the scare that was on him, and he commenced giving orders at once.
I happened to be the person addressed--"Get on at once; the enemy are
down yonder Why don't you go at once? Are all you men going to stand
here and let the enemy"--and so on. The colonel had ridden down the
column to see that all was straight, while the "Legion" and the
Twenty-fourth Virginia were closing up, so that when we did move it
would be as a compact body--when the order came ringing
along--"Forward, forward, men! gallop!"--and our indignant friend was
lost in the rush of the column while yet haranguing us for being so
slow.

The roar of the batteries was incessant. They were evidently holding
the dismounted cavalry in check. As rapidly as we could get over
ground we moved towards them, and formed the brigade in the field to
the left of the position held by the batteries, in what might be
called a column of regiments. As we formed the regiment from a column
of fours into line, th