ken at the sudden approach of the "Yankee"
cavalry; and great confusion ensued. But the alarm quickly spread, and
part of Jones' troopers were soon in the saddle, charging furiously down
upon the Eighth New York, who broke; and, before Colonel Davis could
turn to rally his leading regiment, a Rebel soldier sprang from behind a
tree and shot him dead. But the avenging sabre of Lieutenant Parsons
(Davis' adjutant) severed the poor fellow's connection with this life.

Colonel Davis was a serious loss to the "Cavalry Corps,"--a graduate of
West Point, an accomplished officer, a universal favorite,--and,
although a Southerner, he stuck to the flag he had sworn to defend.

Meantime, the Eighth Illinois Cavalry had gained the southern bank, and
rushed upon Jones' people, driving them back upon the main body, who
were forming in the rear of a bit of wood. Colonel Davis was borne back
in a blanket as General Pleasanton, who had accompanied our column in
person, arrived at the river bank.

The Third Indiana Cavalry followed the Eighth Illinois; and Ames' men
were now crossing under the eye of the distinguished group of horsemen,
to one of whom (Colonel F. C. Newhall, afterward of Sheridan's staff) I
am indebted for the following description:--

General Buford was there, with his usual smile. He rode a gray
horse, at a slow walk generally, and smoked a pipe, no matter
what was going on around him; and it was always reassuring to
see him in the saddle when there was any chance of a fight.

General Pleasanton's staff was partly composed of men who
became distinguished. The Adjutant General was A. J.
Alexander, of Kentucky, a very handsome fellow, who was
afterward a Brigadier General with Thomas, in the West. Among
the aides was Captain Farnsworth, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who
so distinguished himself in the coming battle, and in the
subsequent operations south of the Potomac, that he was made a
Brigadier General, and with that rank fell at Gettysburg, at
the head of a brigade of cavalry which he had commanded but a
few days. Another aide was the brilliant Custer, then a
lieutenant, whose career and lamented death there is no need
to recall. Another was Lieutenant R. S. McKenzie, of the
engineers, now General McKenzie of well-won fame, the youngest
colonel of the regular army; and still another was Ulric
Dahlgren. General Pleasanton had certainly no lac