he enemy was
crossing the river. We all jumped up and mounted our horses. Our captain
was with us.

The day was just breaking. The pickets were hurrying up from the river
in every direction, firing their pistols to give the alarm.

Our captain formed the men in the edge of the woods for the purpose of
checking for a few minutes the advancing enemy, so as to give the 10,000
cavalrymen that were encamped a mile or so in the rear time to saddle
and mount their horses and prepare for battle.

The enemy came pouring up from the river, and we opened fire on them,
checking them for the moment. Two of our men were killed, several
wounded, and two horses killed.

Two couriers had gone ahead to arouse the camp. We soon followed them
along the road through the woods, the enemy hard on our heels.

I was riding with the captain in the rear. We were not aware that the
Yankees were so close to us, and the captain was calling to the men to
check their speed. I looked behind, called to the captain and told him
they were right on us, and just as I spoke two bullets went hissing by
my head. The captain yelled to his men to move forward, and bending low
on the necks of our horses, we gave them the spur.

As we came out of the woods into the fields we met the Sixth Virginia
(my regiment), under Col. Flournoy, coming down the road at full gallop.
Just on his left, and almost on a line with the Sixth, was the Seventh
Regiment coming across the fields (for there were no fences then). These
two regiments entered the woods, one on the right and one on the left,
and stretching out on either side, poured a volley into the advancing
enemy that caused them to halt for awhile.

The roar of the guns in the woods at that early hour in the morning was
terrific. What was going on in front of us was being enacted up and down
the river for at least three miles.

Our forces then fell back into the open country, and the battle
continued, at intervals, all day long.

The Yankees were supported by infantry, while we had nothing but cavalry
and artillery.

Our enemies could have driven us back farther if they had tried to, but
they seemed to be afraid of getting into trouble. I do not know what our
commander, Gen. Stuart, knew, but I did not suppose that Gen. Lee was
within 30 miles of us. Toward sunset I saw him come riding across the
fields on his gray horse, "Traveler," accompanied by his staff. He
seemed as calm and unconcerned as if he were ins