Page:History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry in the War Between the States.djvu/107

however, the enemy retreated, and we were in full pursuit. Captain Bolling was again wounded. The enemy was falling back towards Brandy Station by way of Stevensburg. As we drew near to the station we were ordered to prepare for action. A long line of bluecoats, moving rapidly from the direction of Culpeper Courthouse, could be seen hastening to support the brigade that was flying before us. Forming column of squadrons, we marched at a trot till we were very near the station, and then paused a moment to dress our ranks. Our direction was now changed a little to the right, and, crossing the railroad under a severe fire from the enemy's batteries, we charged into the right of their line a few hundred yards north of the station.^[1] Heavy bodies of mounted men dashed up to support the enemy's broken line, and for some minutes, with broken ranks, in confused order, and without leaders, we fought hand to hand. We were being forced back by the weight of superior numbers, when our support, the Thirteenth Regiment, came up, and, making a magnificent, dashing charge upon the enemy, enabled us to rally, reform our ranks, and charge again. This last charge was decisive, and we were victors on this part of the field, the enemy being driven back under cover of their infantry and artillery on Miller's Hill. Still exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery, we were withdrawn from the field of battle and ordered to form a line under the shelter of the hill at Fleetwood. We then moved forward under command of Captain Samuel Swann, Major Waller being wounded, to dislodge some sharpshooters who were posted on the opposite hill. Reaching a small body of woods at the base of the hill, we halted and returned the enemy's fire until Colonel Rosser came up with the Fifth Regiment, when we advanced with him, the enemy retreating rapidly. Night now closed in upon us, and we were withdrawn to bivouac on Green's farm, near

1. A graphic account of this charge and of the "rebel yell" that accompanied it, by Comrade J. Harvie Dew, of New York, may be found in the Appendix.—G. W. B.