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tered the enemy's cavalry, which was dismounted and behind a temporary breastwork of rails. Gregg vigorousiy attacked this force, which appeared to be the rebel cavalry corps and a brigade of South Carolina troops, reported 4,000 strong, armed with long-range rifles and commanded by a Colonel Butler. These Carolinians fought very gallantly in this their first fight, judging from the number of their dead and wounded, and prisoners captured. The most determined efforts were made on both sides in this unequal contest, and neither would give way until late in the evening, when Custer's (Michigan) Brigade was dismounted, formed in close columns of attack, and charged with Gregg's Division, when the enemy was driven back, leaving all his dead and his line of temporary works in our possession. This was a hard-contested engagement, with heavy loss, for the number of troops engaged on both sides, and was fought almost immediately in front of the infantry of our army, which was busily occupied throwing up breastworks."

General Sheridan has most justly accorded praise to our South Carolina comrades in this fight. They behaved like veterans, although receiving their "baptism of fire." It was during this engagement that our regiment was ordered to support our batteries on the left of our line, and while thus engaged, the fire of the enemy's guns became so hot that we were directed to dismount and hold our horses. Some of the men hugged their dear old mother earth, and seemed inclined to rest within her bosom, to shield themselves from the bursting shell. Looking around at Company B, I saw John Wolfe lying in a little crevice in the ground, face downwards, apparently much alarmed. Just then a shell bursting in our front, its fragments scattered through the company, without damage, a piece landing near my feet. Picking up the fragment, I playfully cast it over on Wolfe. With a cry of anguish he leaped up, left his horse, ran back through the pines, and all my efforts to stop his retreat were futile. Yet Wolfe on the second day's fight in the Wilderness, in a charge on the

enemy's breastworks, had acted with more than ordinary courage. It is very trying to stand under a severe fire, and still harder to retreat in order under it. I remember a gallant soldier in the company once telling me never to order him to retreat, as he could not retreat without disgracing himself.

While our arms in this campaign had been crowned with success, we had to mourn the loss of our brave corps commander and many gallant comrades, but they had not lived or died in vain. Their noble example remained with us.

CHAPTER XV.

Let this truth suffice;

The brave meets danger, and the coward flies:
To die or conquer, proves a hero's heart;
And know this, he knew a soldier's part.

Without a sign, his sword the brave man draws,
And asks no omen, but his country's cause.

Homer.

On the morning of the 1st of June, having learned that the enemy's cavalry had passed through Hanover, moving in the direction of Ashland, General Rosser, with the Eleventh and Twelfth Cavalry moved off to learn the enemy's whereabouts. Striking the Ashland road about two miles east of the station, we discovered the enemy's tracks passing westward in the direction of the station. General Rosser, closing up the regiments, prepared for an attack. The Twelfth held the front, and received orders to move forward, charge the enemy as soon as they appeared in sight, and ride them down. Company B was ordered to take the advance of the regiment with similar orders. Reaching a point about a mile from Ashland, we discovered the enemy, without rear-guard, with a regiment of led horses, occupying the rear of the column, the men having gone forward. The task was an easy one. A charge was ordered, the company pushed forward, riding through a regiment of led horses, capturing a large number of prisoners and horses, and was soon so weighed down with booty that its effectiveness was destroyed.

In this charge the enemy had been pressed forward to within half a mile of the station before our men received a check. This halt was for a few moments, when the Twelfth and Eleventh regiments coming up, the enemy again broke and was driven back within two hundred yards of the station. Here a lively contest ensued, which lasted for an hour or

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more. It seems that W. H. F. Lee's Division had commenced the attack in the enemy's front just prior to our arrival in the rear, and the enemy's movements and plans were made to meet this force and its rear left exposed. General Lee's forces now uniting with ours, a determined assault was made on the enemy's position at Ashland, the enemy's lines were broken, and they were soon in rapid retreat, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands.

In this engagement Billy Locke, a youthful member of Company B, was killed. He had just returned from a visit to his home, in Jefferson, and that morning reported for duty. When Company B was ordered forward and the contest seemed near at hand, he rode to the front of the company, and requested to ride with the Orderly Sergeant and myself, saying he had a presentiment he would be killed in this fight, and wanted to die in the front rank. I made light of his presentiment, but told him he could ride with us, if he desired. it. When the enemy made its first stand, Locke was among the foremost, and fell, pierced through the breast by a ball. He was a gallant young soldier, and a favorite among his comrades.

General Lee, in his official report, says:

"Yesterday afternoon the enemy's cavalry were reported to be advancing by the left of our line toward Hanover Courthouse and Ashland. General Hampton, with Rosser's Brigade, proceeded to meet them. Rosser fell upon their rear, and charged down the road toward Ashland, bearing everything before him. His progress was arrested at Ashland by the intrenchments of the enemy, when he changed his direction and advanced up the Fredericksburg railroad. General W. H. F. Lee came up at this time with a part of his division, and a joint attack was made. The enemy was quickly driven from the place and pursued towards Hanover Courthouse until dark."

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