At
our backs came on the huge column, yelling and firing, mad with
triumph. Stuart the valiant, the obstinate, the unshrinking was driven!
We were forced back to Upperville, and there things looked stormy. On
the other roads, Stuart's right and left were rapidly retiring. His
centre at Upperville seemed devoted to destruction.
The enemy came on like a whirlwind, with a roaring shout. As far as the
eye could see, the great fields were dark with them. Their horse
artillery advanced at a gallop, unlimbered, and tore the retreating
columns with shot and shell.
I was ten yards from Stuart, just at the edge of the town, when a
picked body of Federal horsemen darted straight upon him.
They had evidently recognized him by his major-general's uniform and
splendid feather. Bullets hissed around him; blows were struck at him;
and for an instant I saw him in the midst of a wild huddle of enemies,
defending himself with his revolver only.
In an instant he would have been killed or captured, with his staff and
body-guard, when a resounding shout was heard.
I glanced over my shoulder, and saw the cavaliers of Hampton coming on
with drawn sabre.
Then a splendid spectacle was presented--that of Wade Hampton in one of
his great moments. This stalwart cavalier was leading his men, and in
an instant they had struck the enemy with a noise like thunder.
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