As I pressed on, I heard the long thunder of cannon coming up from the
direction of Brandy.
What could that sound mean? Had the enemy again advanced and assailed
the small force of cavalry there?
Going on now at full speed, I heard the cannon steadily approaching
Culpeper Court-House. All at once, as I drew near the village, I heard
a tremendous clatter in the streets; a column of cavalry was advancing
to the front--soon the crack of carbines was heard beyond the town.
A short ride brought me to the field, and all was explained. Colonel
Rosser had been attacked by a whole corps of Federal infantry, and two
divisions of cavalry--while his own force was about two hundred men,
and a single gun.
He had offered an obstinate resistance, however, fallen back slowly,
and when about to be driven into the town, Young had come to his aid.
Then followed one of the gayest comedies of the war. Young was the
author of it. You laugh sometimes still, do you not, old comrade, at
the trick you played our friends on that October evening?
Young threw himself into the fight with the true cavalry elan.
Dismounting his whole brigade, he opened a rapid fire on the advancing
enemy; and this obstinate resistance evidently produced a marked effect
upon their imaginations. They had been advancing--they now paused.
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