But
they evidently felt perfect confidence in Stuart.
He hastened to justify it.
No sooner had light come than he placed his artillery in position. As
it grew and broadened, the enemy were seen just on a hill in front of
us, busily cooking their breakfasts.
Suddenly a single cannon sent its long thunder, dull and reverberating,
through the woods, from the direction of Warrenton.
Stuart rose erect in his saddle, and looked in the direction of the
sound, his eyes glowing.
Another followed; then another; then a long, continuous bellow of
artillery, making the hills echo.
There was no longer any doubt about the fate of the messengers. Lee had
received the dispatches; Rodes had opened on the Federal columns,
attacking as that good soldier knew how to attack.
Stuart darted to his guns. On his countenance was a grim smile.
"Attention!" he exclaimed.
The cannoneers ran to their posts, a cheer rose, the next instant the
guns spouted flame; shell after shell in rapid succession screamed
through the woods--and bursting in the midst of the blue groups, threw
them into the wildest disorder.
Stuart did not allow the panic to subside. His sharp-shooters opened at
the same instant a determined fire; the great cavalier went at full
speed to the head of his column:--then rushing like an avalanche,
troopers and artillery, charged the column in front, burst through,
trampling it as he went, and at a gallop the gray horsemen, with guns
following, broke out; and were again free.
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