If any remained, it was dispelled by the
fact, stated to me by General Hampton, that the Federal troops "had
eight days' rations, and were certainly bound for the Southside
road."[1]
[Footnote 1: His words.]
I had scarcely received this intelligence from General Hampton, when a
heavy attack was made upon General William H.F. Lee, holding the Quaker
road.
From that moment the battle began to rage with determined fury, and the
entire force of cavalry was engaged in an obstinate fight with the
advancing enemy. It was a bitter and savage affair. The men charged;
dismounted and fought behind impromptu breastworks of rails; fell back
only when they were pushed by the weight of the great column rolling
forward; and for hours the whole field was a hurly-burly of dust,
smoke, blood, uproar, carbine shots, musket shots, and the long
threatening roar of cannon.
The Stuart horse artillery fought like tigers. The men stuck to their
guns amid a storm of bullets, and vindicated, as they had done before
on many fields, the name of "my pets," given them by Stuart! Among the
officers, Will Davenant was seen, sitting his horse amid the smoke, as
calm as a May morning; and I shall never forget the smile on the face
of this young bull-dog, when he said:--
"I think we can hold our ground, colonel.
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