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We fell back to the Ashland Road and retreated over the Chickahominy across Half Sink Bridge, the retreat being covered by the 1st and 3rd Virginia Cavalry. Lomax’s Brigade lost heavily and ours considerably. The former lost two or three guns, I forget which.1 The gallant captain of artillery, [Major James] Breathed, was twice sabred that day but killed two or three Yankees and got off.2 The enemy, turning down BrookTurnpike crossed Brook Creek, (leaving us behind as unworthy of further notice) and entered the third, (or outer), line of forti¤cations going into camp on the farm of my most excellent friend, Mr. John Stewart—Brook Hill. That night two infantry brigades occupied the second line of forti¤cations which mounted a number of heavy guns. This obstinate ¤ght [Yellow Tavern] lasted until about 5 p.m. and considering the great disparity of numbers, was one of which we had no cause to feel ashamed. But its effect was very bad, demonstrating, as it did, to the men that our cavalry with its paucity of arms of improved patterns and half-starved horses couldn’t hope to contend successfully with the larger, splendidly mounted and equipped command of Philip Sheridan, Major General. He had an entire brigade armed with Spencer’s splendid breach-loading ri®e which ¤red accurately 600 yards and seven successive shots without reloading. Many others had the Henry gun, a sixteen-shooter (¤ring 16 successive shots after one loading), and all the rest Sharpe’s splendid single-shooter ri®e. About half of our men had captured Sharpe’s carbines or his barrels with a miserably made Rich11 “A Furious Charge Was Made Upon Our Line” mond breach while the others either had muzzle loading En¤eld ri®es or only their pistols and sabres. It was universally admitted that, though defeated in this ¤ght, the time we gained General Bragg saved Richmond. In all previous campaigns the superior pluck and gallantry of our boys had more than balanced the weight and numbers and the great advantages the enemy had in regard to arms and horses. And on nearly every occasion the enemy’s cavalry had been worsted, whatever odds he had, unless backed by infantry . Now, however, a dear bought experience, rigid discipline, constant drilling, and a more thorough organization and complete equipment of three divisions (of about 4,000 men each), gave Sheridan a decided superiority over three divisions, (averaging about 2,500 men). For in addition to other causes, the spirits of our men were greatly depressed by continued disasters to our arms, increased hardships, and lessening prospects of either independence or speedy peace. Yet our dear private soldiery, noble men, whose families, many of them, were suffering for the very necessities of life, some were burnt out of house and home, braced themselves for another great endeavor and as the dangers thickened around the army’s beloved Commander and “Father,” resolved that they would make at least one other earnest endeavor to rise to the height of his sublime courage and fortitude. Weary, hungry, wet, and despondent our little division sneaked off through the rain about 10 p.m. and stumbling along in the darkness turned aside into the woods about 12 midnight near Atlee’s Station to rest ourselves and our jaded beasts. We kindled some indifferent ¤res, got a little corn for our horses,some tough,half-done bread for ourselves, rolled up in our wet blankets, and slept till daylight. Day broke apparently sad and sorrowful and weeping for our defeat the day before. It was dripping, dripping all the time, the mud in the roads ankle deep and the ¤elds almost a quagmire. We went down to Meadow Bridge, (that is, “the place where” the bridge had been), and got into a skirmish with the Yankees on the other side. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Randolph, commanding the 4th Virginia Cavalry, was shot through the head and killed instantly.3 We were lying or squatting behind the embankment of the Virginia Central Railroad popping away when, (about 12 noon), orders came to Furious Charge / 163 “double quick” to the horses, mount, and form at once. We did so and learned that one of Sheridan’s brigades had gotten across a blind ford at Miss Crenshaw’s and was moving down towards us.4 After getting “our boys” all together, the division took a road from which they could retreat to Hanover Court House or Old Church...

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