by Unknown
I reached the major and the rest of the troop who were waiting behind the trees above Stafford. “The general is on his way sir.”
“Good. We will wait for D Troop and then we can skirt north and block the road. Jack, you know this road as well as any; can we get to the north and stay hidden?”
“Pretty much sir. If I was the Yankees I would have men up here. You get a good view of the land to the sea. Still I am glad that they don’t.”
Danny turned to the men. “While we are waiting make sure all your guns are loaded. I don’t want to give the order to fire and hear empty clicks.”
We all did as ordered. Even those, like Cecil and me who had done it back at camp. Both of us knew the value of a fully loaded revolver or, in my case, three loaded revolvers. D Troop arrived and Major Boswell rode up to them to give them their orders. “We can approach the northern road through the trees and along this trail. That way we can escape detection.”
“I, for one yearn, for detection. At least that way we can have some action.”
“Don’t worry major, I can guarantee you some action today.” He turned to me. “Right Jack, it’s your show. Lead the way.”
I heard a mumbled comment from Major Beauregard and the lieutenant and captain laughed. Danny said, “Ignore them Jackie boy, we’ll deal with them in our own time.”
Putting the sycophantic officers from my mind I led the patrol along the narrow twisting trail. When I judged that we had passed the wagon park I led us through the trees. “Davy, go and scout the road.” A few moments later there was a whistle. “Right boys, let’s go.” The road was clear and we headed north. I remembered a place with a deserted barn and a half broken wall running down the Stafford road and I deemed it would make a good ambush site.
When I found it, I halted. Major Boswell rode up and nodded approvingly. “A Troop, place yourselves on the eastern side of the road. Find shelter behind the walls and buildings.”
It seemed an age before D Troop meandered up. There were only forty of them as the rest were with the Sergeant Major at the camp. “Major Beauregard, place your men on the other side of the road if you please.”
He seemed to notice that we were all on foot. “You mean you want my men dismounted?”
In a very patient voice the major said, “Yes Major Beauregard, it makes ambushing easier.”
“Well I will dismount half of my men. We are cavalrymen and we will use the advantage of a horse. We will wait behind those trees.”
Before Major Boswell could order him to follow orders the Englishman had ridden off. “Let him go sir. We can do this with the lads we have.”
“I know Danny but…”
“Just let it go sir. He isn’t worth it and you need to be sharp today sir. If our Jack is right then there will be more cavalry coming to join them.”
“You are right.” He stood in the middle of the road. “This is pistol work. I want no one to fire until I say so. Sergeants, make sure your men understand!” As he turned back to us he said, “That comment was, of course, meant for the ears of D Troop, her sergeants and officers both.”
“Of course sir.”
Harry and I went around the men to ensure that they had their guns ready and ammunition to hand to reload. Trooper Brown asked, “Suppose they don’t come sir?”
“Then I for one will be delighted. It will mean none of our men or horses get hurt or killed but if I was a betting man, then I would bet on blue coats riding down this road sooner rather than later.”
Suddenly we heard the sound of bugles mixed with the pop of carbines and pistols from down the road and the cheers of charging cavalry. I looked down at Trooper Brown. “We will soon know if this is a pointless ambush or a fight for our lives.”
From up the road we heard the Yankee bugles and they sounded close. “Wait for the major’s order eh?”
The cavalry appeared in the distance and they were riding four abreast down the road. There was a slight dip half a mile north of our position and they would be hidden, albeit briefly, for a few moments. The major was at the end of our line. When they reached him he would give the command and, hopefully, they would be caught off guard. I was at the opposite end of the line. They would have the most warning at that end and we could expect them to try to give us a hard time. We were crouched behind the wall and could not see how many were still to come. Suddenly we heard, “Fire!” and we all stood and began firing our pistols. Not one of the blue coats was further than ten feet away and we could not miss. I heard their bugle sound. We used the same calls and it was the one to reform. The blue coats began to come back up the road. We still fired. I was on my third pistol.
Then I heard Major Beauregard yell, “D Troop charge!”
Through the thinning smoke I saw the sabres of the twenty troopers as they launched themselves at the Union cavalry. We had hurt the cavalry but not destroyed them and the twenty men were charging a hundred men. The ones they charged had been at the back of the original column and were not disorganised in any way. They took out their pistols and fired a volley at D Troop. It was as though a scythe had swept through a wheat field. The ones who reached the Union lines were surrounded by blue uniforms and they hacked and slashed as they tried to fight their way out. We had no chance to fire as our own men would have been struck. Eventually Major Beauregard and four men emerged from the melee and galloped down the road towards Major Boswell.
We had all reloaded and when the cavalry charged after our men we opened fire again. This time they knew where we were and they fired at the smoke. The walls we were using gave some protection but men still fell. Finally I heard the sound of recall and this time the Union cavalry withdrew out of sight.
“Sergeant Mulrooney, check for casualties. Reload!”
Danny stormed up to me, “That damned arrogant fool. He got fifteen good men killed for no reason. I will go and take charge of the rest of D Troop. You take charge here Jack. Harry is with the major. I don’t know if they will come again.”
“Sergeant Spinelli, get some men and get any wounded Yanks out of the lane. Get their guns and secure any horses.”
“Yes sir!”
Cecil ran up to me. “None of our lads are dead sir but there are a couple with light wounds. David is looking after them.”
“Where’s the doctor?”
“On the other side with D Troop sir.”
I put that out of my mind. He should have been with the bulk of the men, A Troop. “When Dago brings the weapons you take charge of them. Any that can’t be repaired get rid of and put the rest in either your saddlebags or the others.”
He looked insulted, “Sir, with respect, I can repair anything!”
“Of course you can, sorry, I forgot!”
“Corporal Jones, go and see what they are up to but be careful!”
“Sir!” He leapt on to his horse and galloped off. He returned fifteen minutes later by which time the road had been cleared and the wounded made safe and secured as prisoners. “Sir, they are heading for the coast road. They are trying to get round us. “
“Ride down and tell the major.” I turned to look for Carlton, “Sergeant James, get the horses, I think we may be moving.” I climbed the all and stepped into the middle of the road. “Captain Murphy, they are trying to flank us. I have informed the major. I think we might be moving.”
He waved his thanks and then I heard him organising D Troop. The bugle gave us the order and we all mounted. The Union prisoners, all thirty of them were put on either the captured horses or the horses of the dead troopers from D Troop. “Sergeant Smith, take six men and form a rearguard.” Jed saluted. I would feel safer with him half a mile behind us watching our back; he had a nose which could smell Yankee horsemen.
Danny reined in next to me. “I know we heard recall Jack, but ride up to the Major and find out what we do next.” He gestured with his thumb at D Troop. “The captain was killed and the lieutenant is with the galloping major. I can’t leave these.”
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p; “Yes sir. I’ll be right back.” I turned to Dago. “Take charge of my boys until I get back eh?”
I galloped down the road. The troop was well spread out and I found the major deep in conversation with the general. “A splendid victory, James, truly splendid. It is a shame so many of your men died.”
Major Boswell shook his head. “We lost a handful sir.”
“But I saw Major Beauregard and some wounded men galloping down the road.”
“The major led an unnecessary and fruitless sabre charge at the enemy and lost fifteen men. If he had not done so then we would have lost no men.”
“Oh I see. It has still been a great victory. We have well over a hundred prisoners.”
“Sir?”
“Yes Lieutenant Hogan?”
“We have twenty prisoners too. Do you want them all together?”
“We might as well. We have wagons and we will be moving slowly.” He looked at Major Boswell and I detected a sympathetic expression on the general’s face. “Major your two Troops are going to have to buy us time to escape.”
“We will do that. Sir, if you would tell the colonel what we are doing he can prepare another ambush.” He shook his head, “Although I think that he will already have planned that anyway.”
“None the less I will tell him. Good luck.”
After he had galloped off the major turned to me. “Right, Jack. Who is the rearguard?”
“Jed.”
“Sound man. Take First Sergeant Spinelli and the rest of the Wildcats. I want you as rearguard. You know what to do. We need to slow them up and give the colonel time to organise. I will look for another ambush point as well. Send the prisoners up to the general. We might as well get those off our hands.”
I pointed to the east. “They tried to flank us sir so I would expect them to come from that direction.”
“You are right. Good luck Jack.”
When I reached Harry with the prisoners I gave him the general’s instructions. “You had better take them to the main column and then get back to the major he will need you.”
“You know Jack the sooner you kill that bastard the better!”
I told Danny what was intended. “It makes sense but I envy you. You get the Wildcats and I get the rest. You have the luck of the devil you know!”
“They say it’s the luck of the Irish so I must have your share too. Wildcats to me!” They galloped up with grins on their faces. They fought as the 1st Virginia but in their hearts they were still Wildcats. “Right boys, we are the rearguard. First Sergeant, make sure that everyone has enough ammunition.” I pointed to the dead Yankees. “Some of these will have some. I’ll go and get Jed.”
Jed was half a mile up the road. He looked as calm as a South Carolina sunrise. “Not a sign of them sir.”
“I know. I think they are riding parallel to us. Some will be on the coast road and some will be in the hills. They will try to get us in a pincer movement. We are the rearguard and we have to slow them up. The major is laying an ambush and it is the Wildcats who are at the back.”
“Then the general has no worries at all. Does he sir?”
There were just fifteen of the Wildcats left but I felt happier than I had for many a month. “Davy you and Jimmy ride up those hills to the west. Aaron and Wilkie ride to the coast. I want to know where they are and how many of them. Keep out of sight and just get a rough number.”
We rode down the road at a steady pace. The fact that we had heard no firing or sounds of battle was reassuring. Then Davy and Jimmy rode in like the whole Union Army was behind them. “They got ahead of us sir. There is a regiment and they are planning on attacking the major.” He pointed to a column of thin smoke a mile and a half ahead. “There is a small settlement yonder. No more’n two or three houses. The major has made a barricade. The Union cavalry is out of sight and they are forming a line. I think they intend to charge.”
There was the sound of hooves and we all grabbed our guns. Aaron and Wilkie rode in. “Sir, there is a regiment of Yankee cavalry they are two miles that way and they are head west real quick sir.”
I had to think quickly and the only idea which came into my head was surprise. Do the one thing that was unexpected. “Right boys. We ride in a column of fours. When I give the word I want you all to yell orders as though you are all captains leading a troop each. We charge through the cavalry and jump the barricade.”
Dago grinned, “I like it! Sir, if you don’t mind me saying so, but you are mad as a fish!”
“Thank you First Sergeant, I’ll take that as a compliment. Now let’s ride.”
We rode swiftly down the road. I counted on the fact that the drumming of their hooves would drown out the sound of ours. I saw them half a mile ahead and then the road dipped and we lost sight of them. “Draw pistols. Ready!” As they came into view forty yards in front of us I yelled, “2nd Virginia charge! Yee Haw!”
The others all yelled and called out different regiments. I began firing as fast as I could. I did not bother to aim. I just fired at the mass of blue before me. The Union horsemen were confused and the ones at the back had not drawn weapons. We were firing at unprepared men. I drew my second pistol and began firing into both sides as we cut a swathe through the troopers. Copper barrelled into a horse whose rider was trying to turn her and both rider and horse went down in a crumpled heap. I heard the crunch of bones breaking as Copper’s hooves trampled them down. Suddenly I was through and I saw the barricade thirty yards away. “Yee haw!” Copper leapt cleanly over the top and landed on the other side. I reined her in and sought the Major. “Sir, there is another regiment coming. They are minutes behind. Let’s get the hell out of here!”
“1st Virginia Scouts mount! Bugler, sound the retreat.”
Jed reined in next to me. “We lost Jack Jones.”
“Everyone else?”
“They made it!”
“Good, let’s escape their trap before they realise we were only a handful of men and not another regiment.”
We needed no further urging. Unless they tried to jump the barricade we would have a head start and I prayed that the colonel was up ahead and had a couple of aces up his sleeve. Our problem was our tired horses and we dared not try to gallop. Dago must have had a stiff neck as he was constantly turning around to watch for pursuers.
We could see the place we had left the colonel but of him there was no sign. However further up the road, in the distance we could see the lumbering wagons and the cavalry. The major led us towards the road junction. Suddenly the colonel stepped out from behind the fence.
“I am delighted that you have made it major. If you would be so good as to dismount?”
I could see that the major was perplexed. “A Troop dismount.”
“I can see that you are confused. I want the enemy to think that you are too tired to fight.” He turned to a sergeant standing close by. “Sergeant Wilkinson, ride up the road and watch for the enemy. When you see their scouts then return here.” The sergeant sprang on to the back of his horse and galloped up the road. He had a fresh horse. “When the good sergeant returns we will make it look as though you will look as though you are walking back to Kelly’s Ford. When they appear you will, of course try to mount and flee. Do it badly please. You will ride a little way down the road and we will ambush them.” He waved his arm at the fences of the crossroads. “You did not notice that these fences were not here when we arrived. I have had the men stealing them from around here and the two companies are on both sides.” The major smiled at last. “By the way you have done well and do not worry about Major Beauregard, we will deal with him later. Let us just concentrate on extraditing this regiment from, how many regiments are pursuing you?”
“About three or four.”
“Well then three or four regiments. It should make quite a tale if we succeed eh? Now tell your men what we are about. We do not want them in the dark do we?”
When the major moved off to speak with the other men I asked
, “Sir, if we enfilade them from both sides of the road is there not a danger that we will hit our own men?” I suddenly realised I was telling a colonel he had made a mistake. “I am sorry sir. It is not my place.”
“No, Lieutenant Hogan, it shows a sound military mind. It would mean we would kill our own men but I will have the men echeloned so they are firing down the road. We still have crossfire but it is the enemy who will be in the maelstrom of lead. Now join your men. I want A Troop to add their fire to the ambush. The enemy must think that General Fitzhugh is attacking with his whole brigade.”
I stood at the rear with Dago and Danny. “We had better ensure that the men have reloaded. This could get quite hot although how the colonel expects to turn back over a thousand men with two hundred I do not know.”
“Ah well Jack you are showing your lack of education. There are over eighty troopers you have not accounted for.”
“Who is that?”
“Us.”
“Sir, with due respect the men have been fighting and riding all day. Can we expect them to stand again? We are the cheese in the mousetrap.”
“I am surprised at you Lucky Jacky,” the major’s voice came from behind me, “you of all people should know that you can defeat many times your number if you are well led and have resolve. I know that we have resolve and,“ he pointed to the colonel, “and we are certainly well led.”
“Sorry sir. You are right.”
His voice became softer, “It is all right, Jack. It must be hard for you to have the major so close. He is a constant reminder of what he did to your family. You are bearing it better than I would.” Little did he know that the Englishman was rarely from my dark thoughts of murder and retribution.
We heard the galloping of B Troop’s sergeant and the major nodded. “Right boys ready yourselves. Remember we have to look as bad as Yankees here. Make a mess of mounting and move off slowly. When I give you the word then turn and give them everything you have. We have finished running! Here we stand.” I knew that we could not run any more. The best we could do would be to walk back to Kelly’s Ford. This was the easiest chance the Yankees had to finish us off. I saw, as the major did, the first of the Union cavalry trotting along the road. “Right boys, mount, badly!”