by Unknown
I checked that my rifle was loaded and slid it between two logs. In the dark the enemy would see nothing. The logs had been placed to look as though they were sawmill cast offs. I looked along the barrel and saw the scouts two hundred yards away. Wilbur had good eyes to have spotted them so early. I took my watch out and angled it so that I could read the time. It was barely six o’clock. I wondered if these scouts presaged an attack or they were doing what we would have done and evaluated a crossing. When they began to come across I knew that this was an attack. The question that crossed my mind was; was this the main attack or just a feint to draw us out?
I heard Harry yell, “Fire!”
“Only fire if the target is close to you. Don’t waste ammunition.”
I saw one scout fall and the others raced back across the river. When I heard the bugles on the opposite bank I knew this was an attack. Their first attack came in the form of a hundred men trying to force their way across the ford. They could not see us and as only a few men had fired they could not know how many defenders opposed them. “Fire only when you have a clear target. Do not waste balls.”
I aimed at the officer leading his men with his sabre held high, urging his men on. His horse reared as I fired and I merely wounded him. Their attack failed and they retreated back across the river. Ritchie turned and asked, “Is that it sir? Is it over?”
“I don’t think they will give up that easily. Just watch your front.”
After a short time another attack materialised, this time all along the river. I could see that they had the weight of numbers to enable them to try a large attack. There was a volley from them and then the river was filled with smoke and milling horses. It was impossible to see the targets and we fired blindly into the smoke. I heard Harry shout, “Cease fire!”
The smoke began to thin and I saw that they had retreated again. The problem was we were spread too thinly. We could not fire a wall of lead and a moving individual horseman was always difficult to hit. Then we heard the crack of artillery to the north. Danny and D Troop were there. They had more men but we had the easier position to defend. I glanced behind me at our two guns and wondered why they had not fired. The third attack was launched across the river and this was much as the others. They charged into the icy water and fired their revolvers, more in hope than expectation. We fired at them until the smoke hid them from view. When the cease fire was sounded and the air cleared we could see their wounded limping away from the water.
Suddenly Jimmy pointed behind us. “Sir, they are moving the guns.”
As dawn broke I could see that the guns had not fired because they were being limbered and moved. I did not have the view of the whole battlefield but I hoped that no-one had panicked and moved the guns out of fear. That would be a disaster. There was a lull which allowed us to check for casualties. There were a few cuts from wood splinters but nothing serious.
I checked my watch again and saw that it was almost seven thirty and we had been at this for almost ninety minutes. We had managed to hold them off for a long period. I wondered if this was a feint and then I saw the two guns being unlimbered on the opposite side of the river. “Well boys, we are in for a little shelling. Keep low!”
The next charge coincided with the first shots from the two guns. The major leading their attack urged his men on. I saw the officer hit by a ball but he carried on urging his men and suddenly they were across. Harry shouted, “A Troop! Retreat!”
“Right boys, keep low and keep together. We will head up the rise to where the artillery was. Jimmy, you take the rear.”
The cavalry might have made the southern bank of the Rappahannock but the trees we had felled made a barrier which would take some moving. We had bought some time. We scrambled up the bank. My men had the shortest journey and we reached the heights successfully and well ahead of our pursuers. We were out of breath but we had made it without further loss. The gunners had built breastworks and we threw ourselves behind them. I levelled my rifle and looked at the Union cavalry milling around the river bank. To my right I saw Dago and his men scrambling up the bank. They looked to have wounded with them. “Support Lieutenant Spinelli. Discourage those Yankee boys who are following him.” Our fifteen rifles bucked as we sent a wave of lead balls down the slope. We had to aim slightly higher than we would have to avoid hitting our own men but it had the desired effect and the cavalry retreated to shelter.
Wilbur said, “This is as good a spot as any sir. We can hold them here.”
I shook my head and pointed to the south. There was another lower hill and behind that the road to Brandy Station. “They can outflank us. When the captain gets here I think we will be heading back towards our camp.” The rest of A Troop’s troopers were hurling themselves over the breastworks and I could see hundreds of horsemen crossing the river and beginning the ascent of the hill.
Dago helped his men over the top. “Thanks Jack. We found ourselves outflanked. Those Rhode Island boys swam the river. I think they must have been studying us.”
“There are too many of them anyway. Sixty men can’t hold this position for long. I just hope that we gave the general enough time to organise the rest of the men. I looked at the land around us. The trouble is this isn’t cavalry country. I think we will all be fighting on foot today and that suits the Yankees. They have more men and more cannons.”
As soon as Harry clambered across the logs I could see that his men had some casualties too. He shook his head. “We can’t hold them here. We will head back to the camp. Jack, your men are in the best condition. You will be the rearguard.”
“Yes sir.”
“Let’s get moving. The sooner we reach camp the sooner we will have some support.”
They began to move out and I spread my men into a semicircle facing the river. “Pair up so that you can support each other. One man fires at the enemy while the other retreats. Keep leapfrogging each other. Ritchie, you are with me.” I knelt and aimed. There was no one coming up the hill yet but I was ready. “Right, run!” As he ran I saw a blue kepi appear over the breastwork. I fired and heard a scream. That would slow them down.
“Run sir!”
I turned and ran. Ritchie was about a hundred yards behind me and I could see that I was the last man. As I reached him he fired. “Go!” I turned and saw that the Yankees had dismounted and Ritchie had wounded one. The rest were lying down. I knelt and fired three spaced shots. I was just trying to slow them down to allow the rest of the troop to make camp. I hadn’t run this much in my life and I could feel the strain on my legs. The camp was still half a mile away. As I stopped and turned I noticed that the enemy advance had slowed. Our fire had made them wary and they were waiting for greater numbers.
Suddenly Major Boswell was next to me in his horse. “Come on Jack, the rest have made the camp. You and Ritchie are the last.”He held his pistol and emptied it at the distant cavalrymen. “That will keep their heads down. Now go and I will cover you.”
When I reached the camp the colonel and the Sergeant Major were marshalling the men. Danny came over to me. “Glad you made it, Jackie boy. They forced us from the post office. The general wants us over there to the west. He is forming a defensive line.”
I looked for the horses. “Where are the horses?”
“The colonel sent Carlton and some of B Troop towards Culpeper. He did not want to risk losing them.”
As soon as he said Culpeper I remembered the trial. I glanced over to the major’s tent. “Danny! The guard!” I ran towards the major’s tent. The trooper who had been guarding him lay dead outside. I drew my Colt as I ran. Danny thundered behind me. I crouched outside the tent and, when Danny reached me, threw myself to the floor of the tent. It was empty. When we checked the guard we could see that his pistol and rifle were gone. We ran back to the colonel and Major Boswell.
“Sir, Major Beauregard has killed his guard and escaped. He is armed.”
“Damn! Well we can’t do much about that now. Gentlemen take
your troopers and head north. We are going to hold the road to the north of the Brandy Station road. Good luck. Come along Sergeant Major Vaughan, we at least can ride there.” The major escorted the two older soldiers and they disappeared towards the woods.
“Column of fours and let’s try quick march eh?”
We slung our rifles and looked like infantry as we hurried after the major. We could hear the pop of rifles and pistols away to our left and I hoped that we would make it on time. If the general couldn’t hold them then the Union cavalry could ride through Virginia doing what we had been doing to them!
As we reached the line I saw General Stuart. He looked pleased to see us. “Well colonel, I came for a court martial and I have arrived for a battle eh. Your men can defend this wall. Major Pelham and myself will go and join the 5th Virginia. They are facing the artillery and Major Pelham is an expert I that field.”
Major Boswell strode down the line. “Get behind the wall boys. We aren’t as exposed as the lads were by the river. When they come this time they will face all two hundred of us.” The men all cheered. I noticed then that the colonel was sitting down and Sergeant Major Vaughan was looking concerned. A battlefield was no place for an old warrior like the colonel. I hoped that the Sergeant Major would keep him safe.
There was a rolling volley as the enemy artillery opened up. They were using shells which exploded in the air. I shuddered as I remembered what they had done to our bugler and his horse. I snuggled down a little more behind the wall. I was glad I had the security of stone in front of me.
Dago’s voice sounded, “Here they come!”
The Union cavalrymen were also dismounted and they made their way across the field. Major Boswell roared, “Fire!”
I aimed at a sergeant. The smoke from our guns hid the results of my shot. I aimed at a point I thought they would be and fired again. They were returning fire and pieces of stone flew off all around us. They were as deadly as the lead balls. Wilbur suddenly fell to the ground and I went to him. A fragment of stone had ripped open his cheek. “David!”
The sergeant lowered his gun and ran over with a dressing already in his hand. He smiled at Wilbur. “You’ll live although another inch and you would have lost your eye.”
I returned to the wall and loosed more shots at the hidden enemy. The shells were still exploding to our right. If the centre fell then we would be isolated. Major Boswell appeared at my side. “Jack, take your men and work your way around their right flank. See if you can make them think we have a whole regiment attacking. All your men have the best guns. You need to make as much noise as you can.”
“Yes sir. How will we know when to attack?”
“As soon as you get in position, you begin to fire and keep firing. If they attack you then retreat towards the railroad.” He leaned in closer. “Today we need all of you luck Jack!”
“Wilbur, you stay with Lieutenant Spinelli. Wildcats, on me.”
They gave a ‘yee haw’ and then trotted behind me as we ran along the wall. We kept as low as we could and we trailed our rifles. Suddenly the wall ended and we found the road. I peered down it and could see no one. To our left the road headed towards the railroad bridge over the Rappahannock. We had our escape route if we needed it. “Right boys, we can make good time down this road. Keep your weapons cocked but don’t fire until I tell you.” I felt better about this type of fighting; it suited me and my men better than standing in a fixed line waiting for an attack. This way our destiny was in our own hands and we relied on each other. That was the Wildcat way.
I caught a glimpse of blue ahead and I waved the men into cover to the left of the road. “Let’s see how far we can get through these trees.” The Union cavalry had their attention to their fore where they thought the whole Confederate force was. They were behind a wall and firing at our men ahead of them. I halted the men. “We need to make them think there are more of us than there are. I am not concerned with aiming, I want as much noise and as many shots as we can manage. As soon as your carbine is empty then empty your Colt.” I knew that they would all have, as I had, an extra gun in the back of their belt. “Into a line and wait for my order. When we fire make as much noise as you can.”
I lead them through the woods until we were forty yards from the right flank of the cavalry. I noticed from their standard that they were from Pennsylvania. I raised my carbine and shouted, “Fire!”
Every man yelled and cheered as we poured shot after shot into their flank. Soon we were wreathed in smoke. As soon as I was empty I took out my Colt and began to fire. When that was empty I reloaded my carbine and we fired until the barrels were too hot to touch.
Jimmy shouted, “Almost out of ammunition sir!”
I heard the chorus of the others as they confirmed their situation. We had done enough and if not we could do no more. ”Right lads, let’s get back up the road. Jimmy, you lead them.” I took out my spare Colt and waited for the men to get some way away. Three cavalrymen raced down the road with their carbines raised I fired four quick shots. Two of the men fell and the third took cover. As I ducked behind the tree a fusillade of lead crashed through the trees; thankfully well above my head. I dodged and ran through the trees, leading them away from the road. After thirty paces I turned and headed north again. I could see the trees thinning to my left and I ran that way hoping that the road was close. To my relief I found the rest of my men and they were waiting for me. “Keep going!”
Jimmy shook his head. “We don’t need to sir. They aren’t following.”
I now had a decision to make. Did I go back to the Major? We were all out of ammunition and we could do no good there. Then I remembered that Carlton and the men had taken the horses to the railroad and that was less than a mile away. “We will run to the railroad and get more ammunition then we can rejoin our friends. There’s no point going now, we would be as well throwing rocks at them.” I quickly checked the thirteen men with me. None looked injured but I knew that they could be hiding one. “Any wounds?”
Isaiah said, “I burned my hand on my barrel but it doesn’t slow me down.”
“Let’s go then.” We trotted down the road. Jimmy took the rear and I led. I still had two rounds in my Colt and that was more than most had. The railroad loomed into view and I saw the Confederate flag still flying. Even more importantly I saw the horses and the rest of our men.
Carlton looked relieved to see me. “We wondered what was going on sir. Are we winning?”
“It’s hard to say. How many men do you have here?”
“Twenty all told. Right, Isaiah, you stay here with five of the sergeant’s men. Carlton, bring the rest with us and we are going mounted this time.”
“That is a relief.”
“Is there any spare ammunition here?”
“Yes sir. The wagon over there.”
“Get your ammunition from the wagon. Mount your horses and then reload. We are going to become a regiment again! We’ll take the spare ammunition to the regiment. They will probably need it.”
Chapter 17
I now had thirty three men under my command and we were all fully armed. It felt good to be back on Copper. I always felt more comfortable when mounted. The battle was raging to our right. I decided to take us back the way we had just come. I knew that was where their flank was and we could worry them by appearing on horses.
“Column of fours. Yo!”
We rode back down the road and I held my Colt in my hand. The Pennsylvania cavalry had turned their line to face the new threat. They had gone into the woods to seek this phantom regiment which had suddenly appeared. “On my command fire your pistols in fours and then retreat to the rear.” The colonel’s Waterloo tactic might work again. “Forwards.” I lead them to within forty yards of the cavalry and then shouted. “Fire!” As soon as I had emptied my gun I yelled, “Fall back!” I took out my second Colt and then shouted, “Fire!” By the time we had done this four times the Pennsylvanians were moving backwards in face of thi
s wall of balls. We were also taking casualties I had heard the shouts as men were struck. After the last four had fired I shouted, “Fall back!”
We regrouped by the railroad line. As far as I knew the battle still hung in the balance. Carlton, rode next to me, “Well sir, what now?”
“We have done what the Major wanted. I think now is the time to rejoin him. Besides we have wounded men who need attention.” We rode down the railroad track. We knew that we held the other side of the track and we could join our own men a little easier. The Union artillery was still giving our lines a good pasting. Our two cannons still popped away but they were struggling to hold their own against superior numbers. I halted the men and led then down the slope from the railroad track towards our lines. When I reached the Sergeant Major I knew that Major Boswell would not be far away.
The troopers all turned around when we thundered back to the wall we had left a short while earlier. Major Boswell looked grim. “Good to see you Jack. The colonel isn’t so good. I think this has taken it out of him and I have taken charge.”
“I have brought some ammunition sir. We ran out and assumed some of you would have too.”
“Good. Get it distributed.”
“Sergeant, see that the troopers get their ammunition replenished. How is it going here sir?”
“Not so good. The general tried an attack with the five regiments he had. The 2nd Virginia was knocked about a bit and ran. The attack failed and they began to attack and something stopped them. They turned to face their right flank.”
“That would have been us sir. When we got the horses from the railroad we charged their flank to make them think we were a regiment. It must have worked.”
The major suddenly slammed his right fist into his left palm. “That is it! We will use the horses you brought to charge this flank. We have thirty four horses and we know our boys can ride. It might just make some of those boys you scared run. No one likes to face a charging horse.”