Part 23 (1/2)

Stuart explained his design in three words:--

”Are you ready?”

”All ready, general!”

And Young's sabre flashed from the scabbard.

At the same instant the crash of carbines in front, indicated Gordon's charge.

Young darted to the head of his column.

”Charge!” he shouted.

And leading the column, he descended like a thunderbolt on the enemy's flank.

As he did so, Gordon's men rushed with wild cheers into the gorge.

Shouts, carbine-shots, musket-shots, yells resounded. In five minutes the Federal infantry, some three hundred in number, were scattered in headlong flight, leaving the ground strewed with new muskets, whose barrels shone like burnished silver.

”Good!” Stuart exclaimed, as long lines of prisoners appeared, going to the rear, ”a fair beginning, at least!”

And he rode on rapidly.

V.

THE CHASE.

The cavalry pressed forward without halting and reached the hills above James City--a magniloquent name, but the ”city” was a small affair--a mere village nestling down amid an amphitheatre of hills.

On the opposite range we saw the enemy's cavalry drawn up; and, as we afterward learned, commanded by General Kilpatrick.

They presented a handsome spectacle in the gay autumn suns.h.i.+ne; but we did not attack them. Stuart's orders were to protect the march of Ewell from observation; and this he accomplished by simply holding the Federal cavalry at arm's-length. So a demonstration only was made.

Skirmishers advanced, and engaged the enemy. The whole day thus pa.s.sed in apparent failure to drive the Federals.

A single incident marked the day. Stuart had taken his position, with his staff and couriers, on a hill. Here, with his battle-flag floating, he watched the skirmishers,--and then gradually, the whole party, stretched on the gra.s.s, began to doze.

They were to have a rude waking. I was lying, holding my bridle, half asleep, when an earthquake seemed to open beneath me. A crash like thunder accompanied it. I rose quickly, covered with dust. A glance explained the whole. The enemy had directed a gun upon the tempting group over which the flag rose, and the percussion-sh.e.l.l had fallen and burst in our midst.

Strangest of all, no one was hurt.

Stuart laughed, and mounted his horse.

”A good shot!” he said, ”look at Surry's hat!” which, on examination, I found covered half an inch deep with earth.

In fact, the sh.e.l.l had burst within three feet of my head--was a ”line shot,” and with a little more elevation, would have just reached me.

Then, exit Surry! in a most unmilitary manner, by the bursting of a percussion-sh.e.l.l.

At nightfall the enemy was still in position, and Stuart had not advanced.