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flank, and my advance confronted by more than double my own number, the perils of my situation can be estimated.
Lieutenant Pennington at once placed his battery in position and opened a brisk fire, which was responded to by the guns of the enemy.
The
Major-General commanding the cavalry corps at this moment rode to the advance; to him I proposed, with my command, to cut through the force in my front, and thus open a way for the entire command to the river.
My proposition was approved, and I received orders to take my available force and push forward, leaving the Sixth and Seventh Michigan cavalry to hold the force in rear in check.
I formed the Fifth Michigan cavalry on my right, in column of battalions; on my left, I formed the First Michigan in column of squadrons.
After ordering them to draw their sabres, I informed them that we were surrounded, and all we had to do was to open a way with our sabres.
They showed their determination and purpose by giving three hearty cheers.
At this moment, the band struck up the inspiring air, “
Yankee Doodle,” which excited the enthusiasm of the entire command to the highest pitch, and made each individual member feel as if he was a host in himself.
Simultaneously, both regiments moved forward to the attack.
It required but a glance at the countenances of the men to enable me to read the settled determination with which they undertook the work before them.
The enemy, without waiting to receive the onset, broke in disorder and fled.
After a series of brilliant charges, during which the enemy suffered heavily, we succeeded in reaching the river, which we crossed in good order.
From the eleventh to the fifteenth instant, my command was employed in picketing and guarding the flank and rear of the army.
On the afternoon of the fifteenth, the brigade being posted on the
Bull Run battle ground, I detailed
Major Kidd with his regiment, the Sixth Michigan cavalry, to reconnoitre the position and strength of the enemy in the vicinity of
Gainesville.
The reconnoissance was entirely satisfactory, and showed the enemy to be in considerable force at that point.
Sunday, the eighteenth instant, at three P. M., the entire division was ordered to move on the pike leading from
Groveton to
Warrenton.
The First brigade moved on the pike, the Second moved on a road to the left of and parallel to the pike, but soon encountered the enemy, and drove him as far as
Gainesville, where the entire command bivouacked during the night.
The First Vermont cavalry, under
Colonel Sawyer, deserves great credit for the rapidity with which they forced the enemy to retire.
At daybreak on the morning of the nineteenth, my brigade took the advance and skirmished with the enemy's cavalry from
Gainesville to
Buckland; at the latter point I found him strongly posted upon the south bank of
Broad Run.
The position for his artillery was well chosen.
After a fruitless attempt to effect a crossing in his front, I succeeded in turning his left flank so completely as to force him from his position.
Having driven him more than a mile from the stream, I threw out my pickets, and ordered my men to prepare their dinner.
From the inhabitants of
Buckland I learned that the forces of the enemy with whom we had been engaged were commanded by
General J. E. B. Stuart in person, who, at the time of our arrival at that point, was seated at the dinner-table, eating; but, owing to my successful advance, he was compelled to leave his dinner untouched — a circumstance not regretted by that portion of my command into whose hands it fell.
The First brigade took the advance.
At this point I was preparing to follow, when information reached me that the enemy was advancing on my left from the direction of
Greenwich.
I had scarcely time to place my command in position to resist an attack from that direction before the enemy's skirmishers appeared.
Pennington's battery opened upon them, while the Sixth Michigan cavalry, under
Major Kidd, was thrown forward and deployed as skirmishers.
One gun of
Pennington's battery, supported by the First Vermont cavalry, was placed on my extreme left.
The First Michigan cavalry, under
Major Brewer, acted as a reserve, and as a support for the remaining five guns of the battery.
The Fifth Michigan cavalry, under
Colonel Mann, were engaged in the woods on my right.
At first I was under the impression that the skirmishers were composed of dismounted cavalry, but later developments convinced me that it was a very superior force of infantry that now confronted me. After completing his dispositions for attack, the enemy advanced upon me. In doing so, he exposed a line of infantry of more than a mile in extent; at the same time he opened a heavy fire upon me from his artillery.
Pennington's battery, aided by the Sixth Michigan cavalry, poured a destructive fire upon the enemy as he advanced, but failed to force him back.
A desperate effort was made to capture my battery.
Pennington continued to fire until the enemy was within twenty yards of his guns.
He was then compelled to limber up and retire to the north bank of
Broad Run.
The other portions of the command followed.
The First Michigan cavalry was intrusted with the duty of covering the movement — a task which was gallantly performed.
My command being very exhausted, I retired to the vicinity of
Gainesville, where I encamped for the night.
Major Clark, Fifth Michigan cavalry, was detached from his regiment with one battalion.
When the command retired to the north bank of
Broad Run, he, with a small portion of his battalion, became separated from the rest of the command, and were captured by the enemy.
Computing my losses from the ninth instant, I find them to be as follows:
| Officers. | Men. | Total. |
| Killed, | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Wounded, | 2 | 41 | 48 |
| Missing, | 8 | 154 | 162 |
| | | |
| Aggregate, | | | 214 |
Before closing my report, I desire to make honorable mention of the highly creditable manner in which both officers and men of my command
