THE AUTHOR'S CAPTURE.
By the sudden evolution of the command, when the order was first executed, the Harris Light, which was in front, while advancing, was thrown in the rear, and was thus compelled to meet the desperate charges of the enemy in pursuit, and to defend itself as best it could from fire on the flank. Having reached a slight elevation of ground in the road, we made a stand, and for some time checked the advancing columns of the Rebels by pouring into their ranks rapid and deadly volleys from our carbines and revolvers. Stuart, who commanded in person, saw clearly that the quickest and almost only way to dislodge us was by charging upon us, and, consequently ordering thecharge, he came with a whole brigade amid deafening yells. Our men stood firmly, almost like rocks before the surging sea. We were soon engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict with the advancing columns.
In Byron's "Corsair" we find a description of the scene:
"Within a narrow ring compressed, beset,Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet,—Ah! now they fight in firmest file no more,Hemmed in—cut off—cleft down—and trampled o'er,But each strikes singly, silently, and home,And sinks outwearied rather than o'ercome,His last faint quittance rendering with his breath,Till the blade glimmers in the grasp of death."
"Within a narrow ring compressed, beset,Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet,—Ah! now they fight in firmest file no more,Hemmed in—cut off—cleft down—and trampled o'er,But each strikes singly, silently, and home,And sinks outwearied rather than o'ercome,His last faint quittance rendering with his breath,Till the blade glimmers in the grasp of death."
At this important juncture my faithful horse was shot under me, and we both fell to the ground. Meanwhile our little party, outnumbered ten to one, was hurled back by the overpowering shock of the Rebels, who rode directly over me. Injured somewhat by the falling of my horse, and nearly killed by the charging squadrons, which one after the other trod upon me, I lay in the mud for some time quite insensible. How long I lay there I cannot tell; but when I returned to consciousness the scene had changed. I was in the hands of a Rebel guard, who were carrying me hastily from the hard-fought field. My arms had been taken from me, and my pockets rifled of all their valuables, including my watch. I was unceremoniously borne to the vicinity of an old building, where I met a number of my comrades, who with me had shared the misfortunes of the day. And thus ended three years and more of camping and campaigning with the Harris Light.
What I saw and endured, thought and experienced, during a little more than a year among the Rebels, in several of their loathsome prisons, may be found recorded in a volume I published in 1865, entitled "The Capture, Prison-Pen, and Escape."
Transcriber's NoteSome inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document has been preserved.Typographical errors corrected in the text:Page xii Hull's changed to Hall'sPage 21 pic-nic changed to picnicPage 41 Leesburgh changed to LeesburgPage 41 patroling changed to patrollingPage 73 Fredericksburgh changed to FredericksburgPage 74 Gordonville changed to GordonsvillePage 99 Pleasanton changed to PleasontonPage 100 Pleasanton changed to PleasontonPage 175 Bristerburg changed to BristersburgPage 182 bad changed to hadPage 189 mast changed to mustPage 193 Pleasanton changed to PleasontonPage 238 Heintzleman's changed to Heintzelman'sPage 241 Stahil's changed to Stahel'sPage 257 shrapnell changed to shrapnelPage 263 Hallech changed to HalleckPage 300 Leesburgh changed to Leesburg
Transcriber's Note