660 "COLE'S CAVALRY," FIRST REGIMENT POTOMAC HOME BRIGADE CAVALRY.

by the 34th Massachusetts Infantry and 10th Maryland Infantry. The battalion repeat-
edly charged the retreating columns of the enemy, who were compelled to stop, form line
of battle, brigade front, and drive back the battalion, only to be again vigorously
attacked in turn. Only at one time during the entire day did the infantry support reach
the battlefield, when the enemy again retreated in haste with their prisoners.

"Cole's Cavalry" suffered severely this day in killed and wounded.

In December, 1863, Cole's Cavalry formed a part of the raiding column who were
ordered to demonstrate down the Shenandoah Valley towards Staunton, whilst another
co-operating column of cavalry passed on beyond their right flank to the James river
and cut the railroad between Lynchburg, Va., and Bristol, Tennessee, to prevent rein-
forcements being sent from Lee's Army to reinforce Longstreet's Army, then besieging
Knoxville, Tenn. During the fifteen days' midwinter raid, ' 'Cole's Cavalry" suffered
severe loss, but rendered invaluable service during these successful movements.

On the 10th day of January, 1864, Cole's Battalion, whilst occupying an isolated
camp on a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Loudon Heights, Va., were attacked
at midnight, on a bitter cold winter night, by Mosby's Guerrilla Battalion, augmented
by volunteers from Lee's Army. With the firm conviction that they would make a rich
capture, a most sanguinary battle ensued, principally a hand to hand fight, in which
the battalion suffered severely in killed and wounded, but inflicted greater loss upon
the enemy, whom they drove with confusion from the camp, then mounted and vigor-
ously pursued the enemy.

This battle evoked the following order of congratulation from the General-in-Chief
of the Armies of the United States, viz.:

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 20, 1864.
Brig-General B. F. KELLY,

Cumberland.

General:—I have just received, through your headquarters, Major Henry A.
Cole's report of the repulse of Mosby's attack upon his camp, on Loudon Heights,
on the 10th inst.

Major Cole and his command, the Battalion of P. H. B. Cavalry, Maryland
Volunteers, deserve high praise for their gallantry in repelling the rebel assault.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,
(Signed) H. W. HALLECK, General in-Chief.

In the latter part of January, 1864, the battalion pushed through Winchester to
Romney and Moorfield, in Western Virginia, to assist in repelling a large raiding party
of the enemy's cavalry.

On the 13th day of February, 1864, the battalion re-enlisted for the war, and was
granted a thirty days' furlough. The battalion marched to Frederick, Md., where they
received an ovation from the loyal people of Western Maryland. They were met at the
outskirts of the city by the corporate authorities and a military escort, and, amidst the
ringing of the church and fire bells, waving of flags and cheers of the people, conducted
to the City Hall, where they were formally welcomed home by Justice Nelson, of the
Supreme Court, and accorded a banquet.