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of his night's experience will be found of thrilling interest. It is taken from
McClellan's "Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry " :

On the evening of the 4th of July, 1863, as Lee's army was on the retreat from Gettys-
burg, I was ordered to place a picket on the Emmittsburg road near Monterey. Selecting
Sergeant Sam Spencer and six men for the post, the rest of my company, under Lieutenants
Cook and Blackiston, were sent foraging. The advance picket had been on duty but a short
time, when I was notified of the advance of a large body of Federal cavalry and artillery
from the direction of Emmittsburg. I immediately returned to Ewell's wagon train, which
was coming into the road in my rear, and going down the road half a mile, stopped the
wagons from coming farther, and started those in advance at a trot, so that, should the
enemy break through my picket, they would find no wagons in the road. In doing this I
came across a Lieutenant of a North Carolina battery, who had but one gun and only two
rounds of ammunition. With this he galloped up the road to my picket; and, placing him
in position, I directed him to put both charges in his gun and await orders. Sergeant
Spencer was placed in rear with five men, while I advanced down the road, accompanied by
Private Edward Thomas, until I met the head of the enemy's column. It was then dusk and
raining; and as we wore our gum coats the Federal cavalry failed to recognize us. Without
making any demonstration, we turned and retreated before them at a walk, shielding the gun
as much as possible as we neared it. As soon as we passed the gun the Lieutenant fired into
the head of the column. Taking advantage of the halt and confusion which followed this
fire, I charged with my little party, in all only eight mounted men, and succeeded in driving
them back for more than a mile, until they reached their artillery.

From the shouting and firing among the retreating enemy we concluded that they had
become panic-stricken and were fighting among themselves.

The firing brought up Lieutenant Blackiston with the rest of my company; and
dismounting the men, we formed line in some undergrowth on one side of the road.

After fully an hour we heard the enemy advancing, this time with more caution and
with dismounted skirmishers thrown out on each side of the road Lying on the ground, we
reserved our fire until they were within ten or fifteen paces of us. when we gave them a
volley which caused another precipitate retreat. I now withdrew my men to another
position, and formed them dismounted on either side of the road. Sergeant Spencer had
charge of one squad and Sergeant Wilson of the other. Lieutenant Blackiston had charge
of the horses and prisoners in the rear. Kilpatrick now commanded a general advance with
mounted and dismounted men and with artillery, firing at every step, which to us was rather
amusing, as we were about a mile distant and lying snugly on the ground. About midnight
he reached Monterey, and opened a tremendous fire on us with artillery and dismounted
men, to which we made but little answer. In the meantime the wagons had commenced to
run in on the road in my rear, and I again went back on the Gettysburg road and stopped
them. They were soon started again, and on going back to ascertain the cause I was