184

CHAPTER IV.

Except some slight skirmishing at William sport, the First Maryland was not
engaged after passing Hagerstown, and upon reaching Virginia it was ordered
to Winchester to recruit.

It was here Company F, under command of the gallant Schwartz, joined the
battalion. This company was a great acquisition, and was finely officered.

The battalion remained at Winchester ten days, when it was ordered to join
Fitzhugh Lee, whose cavalry brigade was then encamped near Leetown. On the
promotion of General Lee to the command of a division, a short time after, the
battalion was assigned to the brigade commanded by General Lomax.

From this time until the 11th of October, 1863, the battalion was engaged in
picket duty, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy.

A few days prior to the nth, General Robert E. Lee began his movement to
gain the rear of Meade's army, then confronting along the line of the
Rappahannock.

On the 9th General Fitzhugh Lee broke camp, and at 3 o'clock on the morning
of the nth of October his division moved toward the Rappahannock, Lomax's
Brigade marching toward Morton's Ford, whilst Wickham's Brigade marched
to Raccoon Ford.

General J. E. B. Stuart personally superintended the movement of the whole
cavalry column higher up the river, advancing by way of Culpeper Court House.
These dispositions were designed to cover General Lee's movements, by interposing
the cavalry between his line of march and the enemy.

Before Lomax's Brigade reached Morton's Ford reports from pickets repre-
sented the enemy as advancing in force, and upon reaching the river a heavy
column was found occupying both sides. The collision between the hostile forces
was abnipt and sudden, for to both it was unexpected. In a very few minutes
the First Maryland was formed and vigorously attacked the enemy. The check,
however, was only momentary, but long enough to enable Lomax to make some
disposition of his troops.

The battle soon became general, and continued for more than three hours.
Lomax did not have a single piece of artillery, whilst the enemy was well supplied.
At length, by a sweeping charge of the whole line, the enemy were compelled to
retire toward the river, and the struggle was over at this point. About half way
down to the river's bank their cavalry turned and covered the retreat of the main
body by making a gallant charge that struck the First Maryland Battalion, which
held the extreme left of the line, but it was handsomely repulsed, the brave officer
who led it falling mortally wounded in their midst.