224

As soon as the day gave sufficient light, the battle opened fiercely, and all
thought an engagement had commenced which was to prove the most desperate
and terrible of the war.

General Fitz Lee's Division of cavalry, now under command of Brigadier-
General Munford (General Fitz Lee being at the headquarters of the army),
moved through Appomattox Court House, and formed in line of battle on the
right of the road about half a mile beyond that place. The halt was brief, and
it moved in column obliquely to the right and entered a heavy wood, where it soon
came in contact with the enemy.

Throwing out skirmishers to engage them, General Munford moved again to
the right oblique until they were again struck, when more skirmishers were
thrown out, the first having fallen to the rear, and these movements were continued
until he found a weaker place in the enemy's line, and made good his passage to
the Lynchburg road.

Nothing was known positively. The sounds of a severe fight were plainly
heard, and those movements of the cavalry excited much surprise and comment
among the men and officers composing the division.

At first it was thought that the intention was to get in the enemy's rear and
charge him while engaged in front with the infantry, which opinion was much
strengthened by a near approach to a battery of the enemy's in full action against
General Lee's infantry, but another detour proved its fallacy, and all were lost in
conjecture until the Lynchburg road was reached, when it became evident that the
immediate object of the movement was to reach that road, as the division at once
halted and formed on each side. From this point the masses of Grant's army
were plainly visible, standing as if on dress parade.

The firing had now ceased, and surprise at what seemed unaccountable move-
ments gave place to alarm. Surrender of the army was whispered, but was heard
with indignation by many who would not acknowledge their own fears to them-
selves, and all comment was unheeded, and by general consent it was determined
to await events in silence. We could see, indeed, on the bronzed countenances of
those veterans an anxiety too deep for words.

The First Maryland happened to be nearest to the road and to the enemy,
the men dismounted, but standing to horse — the usual precaution of skirmishers
in front having been, of course, observed. Everything was still. Not a sound
betrayed the presence of the hosts of armed men in the vicinity, and but for the
long lines of blue in sight upon the hills in front all might have been taken for a
hideous dream.

Suddenly a heavy column of cavalry, moving rapidly along Munford's front
and parallel to his line, was seen, about half a mile distant, marching toward the
road, which they presently reached, and a part of the force, still in column.