But we lay that night on hatchers run, content. We had felt the enemy, that day, and he had fallen back at our touch. It was 30 March, and we only waited for the break of day to go at him and “smash them up “ as our beloved chief had commanded.
It was hardly daylight when our picket from the front reported to me that the enemy’s axes could be distinctly heard in the woods beyond, as if he was barricading and preparing to hold his ground. The federals made no attempt to advance when they discovered that my troops still held the road on their front, but when I was ready to move out General Fitz Lee came to the head of my column and gave me instructions to move to the front and get into position. He wished me to hold the road to Dinwiddie courthouse while he would take W. H. F. Lee’s and rosser’s division, supported by general Pickett’s infantry, and by a concealed route attempt to reach little five Forks west of chamberlains run. This stream he expected to cross at Fitzgerald‘s and Danse’s for, and then turning to the left, she would attack the federal cavalry and Franken rare. I was to attack the enemy in my front as soon as I heard the rattle of Fitz Lee’s guns In sufficient volume to indicate a serious engagement and was to force a junction with his command. After giving this order, General Lee. left me waving his hand as he rode away and adding in a manner not usual with him:

“Farewell, we will meet again in the Paradise of the faithful – – or somewhere else more convenient and handy. “
And the battle did not begin open in earnest for many hours, and I, knowing that the whole of Sheridan’s Cavalry was in my front, regarded Fitz Lee’s orders as a little bilious. However, after some slight skirmishing, I dismounted my man, and took position, ready to attack as soon as I heard the expected firing; but, we waited long and anxiously for the sound of those promised guns. Hour after hour passed, and the day was far spent before we heard anything that could be called severe firing. The federals, indeed, seemed to have anticipated such a move upon the part of Pickett and General Lee for before our troops reached the fords, they had not only occupied them, but were prepared to defend them. At last, however, the artillery guns of the gallant Pegram began to belch their thunderous valleys, and I realized that the time had come for us to move in.

The sound of the bugle from my headquarters was our code, intern, but each regimental bugle along my line. The second brigade took the advance, as Payne’s had done the day before, and the whole division nobly responded to the bugles call. Among my gallant officers were such heroes as captain Connelly, Litchfield, and Billmire of the First Virginia; Captains James Breckinridge and William Steptoe of the second Virginia; Captains John Lamb, and JB Jones of the third Virginia; captain Joe Hobson of the famous Powhatan troop; captain Alex Paine of the black horse, and Captain Billy Hill, and Lieutenant John a Holman of the Culpepper troop of the fourth cavalry acting as sharpshooters with their squadrons dismounted. I had as fine a body of practiced rifleman, as could be found in the army and Payne’s brigade under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Grimsley acquitted itself with its accustomed splendid dash.
With the first clear cry of the bugles my brave fellows dashed forward with the “rebel” yell firing steadily, and surely. In a very short while we had “gotten a move“on those other fellows in front of us. The country in front was broken, crossed with branches and ravines, and very swampy in places. It was patched with briars and bamboo, clustered with alder thickets and stumps of stunted old sealed pines. Owing to such obstructions, we could see but a short distance in front, and the order was given to press obliquely to the right in the direction of the sound of Pickett’s guns. This was done, but owing to the rugged face of the country it was about as difficult to keep alignmemt as it would be to keep in touch a number of greasy ivory balls on the billiard table. My line necessarily became somewhat disconnected, but it penetrated obliquely in between the troops of the federal cavalry under generals, Devon and Davies, isolated them from their support and compelled them to retreat in the direction of the Boydton plank Road of the Boyd and Broad, leading to Dinwiddie courthouse, which we passed on my left. At the same time, the third Virginia regiment connected with our infantry on our right rear, into an open field, where the enemies horse artillery had greatly annoyed us. General fits Lee in his report has this to say I was a fight:
Mantra, in command of my old division, hold our lines in front of the enemies position, whilst the remaining two divisions of cavalry, proceeding the infantry, move by conceded Woodard Road to turn and attacked her flight. Short stream strongly defended at its Crossing, it was finally carried presented an unexpected obstacle to the sudden attack contemplated. It was finally carries however with loss in WA chef lees in Rogers divisions. Mumford, attacking about the same time, also successfully carry page 12ends the temporary works, throwing up in his front, and buy a Gallant, advance again, united his come in with the other divisions. Darkness put an end to any further advances in advance. “
……
.
let that pass… When the battle in Scots Fields was over instead of Sheridan, being around in the route, right of Robert E, Lee’s army – – as that as Gwen had planned – – we were in ten miles is rear in general grants left with Sheridan calling loudly for help.

right here, in the face of victory, came the first rift in the page 13 ends

In the chain of things that should have been. We stopped! General Pickett wrote in his official report:
The enemy was severely punished half an hour more of daylight, and we could have gotten the courthouse. “

This, of course, is mere conjecture – – but why did we halt? We had shared in full retreat. He had been driven three or 4 miles and run head long have I had long run in general pickers orders from general RE Lee, as stated by fitly word to drive him out and break him up. It was a golden opportunity; an opportunity egregiously lost in the records has the records will show. I believe that, as I believe now, that it could’ve been done. The order from our beloved commander was to attack Sheridan and drive him away from Dinwiddie courthouse. General pick us excuse, is half an hour more of daylight.
Every step, Pickett advanced meant just that much ground Sheridan had to abandon; and she was now crying loudly for help – – which could not possibly have reached him in time to be of any use to him. Hi, if General Pickett had only pressed forward and kept pressing forward! he was sent there for attacking. But he stopped and liberated; he hesitated, waiting for daylight, and the opportunity was lost. That proper officer – – of whom General Longstreet has written, but whose name he has not had not called – – was not there to meet the occasion Page 14 ends