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Srxry-THirD REGIMENT. 583

readily and quickly assented. And we slowly began that
memorable retreat, so puzzling to our men, along the turn-
pike via New Baltimore towards Warrenton. We kept on
going backwards, just enough resistance being made to keep
Kilpatrick from suspecting Stuart’s purpose. Kilpatrick
grew bolder and actually boasted to citizens, on the road, that
he would “catch Stuart before he got to Warrenton.” We
fell back faster and the men along our lines asked wonder-
ingly what General Stuart could mean by retreating so and
almost no fighting. But Stuart knew and that was enough.
He must keep his own secret now. He was listening intently
as we neared Chester Hill, only two and a half miles from
Warrenton, and only a small line of our skirmishers fighting
and falling back behind our retreating column. Suddenly
there is one loud “boom” after another of artillery toward
Buckland, which told Stuart that Lee was in their rear. Im-
mediately we wheeled, under Stuart’s own orders, and aston-
ished the enemy with a ferocious attack, Gordon’s Brigade,
including the Sixty-third, anxious for the fray, was in the
centre, on the pike, and Young and Rosser on their flanks.
They fought stubbornly at first but nothing could resist the
impetuous charges of the Sixty-third and other North Caro-
linians and those boasting columns broke in confusion. They
soon learned that Lee was in their rear and their rout became
complete. For miles and miles, back through New Balti-
more and on to Buckland and across Broad Run to Hay Mar-
ket, we pursued them relentlessly and almost resistlessly,
“the horses at full speed the whole distance.” We captured
hundreds of prisoners and eight wagons, including General
Custer’s headquarters wagon with all his personal effects and
official papers, and one of their writers at the time described
it as “the deplorable spectacle of 7,000 cavalry dashing rid-
erless, haltless and panic-stricken” through the ranks of their
infantry. The Eighteenth Pennsylvania, too, was in that
panic and rout. The Sixty-third rode and cut and slashed
into their ranks furiously, and they sadly learned as the Sixty-
third joyously found that “there is retribution in history.”
Stuart wrote General Lee: “I am justified in declaring the
rout of the enemy at Buckland the most signal and complete