Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 7.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[314] to-day with the gallant debris of my much-loved regiment--four officers and twenty-seven men.

My colors did not fall into the hands of the enemy, but were destroyed when they could not be saved, the color-bearer being captured.

I can praise no one more than another, but I desire to call. your attention to the gallant conduct of all the officers and men of the First Rhode Island cavalry.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that about five o'clock P. M., on the evening of the seventeenth instant, I was sent from Middleburgh, where the regiment was then engaged with the enemy, to carry a despatch to General Kilpatrick at Aldie, accompanied by two men. I first attempted to proceed by the main road, but was halted and fired upon by a body of the enemy, who said they were the Fourth Virginia cavalry. I then returned toward Middleburgh, and leaving the road, attempted to make my way across the the country. I found the fields and woods in every direction full of bodies of the enemy; by exercising the greatest care I succeeded in making my way through them to Little River; here I encountered five of the enemy, and forced them to give me passage. Following the river down, I struck the main road about one mile from Aldie, and by inquiry, I learned that our pickets were on that road. I reached Aldie and delivered my despatch to General Kilpatrick at nine P. M.

General Kilpatrick informed me that his brinade was so worn out that he could not send any reenforcements to Middleburgh, but that he would report the situation of our regiment to General Gregg. Returning, he said that General Gregg had gone to state the facts to General Pleasanton, and directed me to remain at Aldie until he heard from General Pleasanton. I remained, but received no further orders.

The fight at Aldie, on Wednesday, which was noticed briefly yesterday, was far more desperate than was at first supposed here. The cavalry engaged on our side were the Second New-York, Sixth Ohio, First Massachusetts, and Fourth New-York, under command of Colonel Kilpatrick, and the First Maine, of Colonel J. J. Gregg's brigade; and a portion of General Fitz-Hugh Lee's brigade, under command of Colonel Rousseau, on the part of the confederates. Colonel Kilpatrick's command was leading the advance of our cavalry corps, moving from Fairfax Court-House to Aldie.

The rebel force (cavalry and mounted infantry) had come from the direction of Snicker's Gap, arriving at Aldie some two hours before our force reached that point; and the rebels getting warning of the approach of Kilpatrick, posted themselves in commanding positions, and with their mounted sharp-shooters placed behind stone walls ready to pour a murderous fire upon our advancing column. Kilpatrick charged upon the rebel advance, and drove them furiously through the town, the rebels making a stand on the other side, where was posted a rebel battery of four guns on the road to Ashby's Gap; and the rebel cavalry posted themselves along the wooded hills and stone walls toward Snicker's Gap.

Here desperate charges were made by our own and the rebel cavalry alternately, and after a fight of over three hours, and with varying success, the rebel force seemed to be gaining some advantage, when the First Maine regiment, Colonel onel J. J. Gregg's brigade for that purpose, came up to the contest, and by a desperate charge against the rebel battery of four guns and a regiment of mounted Mississippi infantry, the tide was turned in our favor, and the rebels were routed with loss — the horses galloping over the field riderless, and all of the foe that had not been killed being captured.

But the victory was dearly bought by the loss of the gallant Colonel Douty, w ho fell mortally wounded. The fight lasted four hours, and some officers who participated and who have been in other fights say it was most desperate, such cutting and slashing with sabres not having occurred before in our encounters with rebel cavalry. As soon as the rebels Gap, and as they were in the direction of Ashby's Gap, and as they were going toward the latter, the First Rhode Island cavalry, Colonel Duffie, which had advanced through Thoroughfare Gap, intercepted the retreating rebels at Middleburgh, five miles from Aldie, and made a charge upon their rear, compelling the rebels to move yet faster toward Ashby's Gap, the Rhode Island boys following them up.

Colonel Kilpatrick heard from the latter that they were still fighting at seven o'clock P. M., but no subsequent information as to the result of the contest at that point has yet been received.

The force thus engaged was the advance of the rebel General Stuart's cavalry, who, it is alleged by prisoners, was advancing thus through Aldie with the expectation of making a new raid.

Our loss is estimated at two hundred in killed, wounded, and missing. We captured over one hundred prisoners and a battle-flag belonging to the Fifth Virginia cavalry.

Among the killed, besides Colonel Douty, were Captain G. J. Summatt, of the First Maine, and Lieutenants D. Whittaker and Martinson, of the Second New-York. The remains of the above were brought to this city in charge of Lieutenant E. W. Whittaker, (brother of Lieutenant W. killed,) aid to Colonel Kilpatrick, and Adjutant A. P. Russell, of the First Maine.

The bodies will be embalmed by Drs. Brown and Alexander, preparatory to being conveyed to their late homes in Maine and Connecticut.

The fact that the fight was so desperate is explained