Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[313] commanding in the high praise bestowed by him on Colonel T. L. Rosser, Fifth Virginia cavalry, who, though severely wounded at two P. M., remained in command at the head of his regiment till the day was won, and night put an end to further operations; on Colonel James H. Drake, First Virginia cavalry, who led his regiment in a brilliant charge upon the enemy's flank, routing and pursuing him to his stronghold; on the lamented Puller and his comrades fallen; on Lieutenant Hill Carter, Third Virginia cavalry, and Peter Fontaine, Fourth Virginia cavalry, whose individual prowess attracted my personal attention and remark, the latter receiving a severe wound; on the very efficient staff of General Lee, enumerated in his report, and the many others to whom the seventeenth of March will ever be the proudest of days.

Brigadier-General Fitz Lee exhibited in the operations antecedent to and consequent upon the enemy's crossing the sagacity of a successful General, and, under the blessing of Divine Providence, we are indebted to his prompt and vigorous action, and the determined bravery of his men, for this signal victory, which, when the odds are considered, was one of the most brilliant achievements of the war, General Lee's command in action being less than eight hundred.

Most respectfully, your obedient servant,

The Major-General commanding approaches with reluctance the painful duty of announcing to the division its irreparable loss in the death of Major John Pelham, commanding the horse artillery. He fell, mortally wounded, in the battle of Kelleysville, March seventeenth, with the battle-cry on his lips, and the light of victory beaming from his eye.

To you, his comrades, it is needless to dwell upon what you have so often witnessed — his prowess in action, already proverbial. You well know, though young in years, a mere stripling in appearance, remarkable for his genuine modesty of deportment, he yet disclosed on the battle-field the conduct of a veteran, and displayed in his handsome person the most imperturbable coolness in danger. His eye had glanced on every battle-field of this army, from the first Manassas to the moment of his death, and he was, with a single exception, a brilliant actor in all. The memory of the gallant Pelham, his many manly virtues, his noble nature and purity of character, is enshrined as a sacred legacy in the hearts of all who knew him. His record has been bright and spotless, his career brilliant and successful. He fell the noblest of sacrifices on the altar of his country, to whose glorious service he had devoted his life from the beginning of the war. In token of respect for his cherished memory the horse artillery and division staff will wear the military badge of mourning for thirty days, and the senior officer of the staff, Major Von Borck, will place his remains in the possession of his bereaved family, to whom is tendered, in behalf of the division, the assurance of the heartfelt sympathy in this deep tribulation. In mourning his departure from his accustomed post of honor on the field, let us strive to imitate his virtues, and trust that what is loss to us may be more than gain to him.

By command of Maj.-Gen. J. E. B. Stuart.

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of an encounter on the seventeenth instant, between my brigade and a division of the enemy's cavalry, certainly not less than three thousand mounted men, with a battery of artillery:

My first intimation of their approach was in a telegram received at eleven A. M., on the sixteenth, from headquarters Army of Northern Virginia. At six P. M. scouts reported them at Morrisville, a little place six miles from Kelley's Ford. At one A. M., another report informed me that the enemy had encamped at that place, coming from three different directions. I that night reenforced my picket of twenty sharpshooters by forty more. I regret to say that only about eleven or twelve of them got into the rifle-pits in time for the attack of the enemy, (owing to an unnecessary delay in carrying their horses to the rear,) which commenced about five A. M.

The force in the pits under Captain James Breckinridge, of the Second, behaved very gallantly, holding in check a large force of the enemy, mounted and dismounted, for an hour and a half, killing and wounding thirty or forty of them. I also ordered the remaining sharpshooters of the brigade under that very efficient officer, Major Morgan, First Virginia, to move from their camps by daybreak, to a point on the railroad, where the road turns to Kelley's, half a mile from the railroad bridge, and three and a half from Kelley's; and the rest of the command was ordered to be in readiness to move at the shortest notice. At that time a force was reported to be at Bealeton, supposed to be their advance guard, and it was uncertain whether they would attempt to cross at Kelley's, the railroad bridge, or move on towards Warrenton.

The report that the enemy's attack was made at Kelley's never reached me; and the first intimation I received from that point was at half past 7 A. M., to the effect that they had succeeded in crossing, capturing twenty-five of my sharpshooters, who were unable to reach their horses. I moved my command at once down the railroad, taking up a position to await their approach, ordering my baggage wagons and disabled horses to the rear, towards Rapidan station. Some time elapsing, and they not advancing, I determined to move upon them, and marched immediately for Kelley's. First met the enemy half a mile