[524] The official report, to which reference is made in the foregoing letter, was sent in a few days after this, and is as follows:
headquarters, March 8th, 1864.
Major,—At 11 o'clock A. M. on the 29th ultimo I received a dispatch from one of my scouts, conveying information which I embodied in the following dispatch to Major-General Stuart, dated ‘Millford, 11:30 A. M. Sergeant Shadbourne reports enemy moving.
Gregg moved to front Thursday.
Tuesday whole army paid off, and prepared to march last night.
Kilpatrick receiving marching orders.
Three days rations passed Sheppard's, near Madden's, supposed to be coming to Ely's Ford.
Part of Second Corps on same road.
Whole army seems in motion.
Sutlers and women ordered to rear.
Acknowledge receipt of this.’
At 12:30 I sent the following message to General Stuart: ‘Citizens report to General Young a Yankee cavalry brigade at Mount Pleasant, moving towards Central Road. No reports from pickets.’
Not hearing from General Stuart, at 10:30 P. M. the following message was sent to him: ‘Enemy were at Beaver Dam at seven o'clock. North Carolina brigade has moved down with artillery.
Have ordered Maryland cavalry to join me. Young at Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Have received nothing from you.’
These dispatches gave all the information I had received of the movements of the enemy.
As soon as I could learn what direction he had taken, I sent all the mounted men of the North Carolina cavalry brigade who were present, 253 from the First regiment and 53 from the Second, with Hart's battery, to Mount Carmel Church.
On the morning of the 1st March I joined the command and moved to Hanover Junction.
Not hearing of the enemy here, proceeded to Hughes Cross Roads, deeming that an important point, and one at which he would be likely to cross.
When the column arrived here, the camp-fires of the enemy could be seen in the direction of Atlee's Station, as well as to the right on the Telegraph or the Brooke road.
I determined to strike at the party near Atlee's, and with that view moved down to the station, where we met the pickets of the enemy.
I would not allow their fire to be returned, but quietly dismounted one hundred men, and supporting them with the cavalry, ordered Colonel Cheek to move steadily on the camp of the enemy, whilst two guns were opened on them at very short range.
The attack was made with great gallantry; the men proving by their conduct that they were fully equal to the most 