A temptation.
The temptation was too great for the average cavalryman, and
Captain Davis himself, with most of his men, dismounted and commenced work on the tangled wreck.
I myself was about to dismount, having an eye on a fine
McClelland saddle which I wanted to secure, when
Archie Smith, who was still at my side, turned to me and said: ‘Yonder goes the “
White havelock,” Will!’
‘All right,’ I replied, and we dashed after
Captain Scott, who was crossing the stream above the wreck and
debris, waving to the men to follow him. About fifteen of
Davis's men followed us, but most of them remained behind to work with the guns and secure horses, saddles, and other plunder.
We joined
Captain Scott on the other side of the run, and continued our wild ride faster than ever.
We soon came to the foot of the hill upon which the little town of
Centreville is situated.
Crossing a small stream at the base, we rode rapidly up the slope, and on the crown of the hill came in immediate contact with a long, blue line of Federal infantry, drawn up in battle array.
Riding up close to them,
Captain Scott shouted, ‘Surrender!’
For a few seconds they seemed to hesitate, but, hearing no sound of any advancing along the turnpike in our rear, an officer turned to his men and ordered them to fire.
Our little band retreated at once, and dashed down the hill rather faster than we had come up, receiving as we went the whole fire of perhaps three hundred infantry.
Not a man, however, was hurt, and we were soon out of sight, hidden by the shades of night.
