A Remarkable cavalry chase.
Madison C. H. April 22, 1862.
Our usual quiet and delightful village was thrown into a great state of excitement this afternoon.
Certain movements of our army, not necessary to be named, and resulted in the congregation at this point of a number of straggling soldiers, members of Capt. Green's Rappahannock cavalry, famous for their gallant conduct on the entrance of the Yankees into Fairfax Court House.
Many citizens from the surrounding neighborhood were also enjoying a quiet visit to "town," and were assembled in groups around the "hotel," discussing the all-absorbing topic of the day and relating scenes, of personal prowess, when a preeminent citizen of the place came riding up at full speed and yelling as he came; "the Yankees are coming!
The Yankees are coming!
Only three miles distant! Had a thousand bombs suddenly exploded in the midst of our courageous population, greater consternation could not have been produced.
Into word, a decided panic was upon us. A courier next came up with a detailed report of the facts of the case Capt. Gilmer, (cavalry,) with 40 men, was being pursued by 250 Yankee cavalry.
The chase commenced near Front Royal, and had continued through yesterday and to-day.
At Hugnes's river, eight miles distance from here, the Captain made a stand and offered battle, without a single round of ammunition, trusting entirely to their sabres.
The Yankees baited, and seemed willing to avoid a trial of Southern steel, Captain Gilmar moved on, and all hands were rapidly approaching the limits of our village when the courier left.
Under the pressure of these circumstances, the "call to arms" was followed by a speedy disappearance in the distance of the larger portion of the "brave soldier boys, " while the resident population and "refugees," like the fragments of a shell, scattered in every direction.
At the appearance of every rider from the direction of Hughes's creek, the of "Yankees!
Yankees" went up from the women and children.
A of the by private place, of ville, vallied to the rescue, and to the retreating Gilmer; but before their arrival as the scene of "blood and slaughter." it was ascertained that the pursuing Yankees were only two companies of Confederate cavalry traveling the same road with Captain Gilmer and the halled to give battle, the supposed to throw down some fences which impeded their progress.
If ever you saw "flat." looking people, you can imagine the looks of same of our gallant defenders as they returned from ways and hedges in which they had taken refuge from the Yankees.