I knew then that “something was up.” “Boots and Saddles” always meant something when Stuart gave the order.
When I dismounted at headquarters, Stuart himself was waiting, although it was three o’clock in the morning. His plume and golden spurs gleamed through the dark.
“Tell me quick!” was all he had to say. I answered sententiously: “Three rockets went up: red to right, white to left, and blue in the middle.”
“You mean our right and left, or the enemy’s?” he asked eagerly.
“Ours,” I answered.
He turned quickly and gave hurried orders to staff-officers, orderlies, and couriers. Then turning to me, he said: “You ride with me.” I appreciated the attention.
Five minutes later a great column of cavalrymen were riding at a gallop towards the front. And just as daylight dawned we broke into a charge upon a heavy force of the enemy.
The hostile force was slowly advancing, not expecting us, and we struck it in flank, taking it completely by surprise.
The demoralization of the Manassas, or Bull Run panic had not even yet gone out of the Northern troops. We made short work of their advance and sent them quickly into disorderly retreat.
One of Stuart’s couriers was killed in the charge. I remember, because he rode beside me, and his head fell clean from his body, and the sight sickened me, so that I fought harder for the minute than I thought I could.