Suddenly a heavy column of cavalry, moving rapidly along Munford’s front, and parallel to his line, was seen, about half a mile distant, marching towards the road, which was presently reached, and a part of the force, still in column, advanced by the road, and the remainder in line through the fields to right of the road, and drove back the skirmishers.
As soon as the design of the enemy was perceived, Colonel Dorsey mounted his men and moved in column to the road, which was separated from him by a fence, in which gaps had been made. Through one of these gaps the First Maryland was passing as rapidly as was consistent with good order, but the first section had hardly cleared the fence when the enemy, now in full charge, was seen coming at them not over one hundred yards distant. Captain Raisin, who rode with Colonel Dorsey at the head, remarked, “Colonel, we must charge them; it is the only chance;” and scarcely had the words left his lips when Dorsey, who had already seen the necessity, gave the command, “Draw sabre, gallop, charge!” and the little band of Marylanders hurled themselves against the heavy columns of the enemy, and drove him back. Again he advanced, and again the First Maryland charged and forced him back.
In this last charge—the last blow struck by the army of Virginia—while still pushing the enemy vigorously, the battalion was met by an officer carrying a flag of truce, who suddenly made his appearance from the right of the road. The fight instantly ceased, and the officer was asked his business. He replied that General Lee was about to surrender, that articles of capitulation were being prepared, that hostilities had ceased, and ended by demanding that the cavalry in his front should come in and lay down their arms, as being part of General Lee’s army, and included in the terms.
General Munford called a council of war of all his officers, and after discussing matters and taking a vote, it was determined not to surrender, being clearly not subject to the treaty between Lee and Grant, as the division had broken through the enemy’s lines before a surrender had been discussed by the leaders of the two armies, and more especially because the enemy had attacked the division during the truce, and had only spoken of it after having been thrice repulsed.
In the last charge, immediately before the appearance of the white flag, young Price, of Company E, Captain Raisin, was killed, thus yielding his life in the very last blow struck by the army of Northern Virginia.
In accordance with the unanimous opinion of the council of war, General Munford threw out a heavy skirmish line, and retired towards Lynchburg unmolested by the enemy, who contented himself with looking on.
Arriving at Lynchburg about night, General Munford’s first care was to obtain food and forage for his command, which was done without much difficulty, as large supplies had been gathered at this point with a view of meeting the necessities of General Lee’s army, a portion of which supplies, as before said, having been sent out to meet the army, and captured by the enemy near Appomattox Court House on the 8th.
After feeding, another council was held, and the chances and best means of reaching Johnson’s army discussed. Without coming to any definite conclusion, it was determined to move to the north side of the James river and seek supplies until some news from Johnson could be obtained.
Colonel Dorsey marched to the neighborhood of Waynesboro’, where the kindness of the people to the soldiers had been before experienced, and there awaited orders. In about ten days he received a dispatch from General Munford to move up the Valley, by way of Lexington, towards Salem, on which route all the cavalry were to march, and to make their way to Johnson’s army.
The First Maryland was immediately on the march, and arrived at Cloverdale, in Botetourt county, on the 28th day of April, where Colonel Dorsey, learning that General Munford was confined to his bed by sickness, rode to the house at which the General was lying, and received from him the following letter, which he had prepared to be read to the First Maryland, and which speaks for itself, the General expressing his regret that his sickness prevented him from saying farewell to the battalion in person: