At Amelia Springs there was a severe fight, in which the enemy was defeated and pursued some miles. Here a small portion of flour was issued to each man, but which there was no time to cook, and the flour was tied up in bags, handkerchiefs, stockings, or anything else at hand that might serve the purpose; and so it remained for two days before opportunity to cook it offered, the battalion being in the meantime constantly engaged.
At last it was impossible for human nature to hold out longer, and the second night after the fight at Amelia Springs, it was determined to cook the flour. As soon, therefore, as night came on—which rendered the enemy’s fire less accurate, and induced his cavalry to become less aggressive—the brigade, leaving a strong picket force still actively skirmishing, withdrew behind a neighboring hill and prepared to cook. There were no cooking utensils nor any convenience to make, but soldiers who had gone through a four year’s war had many devices at hand to meet exigencies. A detail with canteens was sent to the stream near by for water, and oil cloths were substituted for kneading trays. In this way the flour was hastily moistened into a paste, and as hastily parched in the embers of the very spare fires which proximity to the enemy reduced to the smallest possible dimension that could be dignified with the name of fire. The skirmishers were then relieved by some who had eaten, to make similar provisions for their wants.
From this time until Lynchburg was reached, on the night of the 9th of April, when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, the First Maryland subsisted on corn and some rations taken from the captured enemy. It was hard to take food from prisoners, perhaps, but necessity knows no law, and between starving men the weakest must yield.
Every day’s history was much the same, a constant night and day struggle with the enemy’s cavalry, who would scarcely be repulsed at one point before they had to be met at another, perhaps five or ten miles distant.
When the army reached the vicinity of High Bridge it was ascertained that a force of the enemy was directly in front, having by a forced march, and being unencumbered, passed around General Lee’s left and thrown themselves directly in his path. The brigade (which I have forgotten to state, was now commanded by Brigadier General Thomas T. Munford, he having succeeded General Payne after the fight at Amelia Springs, the latter officer being disabled by wounds) was at once ordered to attack them, which it did with much gallantry, all being dismounted except the First Maryland, which was sent to the left to cut off the enemy’s retreat. The enemy, which proved to be a brigade of infantry and about two hundred cavalry, behaved very gallantly, and at once met General Munford vigorously. His cavalry charged several times, but were repulsed with heavy loss, while the enemy’s infantry and Munford’s dismounted cavalry kept up a heavy fire, both sides suffering severely, without material advantage to either. At length Deering’s brigade came up and dismounted, and joining Munford, a general charge was made by the dismounted men in front, and the First Maryland mounted in the rear and right flank of the enemy, which resulted in the defeat and capture of his entire force.
Nearly all the field officers on both sides were killed or badly wounded.
It will be remembered, in this connection, that although the Confederates had two brigades engaged here against the one of the enemy’s infantry and the force of two hundred cavalry, yet he had greatly the advantage in numbers as well as of a deliberately selected position. Confederate brigades at this period of the war frequently did not number five hundred men, and on this occasion General Munford took into action (including Deering’s men) a smaller force, considerably, than was captured.
For a short time Munford rested his command, when, after turning over his prisoners, he again sought the enemy towards the rear of General Lee’s army. He here found Fitz. Lee closely pressed, and joined his forces to impede as much as possible their advance. A narrow and deep stream crossed the road over which the retreat was being conducted, and at the crossing place the mud was much worked up by the passage of the army. As this stream was neared the enemy, from the crest of the range of hills about a mile distant, had a clear view of the retreating forces. He hurried up his batteries and opened furiously, while his cavalry pressed hard upon the rear. Crossing the stream, a portion of the division, including Munford’s brigade, was deployed along its banks to dispute the passage. A slight and hastily constructed breastwork of fence rails, thrown up under the fire of the opposing artillery, was all that Munford had to aid him against the immense force advancing. The whole face of the country beyond the stream now seemed a mass of troops. Artillery crowned every available point, while cavalry and infantry in column advanced rapidly upon the handful of men that stood in their path. It was necessary that a stand should be made to give time for the wagon and ordnance trains to pass a small bridge near Farmville. The enemy’s skirmishers soon lined the banks of the little stream, and poured in a rapid fire upon Munford, which was vigorously returned. In a few minutes a heavy column of cavalry charged at the ford, when they were received with a murderous fire at a range of not over forty yards. The ford was narrow, deep and marshy; the dead and dying men and horses encumbered their advance, and the enemy were forced to fall back defeated after many of them had actually crossed the stream. Several batteries were then opened upon Munford, but the firing was too wild, and everything having been accomplished that was desired, and the train safely over the bridge, the Confederate cavalry retired rapidly, but in excellent order, towards Farmville, moving in several different columns in order to present smaller marks to the artillery, which was firing with much increased accuracy, owing to the clear view which the open fields afforded.
The enemy then crossed the stream where he had been repulsed, and also at several other points lower down, and followed in rapid pursuit, and were soon charging Munford’s rear furiously through Farmville. One column charged a piece of woods in which lay a force of infantry in ambuscade, and was literally cut to pieces.
The streams about Farmville were much swollen, and in order to save time, General Fitz. Lee’s division, still in several different columns, crossed at as many different points, in most cases swimming their horses. At nightfall the fighting ceased, but was resumed in the morning with increased fury.