our bloodstained track, and who had fired on those at the gate, and
dispersed them, which I new nothing of, not having been at that time
rejoined by any of them--Immediately on discovering the whites, I
ordered my men to halt and form, as they appeared to be alarmed--The
white men, eighteen in number, approached us in about one hundred yards,
when one of them fired, (this was against the positive orders of Captain
Alexander P. Peete, who commanded, and who had directed the men to
reserve their fire until within thirty paces) And I discovered about
half of them retreating, I then ordered my men to fire and rush on them;
the few remaining stood their ground until we approached within fifty
yards, when they fired and retreated. We pursued and overtook some of
them who we thought we left dead; (they were not killed) after pursuing
them about two hundred yards, and rising a little hill, I discovered
they were met by another party, and had haulted, and were re-loading
their guns, (this was a small party from Jerusalem who knew the negroes
were in the field, and had just tied their horses to await their return
to the road, knowing that Mr. Parker and family were in Jerusalem, but
knew nothing of the party that had gone in with Captain Peete; on
hearing the firing they immediately rushed to the spot and arrived just
in time to arrest the progress of these barbarous villians, and save the
lives of their friends and fellow citizens.) Thinking that those who
retreated first, and the party who fired on us at fifty or sixty yards
distant, had all only fallen back to meet others with amunition. As I
saw them re-loading their guns, and more coming up than I saw at first,
and several of my bravest men being wounded, the others became panick
struck and squandered over the field; the white men pursued and fired
on us several times. Hark had his horse shot under him, and I caught
another for him as it was running by me; five or six of my men were
wounded, but none left on the field; finding myself defeated here I
instantly determined to go through a private way, and cross the Nottoway