I had already turned to ride back to Stuart, when my attention was
attracted by a column of cavalry advancing straight on Brandy--that is,
upon Stuart's rear. What force was that? Could it be the enemy? It was
coming from the direction of Stevensburg; but how could it have passed
our force there?

"Look!" I said to an officer of the horse artillery, one battery of
which was left in reserve on the hill, "look! what column is that?"

"It must be Wickham's," was his reply.

"I am sure they are Yankees!"

"Impossible!" he exclaimed.

But our doubts were soon terminated. From the rapidly advancing column
two guns shot out and unlimbered. Then two white puffs of smoke spouted
from their muzzles, and the enemy's shell burst directly in our faces.

The horse artillery returned the fire, and I hastened back with the
intelligence to Stuart.

"It is only a squadron, I suppose," he replied with great coolness. "Go
back and get all the cavalry you can, and charge the guns and bag
them!"[1]

[Footnote: His words]

It is impossible to imagine any thing calmer than the speaker's voice.