At the head of his men, he lead a headlong charge upon the Federal cavalry, which broke and fled in the wildest disorder, pursued by the ragged cannoneers, Breathed in front, with yells, cheers, and cries of defiance. They were pursued past Barboursville to the Rapidan, without pause. That night Stuart went after them: their officers held a council of war, it is said, to decide whether they should not bury their artillery near Stannardsville, to prevent is capture. On the day after this, they had escaped. In passing Barboursville, on their return from Charlottesville, one of the Federal troopers stopped to get a drink of water at the house of a citizen. “What’s the matter?” asked the citizen. “Well, we are retreating.” “Who is after you?” “Nobody but old Jim Breathed and his men, armed with fence-rails.”[1] [Footnote 1: His words.] Such was one of a dozen incidents in Breathed’s life. Let me come to that which took place near Spottsylvania Court-House. Grant had moved, as we have seen, by his left flank toward that place. General Fitzhugh Lee opposed him on the way, and at every step harassed the head of the Federal column with his dismounted sharp-shooters and horse artillery. Near Spottsylvania Court-House, it was the stand made by Fitz Lee’s cavalry that saved the position, changing the aspect of the whole campaign. Sent by Stuart with a message to the brave “General Fitz,” I reached him near Spottsylvania Court-House, at the moment when he had just ordered his cavalry to fall back slowly before the advancing enemy, and take a new position in rear. Two guns which had been firing on the enemy were still in battery on a hill; upon these a heavy Federal skirmish line was steadily moving: and beside the guns, Breathed and Fitzhugh Lee sat their horses, looking coolly at the advancing line. “Give them a round of canister, Breathed!” exclaimed General Fitz Lee. Breathed obeyed, but the skirmish line continued bravely to advance. All at once, there appeared in the woods behind them, a regular line of battle advancing, with flags fluttering. To remain longer on the hill was to lose the guns. The bullets were whizzing around us, and there was but one course left--to fall back. “Take the guns off, Breathed!” exclaimed the general; “there is no time to lose! Join the command in the new position, farther down the road!” Breathed looked decidedly unwilling. “A few more rounds, general!” And turning to the men, he shouted:-- “Give them canister!” At the word, the guns spouted flame, and the canister tore through the line of skirmishers, and the Federal line of battle behind; but it did not check them. They came on more rapidly, and the air was full of balls. “Look out for the guns, Breathed! Take them off!” exclaimed the general. Breathed turned toward one of the pieces, and ordered:-- “Limber to the rear!” The order was quickly obeyed. “Forward!” The piece went off at a thundering gallop, pursued by bullets.