“Here, at Disaways?” “No, in Richmond. Katy’s family are refugees there, now; and I was going to escort her to Petersburg to-morrow, but for these rascals--and I will do it, yet.” “Good! I hope the way will be clear then! Let us go on. There is no time to lose in order to warn General Fitz!” We pushed on, following bridle-paths, and making toward Dinwiddie Court-House. Half an hour thus passed, and we were near the Roney’s Bridge road, when, suddenly, the whole forest on our right blazed with shots. Loud shouts accompanied the firing. The woods crackled as horsemen rushed through them. An obstinate fight was going on in the darkness, between the Federal and Confederate cavalry. Plainly, the Confederates had not been surprised, and the dash and vim with which they met the Federal onset, seemed to dishearten their enemies. For fifteen minutes the combat continued with great fury, amid the pines; the air was filled with quick spirts of flame, with the clash of sabres, with loud cheers and cries; then the wave of Federal horsemen surged back toward the Rowanty; the Confederates pressed them, with cheer; and the affair terminated in a headlong pursuit. Tom and myself had gotten into the _mêlée_ early in the action, and my feather had been cut out of my hat by a sabre stroke which a big blue worthy aimed at me. This was my only accident, however. In fifteen minutes I had the pleasure of seeing our friends run. I followed with the rest, for about a mile. Then I drew rein, and turned back--my horse was completely exhausted. I slowly returned toward Dinwiddie Court-House; hesitated for a moment whether I would lodge at the tavern; shook my head in a manner not complimentary to the hostelry; and set out to spend the night at “Five Forks.” I did not know, until some days afterward, that a serious accident had happened to the worthy Mr. Alibi, guide and friend of General Darke. He had been struck by a bullet in the fight; had flapped his wings; cackled; tumbled from his horse; and expired. Nighthawk’s visit thus went for nothing. Mr. Alibi was dead. XV. FROM FIVE FORKS TO PETERSBURG. I shall not dwell upon the evening and night spent at “Five Forks”--upon whose threshold I was met and cordially greeted by the gray-haired Judge Conway. In the great drawing-room I found the young ladies, who hastened to procure me supper; and I still remember that waiter of every species of edibles,--that smiling landscape above which rose the spire-like neck of a decanter! These incessant “bills of fare” will, I fear, revolt some readers! But these are my memoirs; and _memoirs_ mean recollections. I have forgotten a dozen battles, but still remember that decanter-phenomenon in March, 1865. I spent the evening in cordial converse with the excellent Judge Conway and his daughters, and on the next morning set out on my return to Petersburg. Mohun had not been visible. At the first sound of the firing, he had mounted his horse and departed at a gallop.