Captain Samuel C. Means of Waterford had organized a company of Union cavalry known as the Loudoun Rangers from the northern part of Loudoun. This act had embittered the Confederates and at every opportunity they tried to annihilate these Virginians who would not support the State. The Rangers had been roughly handled a few days before at the Waterford Baptist Church by Major E. V. White’s 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry. On September 1, Munford left the army and bivouaced at Goose Creek near where it crosses Route 7. In the meantime, Cole’s Independent Maryland Cavalry (3 companies) and Means’ depleted company were in Leesburg. On the 2nd as Munford approached Leesburg he divided his command, sending Captain Irvine of Company C with a squadron to drive through the town. With the remainder of the regiment, Munford turned off Route 7 in a northerly direction, crossing the Edwards Ferry road and the Trundle plantation (Exeter). While Munford was making this flanking movement, Captain Irvine charged into the town wounding four of the Loudoun Rangers and causing Means to withdraw north on present day Route 15. Cole’s three companies had taken position on a slight eminence about a mile north of town. In taking up this position Cole had dismounted his troopers and sent the horses to the rear near Big Spring; one holder was in charge of four horses, thus depleting his fighting strength by one fourth. (Cole’s line was in the “V” between old Route 15 and the new part that has been recently straightened, and approximately on the ridge at the entrance to Ball’s Bluff.) Fences bordered the road and a wheat field in shocks was on the southeast side. Irvine’s squadron had followed Means from the town and was firing from behind the shocks as they drove the Loudoun Rangers back on Cole’s line. Irvine had performed his work well, for in attacking from the front he had allowed Munford with the rest of the regiment to circle around behind Cole unnoticed. Suddenly from the rear came the horseholders at a full gallop shouting, “Here come the Rebs.” Munford with most of his regiment riding boot to boot and shouting at the top of their lungs was upon them. No time was lost in formal maneuvers as Cole shouted to his men to mount up and charge to the right—the melee was on. Some of the blue troopers were shot down and sabred before they could mount, others were captured on foot; many with blood streaming down their faces from sabre cuts on the head. The melee developed into a running fight as Cole led his men toward the mountain road that runs past the Burdett Wright farm toward Waterford. Again the sabre was freely used as it was impossible to reload revolvers on moving horses. The pursuit continued for about two miles until Munford called a halt to secure horses and prisoners that had been passed in the chase.