picket was only a few yards from the main body, which appeared to be resting in a continuous line along and on both sides of the road. Colonel Brown deployed at once, and advanced rapidly, the whole line keeping up a vigorous fire, which was made more effectual, because, while being in the shadow themselves, the confused enemy was distinctly visible by the light of the fires they had built. This could be plainly seen, as in driving the Yankees back they passed over the ground which had been held by them, and found many dead and wounded men and horses. Still pressing the enemy back, Brown came to a skirt of woods, about half a mile from the point where he first met them, when a cavalry charge was made upon his thin line, which, however, was handsomely repulsed, and the enemy driven back in confusion. Passing through this woods, he found them posted in great strength on both sides of the road, in open fields, awaiting his attack. Upon observing this, Colonel Brown slowly withdrew his command unmolested. He now ascertained, from evidence before him, and from prisoners taken, that instead of fighting, as he supposed, a small raiding party, he had engaged the advance of Sheridan’s army of thirteen thousand men. Mounting his men, he held his ground until daylight, when a dispatch was received from General J. E. B. Stuart, directing Colonel Brown to harrass and delay the enemy as long as possible, as he was in pursuit. Accordingly, he at once advanced upon the enemy’s pickets and drove them back, when they were reinforced, but again driven back several times in succession, until Sheridan pushed forward heavy reinforcements, when Colonel Brown deemed it advisable to retire a short distance, the enemy manifesting no disposition to pursue. Thus for some time the opposing forces watched each other in silence, when Brown moved his men some distance to the rear to feed the horses, but leaving a force of twenty men, under command of Lieutenant C. Irving Ditty, to observe their movements.