In the latter part of May, Lee’s army fell back before Grant, and made Hanover Junction a point of defence. Sending for Colonel Johnson, he directed him to take Brown’s battalion and pass around Grant and see what he was doing, and especially his base of supplies. The little Command crossed the North Anna, below Lee’s right, and pursued its way around to Penola Station, on the Fredericksburg railroad, where Johnson discovered a heavy column moving down from Bowling Green, and at the same time ascertained that the enemy drew his supplies from Tappahannock. Turning to retrace his steps, he found the whole of Sheridan’s cavalry moving up through King William, in his rear, and all the fords on the lower Anna in his possession. This compelled him to cross higher up, which was effected by throwing the horses into the stream from a high bank, whilst the men crossed on a raft hastily constructed. He finally reached the main body in safety, having captured several couriers, from whom it was ascertained that Sheridan was coming up and Burnside moving down from Bowling Green. On the 27th of May, Colonel Johnson was ordered to report with his cavalry to General Fitzhugh Lee, who was then at Hanover Court House. A short time after his arrival, the enemy crossed at Dabney’s Ferry, when by order of General Lomax he was directed to go down and drive them back. Upon his arrival, he found Colonel Baker, of the Fifth North Carolina, in command of Gordon’s old brigade, skirmishing with a force not far from the Ferry. Believing it to be a small body, it was arranged that Baker should hold them where they were, whilst Johnson passed around to their flank, by which movement it was hoped they would capture the whole of them. Taking a side road, he had not gone more than a mile before he encountered Baker’s pickets retiring in good order, followed by the enemy. Before he could deploy his men on some open ground on the side of the road, they were upon him in overwhelming force. The greater part of the battalion had unfortunately just passed through a gate into a field when the enemy attacked. A dreadful hand to hand fight ensued, and before the gate could be reopened for them to retreat, many were killed and wounded, among the latter the brave Brown, by several sabre cuts over the head. Being at length extricated from this dilemma, the command was drawn up on more favorable ground, and a determined stand made for thirty minutes. But it was soon perceived that the enemy were wrapping around the little battalion and threatening it with destruction, and the order was given to retreat. This was conducted for a time in an orderly manner, but the enemy pressing them hard, a rout ensued, in which every man was expected to look out for himself.