Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence

by Heros von Borcke

Overview

A stirring account of von Borcke's service in the cavalry of the army of Northern Virginia. “Von Borcke's book is one that no student of Confederate history will forget.”—Douglas Southall Freeman.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461718512
Publisher:	J.S. Sanders books
Publication date:	04/23/1999
Series:	Southern Classics Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	464
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Heros von Borcke (1836-1895) served in the Confederate army and participated in numerous battles before being wounded at the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign. Prevented by injury from continuing in active service, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and sent by the Confederate Congress on a diplomatic mission to England. When the war ended in 1865 he remained abroad and returned to his native Prussia, where he later served with distinction in the Franco-Prussian War.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER XI. FIGHTS NEAR UNIONRETREAT TOWARDS UPPERVILLEFIGHT NEAR UPPERVILLERETREAT TOWARDS PARIS. The following morning we received reports that the enemy in heavy force was advancing from Leesburg in the direction of Union. Thither we marched at once, arriving just in time to occupy a naturally strong position about a mile and a half from the little village. Scarcely had our artillery got ready for action, when the Yankees made their appearance, and there began a lively cannonade with spirited sharpshooting, the latter doing little damage to either party, as the high stone fences which enclose the fields in this part of Virginia afforded protection to both sides. The Federal cavalry being far superior in numbers to our own, and our scouts reporting the approach of a strong infantry force, whose glistening bayonets, indeed, we could already see in the far prospect, it seemed almost certain that, after some little resistance, we should be compelled to retire. VOL. II, B 1S GALLANT EXPLOIT OF PELHAM'g. The Yankees, however, appeared to have their reasons for not moving too rapidly forward, and so the day passed in comparative inaction, the whole resembling, with its slow manoeuvring of troops and regular firing, the operations of a sham-fight or a field-day of volunteers. Stuart and Fitz Lee, with the officers of their respective Staffs, had taken their position on a gigantic rock, from which they had an excellent view of the movements of the Yankees, and could observe with perfect security the effect of the incessant explosions of the shells that were exchanged between our own guns and those of the enemy. We had the opportunity here of witnessing one of those daring feats whichPelham was so constantly performing. He had been greatly annoyed during the day by ...