I have a copy of "Sabres and Spurs" right in front of me. Page 232 Chapter XXVIII Battle of Middleburg June 1863 When the Army of the Potomac commenced its northward movement to overtake Lee, our brigade was ordered towards Bull Run River, near Union Mills, where General Pleasanton then held his headquarters. All movements were quick; all pulses beat high, June 17th Early the following order was received from the second brigade, Second Cavalry Division: You will proceed with your regiment from Manassas Junction by way of Thoroughfare Gap to Middleburg; there you will camp for the night, and communicate with the headquarters of the Second Cavalry Brigade. From Middleburg you will proceed to Union; thence to Snickersville; from Snickersville to Percyville; thence to Wheatland and, passing through Waterford to Nolan's Ferry where you will join your brigade. Of your action under this order and the battle that ensued, we may copy from a paper prepared by Captain George N. Bliss: "On the morning of June 17th, our regiment left Manassas Junction and passed to the left towards Thoroughfare Gap, while the remainder of our cavalry took the road to the right leading towards Aldie. At Thoroughfare Gap we found a force of rebel cavalry, reported to be a brigade. Major Farrington stated that he saw about five hundred while more might have been concealed in the woods. After a smart skirmish in which we had three horses killed and a few wounded, the rebels fell back. We then took the road to Middleburg and two miles out of the place, again encountered the rebel cavalry. At once driving them back, we charged upon the town and took possession of it. But as soon as we stopped pursuit, the rebels also halted and commenced skirmishing with our pickets. "Quickly we barricaded the roads leading out of the town, located our main reserve in a favorable posistion, and took a sharp view of the situation. In our rear were the Bull Run Mountains. Thoroughfare Gap was in possession of the foe. In the direction of Aldie, from whence alone we could expect help, was a large force of the enemy's cavalry. In our front was a heavy cavalry force, with artillery and infantry. Ours was a desperate position to hold; but our orders were to hold it. At this time Captain Allen was sent to communicate with General Kilpatrick and though halted and hotly fired upon, succeeded in running the rebel lines and reached Aldie. After sunset the rebels charged upon the barricade beyond the town and were repulsed; but as soon as they discovered the nature of the obstructions, they deployed their column and came on with a long line of battle through the fields. Then of course the pickets fell back upon our main reserve, our carbineers were dismounted and posted behind a stone-wall running along one side of lthe road, and we waited for the attack. Nor had we long to wait. Down the road dashed the rebel column--men riding four abreast--yelling and firing like demons. When the road was full in front of our line of carbineers, the order was given, "Fire!" and eighty carbines hurled death into the rebel ranks. "When we state that this occurred in the darkness of the night, and that the enemy, ignorant of our position, were in such order that every carbine discharged was within six feet of a rebel soldier, you can form some estimate of the fatal effect of our fire. Rider and horse went down in one confused mass; and those who were unhurt rushed wildly away from the scene of the slaughter. "Again they charged; again they were repulsed. A third time they made an effort, but with diminished zeal, and recoiled from our fire. Then we heard the rebel officers give the order, 'Cease firing.! Dismount! and go into the woods. "For us to struggle longer against overwhelming numbers was impossible, and we were commanded to fall back. The larger part of the regiment retired in good order, moving to the rear at a walk. But the rebels were so near us that Captain Chase, with many of his men, in the darkness, formed into a rebel column, supposing them to be a part of our regiment. Major Farrington, with two of his officers and twenty-three men, was at this time cut off from the remainder of the command, and was within the rebel lines twenty-four hours, but succeeded at last in bringing his party safely into our lines. He and his men were obliged to stand by their horses' heads to prevent them from whinnowing while rebel columns were passing most of the time within twenty rods of them, they being hid from view by a small hillock--a very anxious twenty-four hours to them. Sergeant Palmer also was cut off from the regiment with twelve men, and brought them safely through the rebel lines. The adventures of these two parties were exciting but we have not space here to present them. etc, etc, NOTE: If you wish further details of the battle, I will copy the remainder of the chapter. Our casualties were as follows: KILLED Lieutenant J. A. Chedell (C), Corporal T. Burton (F), S. Wilcox (D), J. H. Elkins (M), Charles Fairbanks (M), B. G. Lawrence (M) WOUNDED Captain A. H. Bixby (D), Lieutnant B. Ellis (L), Lileutenant S. Brown (G), Sergeant G. H. Steele (K), Corporal G.W. Gorton (D), Corporal G.S. Bennett (D), Corporal L. Cronan (C), O. F. Merrill (I), George C. Eustiss )M) MISSING I cannot list them all but among them are listed Sergeant N. P. Kidder, C. S. Kidder Of the twenty wounded, some were among the captured. It is only marvelous that any of the command escaped death and capture. We were literally thrown into the jaws of war. Of the two hundred and ten missing, only about one hundred and seventy were carried to Richmond; the rest adroitly managed to escape the foe, and finally reached our lines. Copied from Sabres and Spurs The First Regiment Rhode Island Cavalry in the Civil War by Rev. Frederic Denison, Chaplain Published by the First Rhode Island CavalryVeteran Assoc. 1876