[498] and the artillery, taking the advance, attacked the positions that Stuart had occupied with his three brigades for the last two days on a small stream called Cromwell Creek. Pleasonton's artillery soon silenced the Confederate guns, and the latter, finding themselves attacked by infantry, abandoned their positions so precipitately that they left two dismounted pieces in the hands of the assailants—trophies which were the more precious to them as being the first that had thus been captured by main force from Stuart's batteries. Then Kilpatrick, with his fine brigade of cavalry, pushing forward to the front, presses close upon the enemy and takes possession of the bridge over Goose Creek before the latter has been able to destroy it. Stuart, who has rallied his men, checks him a little farther off in front of an excellent position; but the Union infantry having soon made its appearance, he gives once more the order of retreat. He has sent word to Jones and Munford on his left, directing them to fall back upon Upperville, making the best resistance they could against the forces in front of them. His troops having lost all hope of success since they found themselves confronting the infantry, his only care is to delay the march of the Federals long enough to give his brigades on the left time to join him at Upperville before he has been driven back upon Ashby's Gap. A large open plain extends from Goose Creek to this village. Stuart, who has twelve or thirteen regiments under his control, makes them fall back by échelon—a manoeuvre which the nature of the ground seldom admits of being performed in America, and which was executed in order and coolness under the fire of the Federal guns. It is true that this manoeuvre was made easy by the absence of the Union infantry, which was readily kept at a distance, so that Pleasonton had only his two cavalry brigades left to follow an enemy superior in numbers.
In the mean while, Buford with his division had attacked both Munford and Jones, and, although both parties were nearly of equal strength, the Federals soon obtained a marked advantage. When the Confederates were ordered to fall back upon Upperville, their retreat once more emboldened the assailants, while Gamble's brigade, returning constantly to the charge, inflicted upon them severe losses. It pressed them so closely that
