<;,i,,-i;il limit, ,-'.< If, !,'</. 179
possible too that some stragglers may have come up in the meantime, although the ranks were kept pretty well closed up after the enemy got in our rear. However, 722 muskets represents the fighting strength of Grimes's division on April gih, 1865.
JAMES M. GARNETT.
In. MI the Richmond, Va., ItUjxttch, June 4,1800]
GENERAL HUNTER'S RAID.
Story of How General McCausland Held Immense Odds
In Check.
BURNING OF THE INSTITUTE.
Execution of Two Citizens by Order of General Hunter The Battle of Lynchburg Recollections of a Confederate Cavalryman.
No event of the Civil war more interested me than the raid of Hunter through Lexington in 1864, on his way to Lynchburg. It was the first appearance in our historic town of a live, armed Yankee on destruction bent, and the whole population of women, children and slaves viewed them with awe.
The impress of that visit can be seen easily now thirty-five years after. All was done that could be done to keep them away, and it is marvelous to think of the stout resistance made by McCausland' s 1,500 cavalrymen to the 25,000 Yankees. General McCausland did his part well. By cutting trees across the roads, burning bridges in front of them, and stationing cavalrymen, armed with Enfield rifles, behind trees, rocks, etc. , he was able to check the advance of Aver- ill' s 5,000 cavalry, and compel a delay until their infantry could be brought up and dislodge us by flanking.
The i6th, iyth and 8th regiments of McCausland's command were West Virginians, and brought up to endure hardships. Their cour- age was of the unflinching kind, natural haters of those who were despoiling their homes, and woe to the Yankee who came within range of their unerring aim.
