This one from a cavalry scout of Hamptons, 2nd SC Cav Co.C, added notes in (brackets)
..."We had engagements at Berryville, Flint Hill, Barbers Cross Roads and Little Washington. The latter in a heavy snow storm. At this place I came near being captured. I had been sent by Colonel Butler with a message for General Hampton. We went dashing to where we had left Hampton a short time ago, sitting on his horse in front of the 1st NC Cavalry. As I dashed down the hill towards this body of men, who we susposed were the 1st NC, I heard shouting and calling from our rear, but we couldnt hear what it was about. There was an officer sitting on his horse in front of the regiment with a full black beard, as Gen Hampton wore at the time, he wore black hat and plume and did really look like Gen Hampton, horse and all. (Realizing as he got close that this wasnt the 1st NC nor Hampton but a regiment of Federal Cavalry) We went back up the hill faster than we had come down, several of the enemy pursuing, for they were certain of catching us, and they did not shoot untill we had nearly researched the top of the hill. When we got up the hill amoungst our skirmishers we found out what all the shouting was about that I heard. They were shouting "Come back come back the yankees are down there" Sgt Mickler (an ancestor of mine) and Corp Pelot from our company (2nd SC Cav) were on the skirmish line and recognizing us and being aware that the enemy was drawn up on the same ground just previously occupied by the 1st NC a short time before, tried very hard as the could to warn us of the fact"
Another personal account = member of Holcombes SC Cav Legion with Hampton in 1862
..."On the ensuing day November 8th the enemy with a strong force of his cavalry made a sudden dash upon the camp of the Georgia Regiment which was situated some three miles from Gaines cross roads on the turnpike near Little Washington. They evaded the pickets at the cross roads and came from a byway from the right a mile and a half from the camp where a small body of men under Lieut William Dial (1st Lt William C Dial; Co.E Cobbs Georgia Legion) of the Georgia cavalry with only ten men were picketing, who gallantly met the onset falling back slowly to a narrow lane stubbornly contesting the ground bore up hand to hand with their pressing assailants. The command at the camp heard it and were hurrying out to meet the alarm. Colonel Deloney (LtCol William G Delony; Cobbs Georgia Legion) putting spurs to his horse left the column behind and dashed up into the melee and hand to hand with his brave boys nearly all of whom had been cut down was delivering his blows left and right, when an athletic yankee trooper assailed him just as he was raising his dripping sabre from its victim. His new antagonists blows were dexteriously dealt and an instant parry saved his head, a quick heavy blow, partially warded off fell broadside and deadened his sword arm causing it to fall helpless by his side. One more deadly thrust at his heart, but luckily a silver cased flask in the breast coat pocket turns the weapons sharp point and it glides by only grazing the skin. Exasperated at his foiled attempt the furious trooper raised the final blow at the length of his powerful arm. The column comes thundering up in hurring tread... outstriping the foremost dashes a small boy on a little keen black charger... his darting eye catches his beloved Cononels dilemma and with upraised gleeming sabre arrests the fatal blow by cleaving the antagonists head in twain... and half raising it for another stroke when a pistol shot sends the noble lad reeling from his saddle dangerously wounded (16 year old Pvt.James L Clanton, Co.A of Cobbs Georgia Legion, he survived the serious wounding and later made it up to a 2nd Lieut.) The last one of the gallant ten had fallen killed or wounded. Hand to hand the supporting party took up the reencounter.... Old United States Regulars had been met but southern impeduosity was too much for them.. they begain to yield and give ground when a body of our dismounted men gained their flanks when they broke... here our artillery came dashing up and completed the success and sent them scampering down the road at a most inconvient speed. They were pursued but a short distance but called off due to our weakness. The enemy loss in killed, wounded and captured was 75, our loss was 25 in killed and wounded."
"From this point Gen Hampton assumed the aggressive. He made two sucessful dashes on the enemy's position at Laural Mills 14 miles above Culpeper CH succeeded in routing and driving them entirely from that region killing, wounding and capturing a large number, which rid the farmers of the presence of these notorious scamps who were committing every specie of deprivation down to robbing the roost of the last old hen thus giving more evidence of the thieving brigade than soldiers fighting for principles."
Frederick