Cavalry met cavalry but the men in gray reeled back, and as they retreated the Northern infantry in the wood sent a deadly fire into the flank of the attacking force.

The Southern infantry replied, and a fierce battle raged along the road and through the woods.
Dick heard once more the rattling of bullets on bark, and felt the twigs falling upon his face as they were shorn off by the missiles.
"We hold the road and we'll hold it for a while," exclaimed Colonel Winchester, exultation showing in his tone.
"Why can't we hold it all the time ?" Dick could not refrain from asking.
"Because we are retreating and the Southerners are continually coming up, while our army wishes to go away." Dick glanced through the trees and saw that great clouds of dust still were rolling toward the northwest.

It must be almost at the Rappahannock now, and he began to appreciate what this desperate combat in the woods meant.

They were holding back the Southern army, while their men could cross the river and reform behind it.
The battle swayed back and forth, and it was most desperate between the cavalry.

The bugles again and again called the gray horsemen to the charge, and although the blue infantry supported their own horsemen with a heavy rifle fire, and held the wood undaunted, the Northern rear guard was forced to give way at last before the pressure of numbers and attacks that would not cease.
Their own bugles sounded the retreat and they began to retire slowly.
"Do we run again ?" exclaimed Pennington, a tear ploughing its way through the smoky grime on his cheek.
"No, we don't run," replied Warner calmly, "We're forced back, and the rebels will claim a victory but we haven't fought for nothing.