The lead squadron of Brig.Gen Wesley Merritt's 1st Union Cavalry Division came into Spotsylvania at the gallop.
Stuart's cavalry opened fire as they reached the courthouse area-the men in blue, believing this only to be local militia reacted quickly- determined to drive this rabble from the strategic crossroads.
Returning fire and with swords drawn the planned Union sweeping of an expected part-time soldier force swiftly became a fierce fire-fight
They very swiftly realised these were not local militia- this was Confederate cavalry-Stuart's cavalry- and fighting exactly like their demonic reputation
Merritt had always boasted to his officers that he thought his cavalry could "fight anywhere except at sea" But this position being lined with stonewalls restricted the manouvreability of mounted troops and was fast becoming a trap. And behind those stonewalls were dozens of Reb rifles pouring a blistering salvo into the horse-soldiers.
The hand to hand fighting was savage-gone was all sense of humanity. This was combat at it's ugliest. Although Confederate cavalry combat doctrine usually favored the pistol over the sword, and especially if engaged whilst dis-mounted, at this close quarter the Rebs slashed furiously at the mounted men in blue using saber and Springfields fitted with bayonet.
The Reb cavalrymen rushed at the Union troopers horses grappling for the reins in an attempt to unseat them. The men in blue cut and thrust with their sabers valiantly trying to extricate themselves from the clutches of these yelling wouldbe killers.
As the battle raged General Stuart quickly scribbled a message which read.
General Lee
I have encountered enemy cavalry advancing on Spotsylvania Courthouse. I have dismounted my men and am holding my ground. However, my scouts report that two divisions of whom I believe to be Warren's V Corps to be also advancing swiftly along the Brock Road. I am in desperate need of infantry and artillery support if I am to hold this position.
Respectfully
JEB Stuart
Passing the message to his aide Major Tyreen- Stuart said
"Major! Locate General Lee and deliver this message with my compliments and Major-ride like the wind".
As Stuart watched Tyreen ride off a large proportion of the Federal mounted combat had subsided into a dismounted fight-now all they had to do was hold until their infantry arrived.
Exactly the same plan as Stuart's.
- It is so beautiful to look at all those wonderful Rebels together - it makes you want to cry.
General Richard Anderson was now commander of the Confederate First Corps following the wounding and now incapacitated Longstreet- His infantry were one mile from the court house when they heard musket fire in the distance.
A courier came galloping up the road-it was Major Tyreen-Seeing Anderson he reined his horse to a stop and reported the situation ahead and that General Stuart had given him a message to deliver to General Lee.
Anderson then spoke to Tyreen
"Major, General Lee is someway behind my Corps riding with General Ewell's Second. When you locate him add this to Gen Stuart's message".
"My First Corps will be at the court house within fifteen minutes and will support Gen Stuart's brigades and engage the enemy. Respectfully, Dick Anderson"
Anderson rode to the front of his army and addressed the officer of the lead regiment
"Colonel, you will advance the regiments at the double quick"
The Colonel immediately shouted out the order and it quickly passed down the long line regiment by regiment and they began their run to support their beleagured colleagues
A little over fifteen minutes later the lead regiments poured onto the court house crossroads
As the Confederate regiments raced by a few of Stuart's cavalrymen raised their flags and kepi's cheering wildly at this mass of support that had suddenly appeared.
The Confederates hit the road junction en masse-driving the Union troops away from their hastily thrown together breastworks forcing them to retreat all the way back to their second line of defense.
On a ridge overlooking the court house Grant, Meade and Grant's aide Colonel Porter watched as Anderson's Corps easily repulsed the Union troops. Grant watched the sun set on another day of bloodshed, Lee had won the race to Spotsylvania by mere minutes. But the Union Commander in Chief now had Lee and his whole army where he wanted him-out of the Wilderness and in the open.
Grant turned to Porter
"Colonel, my compliments to General Sedgewick and ask him to join me in my quarters. It's time I believe to find out how Lee fares against Uncle John and his Fighting Sixth!"
Are you absolutely sure that you don't won't to try Napoleonic’s? We’ll have a little chat about this over that pint I owe you at the March show 
