Ashtabula Weekly Telegraph

Brilliant Cavalry Fight.

Headquarters Army Potomac, March 18.

A most brilliant cavalry fight occurred on the Rappahannock, yesterday, beyond Kelley's Ford. A reconnaissance, under command of General Averill, forced a passage over the river, in the face of a determined resistance by a considerable body of rebel sharp shooters, who were covered by houses and rifle pits, and a dry mill race with an abattis in front. The ford admitted but a single horseman at a time, and the stream which was swollen, was very rapid. Arriving at the south side of the river, our cavalry charged on the rebels in their entrenchments, killing and capturing nearly the entire force, besides securing a large number of horses picketed near by.

A short distance from the shore General Averill's command encountered the rebel cavalry under Stuart and Fitz Hugh Lee, who hastened from Culpepper to prevent our passage. They made some dashing charges on our troops, who repulsed, and in turn, charged on them, with fatal effect: only sabres were used in the conflict.

Whenever the enemy would make a stand they were immediately charged upon, and routed from their positions with great loss. The battle lasted five hours, and was a series of charges and hand-to-hand conflicts, and resulted in the falling back of the enemy.

The forces were about 200 on each side. The enemy at last took refuge behind an entrenched battery, four miles from the ford, flanked by rifle pits and abattis. General Averill having accomplished his object and secured his prisoners, the wounded on both sides, and a large number of horses, recrossed the river without an attack or demonstration on the part of the rebels who were so badly whipped that they could not follow or annoy him.

Among the prisoners is Major Breckinridge, a cousin of the traitor John C. Breckinridge.

The prisoners characterize the affair on our part as one of the ablest and most gallantly fought cavalry raids of the war, and admit their own troops were totally demoralized by the gallant sabre charges of our cavalry. About eighty prisoners have been brought in.