Halfpast one, as soon as they left, several of us scouted the neighborhood over and got together 17 men...Perrie Leizear, John Able, Wm. H. Ent, Geo. Tucker, John Osburn & Warwick Stabler, J.C. Gilpin, Eddie & Johnni Thomas, C.G. Porter, S.P. Thomas, Geo. E. Brooke, F. Miller, Sam Leizear, Joe Davis & John Walker, etc. We tracked them through the country very well as they would drop a hat, shoe or bundle of cravates every little bit. Most of us had pistols. John Able & Ent had shot guns heavily loaded, but we came upon our game rather unexpectedly. After crossing a small stream about 3 miles N. of Rockville...found them laying down asleep...We walked up the hill to see what was to be done only leaving Warwick & John Able & me at the ford...three of the rebs rushed out upon Warwick and John Able, Sam Leizear with a yell we so often hear of when a charge is made..Shoot you S___ __ _______!!! Whereupon John did shoot one fellows hat off. Warwick's revolver snapped & the Rebs fired several shots at them...The Rebs then seized two of our horses that were hitched at the ford, mounted and commenced persuit. We did some running that can't be surpassed in any engagement. But fortunately the Rebs followed those that had shot instead of us or they could have ridden over and shot us down...John fired a second time at one on John Osburn's horse knocking him off and shot the horses eye out; then Cap. Bowie took it up and shot at John several times and just as he was passing by Old Ent, who was concealed behind a pine bush, let him have a whole load of buck shot in the face and upper part of the head which knocked him sky high. (The gun roared like a cannon). We felt very uneasy until we got together again and heard that none of our men were hurt...we found Cap. Bowie's dead body attended by his brother Brune who stayed with it...His brother we took prisoner and sent to Washington guarded by three of our company. F. Miller had a coffin prepared and the Capt. was sent to his Father in Prince Geo. Co. next day....