McVicar, Duncan, 1827-1863

That night Lt.Col. Duncan McVicar's 6th New York Cavalry was moving west when they ran into Stuart's command of Virginia cavalry on the same road moving east. They met on the road to the Spotsylvania Court House, near the Henry Alsop house. Stuart's outriders were fired upon and rode back telling him they were under attack by Yankees. Prussian aide-de-camp Hero Von Borke rode ahead to investigate. Moments later he came flying back, crouched low over his horse's neck, firing his pistol into the darkness behind. Stuart beat a hasty retreat to Todd's Tavern, where he could gather his thoughts and document the enemy's strength and movements. Stuart ordered Fitzhugh Lee to find out how many Yankees were on the road. Lee sent the 5th Virginia as outriders and followed with his whole brigade.

After the brush with Confederate cavalry, McVicar knew trouble was coming, and his unit was not strong enough to fight stirrup to stirrup action. Dismounting his men, he formed skirmish lines in Alsop's field which was surrounded by a fence and accessible only through a gate. The 6th New York waited facing the gate. In the dark, the 5th Virginia entered Alsop's gate in a column of fours. Carbine fire slammed into them stopping them as they entered. Leaving the dead and dying, they withdrew. Stuart ordered more men forward but they were also stalled at the gate by Yankee small arms fire.

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