The next morning was Sunday, a clear and beautiful day, and about six in the morning, after sounding the sick call, we marched off. On our march we passed two churches, one a Methodist and the other a Baptist, but in neither of them had service been held for eight months. Near one was collected a number of slaves, who told us they had been for sometime discussing the subject of moving North. They, however, were divided in their opinion, the old folks prefering to remain near their childhood's home, but the younger longing for the liberty they knew not of. We passed through a small village called White Ridge, near which, about noon, we encamped in a pine woods, having made eight miles. Near by was a pond of clear water with a spring in the middle of it, but without proper outlet. The men went to it to fill their canteens, but General Reynolds ordered his orderlies to ride in and muddy the water, which caused the men to seek other and purer water. On our route we were followed by many negroes and some whites, whose object, principally, was to get such clothes as the men would give them. At guard-mounting, an amusing scene took place. When the band commenced playing, the negroes involuntarily broke forth into a dance, clapping their hands and singing. After this was over, a grand butting match took place, their heads crushing together like rocks, but producing no effect upon them. After scrambling for a few handfuls of pennies thrown among them, they left for their homes, happy with their afternoon's sport. Companies B and K, Captains McDonough and Smith, were thrown out on picket for the night.

The next day was clear, pleasant, and cool for marching, and at six in the morning we moved off, following the fields along side of the roads. The country became more diversified and timber heavier. As we marched on we passed a large brick house, from a tree in front of which was flying the stars and stripes, and as the men caught sight of it, they rent the air with deafening

cheers, which rolling down the line echoed through the woods. At noon a long halt was called, and then passing through Hartword, a small village, we bivouacked at three o'clock in a fine woods two miles from Falmouth, Stafford county, and although we made seventeen miles, the brigade came in in fine order with but few stragglers. The next morning, the 29th, we marched early and passed by where our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy on the 18th, and which was marked by a breastwork of rails, newly made graves, and dead horses. The enemy's force consisted of a regiment of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of artillery. They were charged by the First Reserve Cavalry under Colonel Bayard, and after being driven from their position were pushed to the Rappahannock, which they crossed on the upper bridge at Falmouth, which they burnt. Our loss was five men and fifteen horses killed, and sixteen men wounded. The enemy's loss was about equal to ours. Lieutenantcolonel Kilpatrick, Second New York (Ira Harris) Ca. valry was wounded, and Lieutenant Decker killed. Colonel Bayard's horse was wounded in four places. Soon after we entered Falmouth, through which we passed with our banners unfurled and bands playing. The inhabitants flocked to the doors and windows to gaze at us, and a motley crowd of negroes followed, highly delighted at the music and sight. About a mile beyond, on the Aquia road we encamped in a fine wood, where we found an abundance of fuel and water. The same afternoon the Second Brigade, General Meade, arrived and encamped to our left.

The ground where our camp laid was once owned by Washington, he having inherited it from his father. Here he spent his youth between the age of ten and sixteen, during which time he obtained the principal portion of his education. Near the headquarters of General King, at the "Phillip's House," stood the old mansion, from the lawn in front of which, it is said, George threw a stone into the river, a feat which none

of his companions were able to accomplish. We are not the least surprised at this, as the distance is about one mile! If this statement is true, the patriot in his youthful days must have been a powerful boy, and able to put in the shade the feats of David of old.

CHAPTER XI.

FALMOUTH. VISIT OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

CROSSING THE RAP

PAHANNOCK. GRAVE OF MARY WASHINGTON. LOVE BUBBLE. CEMETERY. MARCH TO GRAY'S LANDING. EMBARKATION FOR THE PENINSULA. VOYAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE. MARCH TO DISPATCH STATION.

THE-town of Falmouth is situated on the east bank of the Rappahannock, below the Falls, and nearly opposite Fredericksburg, with which it was connected by two bridges, one at the upper and one at the lower end of the town, the latter being used by the Aquia Creek Railroad, but both of which were burned by the enemy, with several steamboats and a number of sailing crafts upon. our approach. A church in which several denominations formerly worshipped, a cotton factory, and several store houses constituted the brick portion of the town, and about eighty houses, mostly in a dilapidated condition, constituted the frame portion of it. Deep water gulleys were worn in the streets, and the whole place presented the appearance of decay. What few articles the inhabitants offered for sale commanded enormous prices, but soon the town was filled with our sutlers, storekeepers and photographers, who gave new life to it.

On the 1st of May, private E. M. Woodward, Company II, was appointed sergeant-major of the regiment, vice A. T. Cross, promoted adjutant. On the 3d, Easton's, Cooper's and Kern's batteries arrived. On the 4th, the

Third Brigade, General Ord, arrived, and on the 11th, Company A, Captain Neidé came in with the Fifth Reserve, Colonel Simmons, from Bristoe Station, where they lost William Holmes, the first one of the regiment that died. On the same afternoon, the enemy drove in our out-posts of the Second New York Cavalry, under Major Duffie, on the Bowling Green road, back of Fredericksburg, but coming upon the reserve, they were handsomely repulsed, with the loss of one lieutenant and ten men prisoners, one killed and several wounded; our loss being but one horse. The enemy in our front were under the command of General Anderson, and numbered about fifteen thousand men. On the 12th, there was great rejoicing in camp upon the reception of the news of the evacuation of Yorktown, and the destruction of the Merrimac by the enemy, in honor of which a salute was fired of forty-four guns. About the same time, William Goucher, of Easton, Pennsylvania, was appointed sutler of the regiment, and soon after arrived with a good supply of stores. Lieutenant Robinson, with his recruiting party, also arrived from Philadelphia with a number of recruits.

At Falmouth a large bakery was established by Captain James B. Clow, division commissary, which was capable of turning out twenty-one thousand six hundred loaves of bread per day. The Reserves picketed as far as eight miles up the river, and in a circle around Falmouth, about two miles from camp. Several of the Eighth regiment were killed while on duty at the mines.

Near the upper end of the town, resided Mr. J. B. Fickner, a noted secessionist and a gentleman of great wealth, who owned large tracts of land on both sides of the river, the upper bridge and a factory. While we were on cattle guard at his farm, he frequently visited and conversed with us. He deeply lamented the war, not on account of the destruction of the Government, but of his property, but he consoled himself with the belief that the Government would have to pay for the damage

done by the rebels. To this we fully agreed, and suggested to him the propriety of applying for a pension for his son, who was wounded while in the Confederate service. The old gentleman looked somewhat confused at this, he not being aware that we were acquainted with his own and his son's antecedents.

While we laid here Dr. Edward Donnelly, of Philadelphia, surgeon Fifth Reserve, was transferred to our regiment, vice Dr. Thomas B. Reed, promoted brigade surgeon.

On the 21st, at nine o'clock in the morning, we formed and marched about two miles to a large open field, where our brigade was reviewed and inspected by General Van Rensallaer, Inspector-General of our Corps. At the review, the bands of the five regiments numbering some eighty instruments were joined, producing the most soul-inspiring music. It was three o'clock in the afternoon before the inspection was got through with.

On the afternoon of the 23d, His Excellency the President of the United States, accompanied by the Honorable Secretary of War, and other members of the Cabinet, Major-General McDowell, staff and cavalry escort, reviewed the first corps about three miles from camp. As the President rode down the line on a fine spirited horse, the troops presented arms, the standards and colors drooped, officers saluted, drums beat, trumpets sounded, and a salute of twenty-one guns fired. Long and loud cheers for the honored chief, broke forth from the men, as he passed along the line.

As early as the 17th, General McDowell had been instructed to move upon Richmond by the general route of the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad, as soon as joined by General Shield's division, which came in after long and fatiguing marches on the 22nd, and it was decided upon at a consultation between the President and the generals that the movement should commence on the morning of the 26th. But on account of the advance of the enemy under "Stonewall" Jackson down