dale, which incapacitated him for field service, although in his crippled condition he served through the Pennsylvania campaign.

The command of the regiment devolved upon Major McDonough.

On the 15th orders were received to march, and the next morning at eight we moved, crossing the Rappahannock at Beverly's Ford, and halted for the night near Mountain run. Early the next morning we moved on, passing through Culpepper, which is a fine town and encamped about four miles beyond. Beyond the town the country was more hilly and wooded, and on an elevated range we found the marks of the artillery fight of the preceding Sunday. The trees were torn and shivered, and the carcasses of numerous horses emitted a most intolerable stench. Some of the rascally rebs took the trouble, and that under fire, of driving some of their wounded horses to the neighboring wells and tumbling them in, to spoil the water for us. On the outskirts of the town is a soldiers' burial ground, containing about a regiment, formed in column of companies, with the graves neatly sodded and marked with head-boards.

About this time Adjutant Woodward was honorably discharged the service on account of disability, and Lieutenant John L. Rhoads, commanding Company G, appointed his successor.

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CHAPTER XXVI.

LEE'S ATTEMPT TO FLANK. BACK TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. TO BRANDY STATION. THE BATTLE OF BRISTOE. To CENTREVILLE AND FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE. VICTORIES AT RAPPAHANNOCK STATION AND KELLEY'S FORD. REBEL CABINS. CROSSING THE RAPIDAN. BATTLE OF MINE RUN. WINTER QUARTERS AT BRISTOE. FLAG PRESENTATION. REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.

NOTHING of importance occurred while we laid here until early in October, at which time the contending forces occupied opposite banks of the Rapidan river, our line extending from near Falmouth on the left to Robertson's and Hazel rivers, beyond Thoroughfare Mountain on the right, the centre being in front of Culpepper Court House. On the 9th it was discovered that the enemy had commenced advancing northward, evidently with the intention of interrupting our line of communication with Washington. A corresponding movement was necessary on our part, and orders were issued that night to the army to be prepared to move at short notice. At two o'clock the next morning, our division moved towards Culpepper, and then turning to the left marched around Poney Mountain and bivouacked at Racoon Ford, where we remained until two the next morning, when we marched back to our old camp. Early in the morning we were again in motion, acting as the rear guard of the army and passing through Culpepper moved in the direction of Rappahannock Station, where, upon our arrival, we were drawn up in line of battle, in which position we remained until night, when we crossed the river and bivouacked in our old camp of August and September last. The enemy followed us up closely through the day, and at Brandy Station a smart fight took place between our and their cavalry, in which the latter was handsomely repulsed.

On the 12th, General Meade, for the purpose of ascertaining the true extent of the enemy's demonstration, sent several corps back across the river. Early in the morning we crossed the river at Beverly's Ford, and formed in line of battle and laid there until near sundown, when we advanced to Brandy Station. Our cavalry commenced skirmishing about ten, A. M., and by night drove the enemy back to Culpepper. At midnight we marched for the river again, but in the darkness getting separated from our corps, we did not arrive at our old camp until three o'clock on the morning of the 13th.

In this movement General Meade was successful, and on the same night Lee crossed the river further up. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 13th we moved towards Warrenton some distance, and then inclining to the right, marched for Catlett's Station, near where we bivouacked.

The two armies were now pushing forward on parallel lines, the intention of General Lee being to seize the heights of Centreville with a portion of his army, and with the remainder to fall upon our flank and rear, hoping by a sudden and determined attack to rout our army.

THE BATTLE OF BRISTOE STATION, OCTOBER 14TH, 1863. At four o'clock on the morning of the 14th we took up our march, moving nearly abreast of the Second Corps, and halting for rest after crossing Broad run. On the Second Corps reaching Bristoe Station, they found Hill's corps drawn up in line of battle. The troops which had advanced on the left of the railroad were double quicked to the right, and the cut and embankment, which Hill had neglected to occupy, were taken possession of. General Warren hastily formed his troops under cover of the cut and embankment, and the enemy making an impetuous charge upon his left flank, the men rose from their cover, and at close range, poured volley after volley into them. During the short but

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severe engagement that followed, the enemy were repulsed, they flying from the field, leaving their dead and wounded, several hundred prisoners and seven guns, two of which they subsequently recovered.

Our division had hardly crossed Broad run before the enemy opened upon us with a battery, when we were double quicked out of range, and formed behind a wood, while a battery was got into position, which soon silenced theirs. The division was then ordered forward to support the Second Corps, and re-wading Broad run, advanced, but by the time we arrived upon the field it was dark, and the fighting had mostly ceased. We then continued our march, fording Bull run about three o'clock the next morning, and laid down for a few hours rest. *

And at nine the same morning we were again on the move, passing through Centreville to Fairfax Court House, where we bivouacked in a woods, near the town, and remained until the morning of the 17th, when we advanced to Centreville and remained there all night, the next morning returning to Fairfax Court House.

On the 19th, at four, A. M., we again moved, retracing our steps towards Centreville, fording Bull run, and that night sleeping on the battle-field. Here we found our dead mostly as they had fallen, and we laid down and slept among the bones of our comrades.

The next morning, the 20th, reveille was sounded at one o'clock, but we did not move until six, we passing Gainesville and halting near New Baltimore, where we remained until the 26th, when we marched as wagon guard to New Auburn. While we laid here, Major McDonough was mustered in as lieutenant-colonel, and Captain R. Ellis as major. The first mentioned appointment gave satisfaction to all.

On the 30th at six A. M., we marched to Warrenton Junction, and remained there until the 7th of November

* See Appendix A.

THE VICTORIES OF RAPPAHANNOCK STATION AND KELLEY'S FORD, NOVEMBER 7TH.-The enemy had in the mean time entrenched themselves on the north and south banks of the Rappahannock, near Rappahannock Station, and deeming themselves secure from interference, had commenced the construction of huts on the south side, with the expectation of remaining there during the winter. To their surprise, however, early in the afternoon of the 7th, General Sedgwick with the Fifth and Sixth Corps, arrived before their works, and driving their skirmishers before him, occupied a crest less than a mile distant, and posted his guns. Our corps was held in reserve, under cover of favorable ground, near our old camp. An artillery duel commenced, and during its progress a storming party, consisting of four regiments, of Russell's brigade, and two of Colonel Upton's, was organized, and with a cheer made a desperate assault upon the forts and rifle-pits. To reach the works half a mile of open plain had to be traversed, but regardless of the heavy fire that was opened upon them, they moved steadily forward at double-quick without firing a single shot until they reached the works. Here a desperate hand-to-hand struggle commenced and continued for about twenty minutes, resulting in a complete victory to our troops, and the surrender of the enemy. Four guns and two thousand stand of arms were captured, and about one thousand six hundred officers and men taken prisoners.

In the meantime General French had been sent with the First, Second, and Third Corps to Kelley's Ford, where, after a brief but warm engagement, he succeeded in capturing the rifle-pits and a large number of prisoners and their arms.

Late in the afternoon, our regiment was advanced towards the river, and a detail of seventy men under Captain Byrnes sent out as pickets to hold Fordmand's Ford, on the south side of which the enemy were in con