the standard at the reviewing-stand, flushed with the exercise as
well as with pride in his brave men, he raised his hat and saluted.
Then arose a shout of applause and admiration from the entire
assemblage, the memory of which to this day moistens the eye of every
old soldier. The corps was then passed in review at a quick-step,
company front. It was a most imposing sight. After it was all over,
my father rode up to several carriages whose occupants he knew and
gladdened them by a smile, a word, or a shake of the hand. He found
several of us young officers with some pretty cousins of his from
Richmond, and he was very bright and cheerful, joking us young people
about each other. His letters to my mother and sister this summer and
fall help to give an insight into his thoughts and feelings. On July
15th, from Bunker Hill, in a letter to his wife, he says:

"...The army has returned to Virginia. Its return is rather sooner
than I had originally contemplated, but having accomplished much of
what I proposed on leaving the Rappahannock--namely, relieving the
valley of the presence of the enemy and drawing his army north of
the Potomac--I determined to recross the latter river. The enemy,
after centering his forces in our front, began to fortify himself
in his position and bring up his troops, militia, etc.--and those
around Washington and Alexandria. This gave him enormous odds. It
also circumscribed our limits for procuring subsistence for men and
animals, which, with the uncertain state of the river, rendered it
hazardous for us to continue on the north side. It has been raining
a great deal since we first crossed the Potomac, making the roads
horrid and embarrassing our operations. The night we recrossed it
rained terribly, yet we got all over safe, save such vehicles as broke
down on the road from the mud, rocks, etc. We are all well. I hope
we will yet be able to damage our adversaries when they meet us. That