hundred yards in advance of the main body rode a vanguard of two
hundred men, thrown forward to warn us should we strike any
considerable number of the enemy's cavalry. As is ever the case,
the horses of a small force will walk away from a much larger
body, and it was necessary from time to time to send word to the
vanguard, ordering it to "slow up." This order was occasionally
intrusted to me. I was to gallop over the interval between the two
columns, then draw up by the roadside and sit motionless on my
horse till the general with his staff came up. The slightest
irregularity of action would bring a shot from our own men, while
the prospect of an interview with the Johnnies while thus isolated
was always good. I saw one of our officers shot that night. He had
ridden carelessly into the woods, and rode out again just before
the head of the column, without instantly accounting for himself.
As it was of vital importance to keep the movement secret as long
as possible, the poor fellow was silenced in sad error as to his
identity.

On we rode, night and day, with the briefest possible halts. At
one point we nearly captured a railroad train, and might easily
have succeeded had not the station and warehouses been in flames.
As it was, the train approached us closely, then backed, the
shrieking engine itself giving the impression of being startled to
the last degree.

On a dreary, drizzling, foggy day we passed a milestone on which
was lettered, "Four miles to Richmond." It was still "on to
Richmond" with us what seemed a long way further, and then came a
considerable period of hesitancy, in which the command was drawn
up for the final dash. The enemy shelled a field near us