Year: 1867




.elt much more comfortable after foun,


myself outside the tent


This was about a week before tn


10Th, / went to work carefully an,
cautiously, learning the names and face


OF everybody around headquarters, founc
out what was generally expected of me
and began to observe everything and re


member what Isaw and heard. Afe
three days l was satisfied that the impo
sition was so perfect, that | need hav,
no fear for myself and 40 commenced t,
ride around among the camps.


1t was not long before l saw tha
something unusual was on foot. learned
that two or three new divisions had iu.
come up from Staunton, ami | concluded
from the looks OF all the camps thai
there were lot less than twenty thou
sand men present. One day u Union
safeguard was brought in, whn had been
protecting some property near Srasburg.
He was asked the same questions that
had been, and declared that Sheridan
was absent, and that the Sixth Corps
had left for Grants army he week be-
fore. lie told just half the truth, the
Sixth Corps were still with Sheridan, As
| Well knew. The man was most likely
one OF those stupid yonkers who never
pretend to know much.


However, believe thsL General Ear.
ly had made up his mlnd before tina, the
Sixth Corps bad left, anl that this mar
report had confirmed his belief. Tint
night l listened IN safe place out.ld-
his tent, and heard him aud bis Generals
arranging the plan of attack on the
Union position. They talked it over
Just as is happened afterwards; t,at the
army should cross the Shenandoah.
leaving a reserve to bring the artillery
down the pike at the right time, creep
around the Marsanutten, cross the river
in rear of our left, and attack before
daylight l wanted to laugh at the
whole plan at first. 1t seemed so absurd
and impossible; hut as they continued to
discuss it l began to think that i, was
one Of thos foolhardy exploits which
our people would never suspect. and
which might, perhaps, succeed where a
less risky plan woull be certain to fail
AT all events, grew alarmed the more
l heard OF it, and resolved to leave for
the Union lines as soon as possible.


1t was now Mondays the movement
was to begin that night, and I had need
to be stirring. But here I was toled in
every direction. Not man was allow
ed to leave campthe guards were donbl-
ed the pickets strengthened, and every
precaulion taken to guard against deser>
tion. l felt sure that, even if could
elude the camp guard, the plckels would
not let me out on my pass, aud that
might expose myself to suspicion by
trying 1t at this time. So l kept per.
fectly still: and you can imagine what
anxiety felt the work of preparation
went on. Like myself most of the sol.
diers thought it was foolhardy, but |
knew they would fight well for all that


You were on the ground and know
about the attack. Kershaw's
division had the advance, and they
moved out little after dark and crossed
the river Irode at the head of small
detachment OF scouts in advance, and
difficult and tedious time we had OF it.
We passed some places that a horseman
could not safely ride over, aud then we
had to dismount and lead the animals
around, and it was within two hours Of
daylight before we crossed the river
again AT some points we could hear
the Union pickets talking together My
heart sunk as l saw thousands of rebel
infantry wading the river. Here they
were exactly in the rear of the Eighth
Corps, and our men all quietly asleep in
camp.


By this time got desperate and de-
termined to 60 of at gallop, when the
general gave all order to 60 forward and
see if there was any scouts in front. l
rode straight for the pike, calculating
that | might yet be able to rouse the
army. dashed on and found nothirg
and but sl"gle guard before
the tents. A sleepy officer thrust out
his head and asked What's upf


/ was SO full OF excitement that I could
hardly speak, and very likely acted
little wild.


The whole rebel army will attack US
in twenty minutes T. I replied. Go to
your regiment, or I'll hand you over to
the Provost Marshall


protested that was in my sober
senses, and urged to be allowed to sse