No one who looked upon that wonderful panorama can ever forget it. On the great field were riderless horses and dying men; clouds of dirt from solid shot and bursting shell; broken caissons and upturned ambulances, and long lines of cavalry dashing in the charge, with their drawn and firmly grasped sabres glistening in the light of the declining sun, while far beyond the scene of tumult were the dark green forests skirting the banks of the Rappahannock. Kilpatrick soon after joined Buford, and together they engaged the enemy in a series of brilliant charges which materially checked his pursuit, and at night we crossed the Rappahannock in safety. The army continued to retreat to the old field of Bull Run, where it was expected a third battle would be fought. On the twelfth of October a portion of our infantry having recrossed the Rappahannock, made a forced march to Brandy Station, where a spirited engagement took place. The movement was probably nothing more than a reconnoissance, or an intention to deceive the enemy. On the following evening, while bivouacking not far from Bealeton, an amusing scene diverted for a time the attention of the boys. By accident an ammunition wagon took fire, causing the rapid explosion of its contents. The consequence was a wide-spread alarm, which brought every trooper to his horse, ready to engage the foe, who was supposed to have made a furious onset! Merriment and rest followed the discovery of the disturbance. Closely pursued by the enemy, our army continued its retreat until late in the afternoon of the fourteenth when a general halt was ordered and preparations made for battle. BATTLE OF BRISTOE. At early dawn of the fifteenth the thunder of our artillery at Bristoe announced Meade's intention to fight, and opened an engagement which gave the enemy a disastrous repulse, effectually checking his advance, which thus far had met but little resistance. On the following day, while Kilpatrick was making a reconnoissance in force, a terrific rain-storm having swollen the streams to a great height, several men and horses were drowned while endeavoring to ford Bull Run. Skirmishing, picketing, and scouting, kept Kilpatrick's forces busy until the nineteenth of October, when was fought the spirited CAVALRY FIGHT AT BUCKLAND MILLS. At daybreak Kilpatrick left Gainesville en route for Warrenton. Stuart's cavalry, which had picketed in our front through the night, immediately retired from before us, and, to our surprise, made no resistance to our advance. We followed him quite closely until our advance had just passed New Baltimore, when Fitz Hugh Lee, who had surprised and cut his way through a small detachment of our infantry at Thoroughfare Gap, fell upon our rear-guard at Buckland Mills, and opened upon it with a battery of flying artillery. At this signal, Stuart, who had hitherto been quietly retiring, now turned and charged us in front. General Gordon, whose command was carefully concealed until now, appeared on our left, and made a furious attack, which threatened to sever the two small brigades which composed Kilpatrick's division. This was a critical situation, but "Kil" (as the general was familiarly known) seemed to comprehend it in a moment. He ordered his whole force to wheel about and to charge back on Lee's columns. This timely order, executed with masterly skill, saved his command from utter disaster. The Harris Light, having been in front while advancing, by this sudden evolution was thrown in the rear, and was thus compelled to meet the desperate charges of the enemy in pursuit. Reaching a little rise of ground in the road, we made a stand, and for some time checked the advancing Rebels, by pouring into their ranks deadly volleys from our carbines and revolvers. Stuart, who commanded in person, saw clearly that he could dislodge us only by a charge, and, ordering it, led a brigade upon us. Our men stood firmly, and were soon engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with their advancing columns. THE CAPTURE. At this important juncture, my faithful horse was shot under me, and our little party, outnumbered ten to one, was hurled back by the overpowering shock of the Rebels, who rode directly over me. Injured severely by the fall of my horse, and by the charging squadrons that trod upon me, I lay in the mud for some time quite insensible, and, when re |