the rear; large masses of provisions were being destroyed. Just
about sunset Confederate troops could be seen on the high ground on the
other side of the river, and as darkness came on, the southern and
southwestern sky became illuminated, indicating camps of an army.
Signaling, too, was carried on vigorously from the hilltops. During the
afternoon we were told that the army was to fall back to the north side of
the Rappahannock and that our brigade was to act as rear guard. The first
part of the night dragged slowly along and it was past midnight before we
got started, but the road was clear, and once under way we moved rapidly.

Our regiment led the brigade on this march and as we approached a road
that led to Raccoon Ford a little way off to the right, General Reno rode
up to the head of the column and showed some anxiety. The Confederates had
something of a force at Raccoon Ford and he, I imagine, knew we were
running pretty close to them. They did not attempt to disturb us,
however; they very likely did not know we were passing so near them, and
we sped along, reaching Kelley's Ford about noon the 19th, having marched
a distance of twenty-three miles.

The last mile before we reached the ford the road ran along near the river
bank. It was hot and dusty, and the sight of that cool fresh water was too
great a temptation for three of us boys, so down we went, stripped off and
took a duck. We had no more than got into the water when we heard firing
just behind us. The Johnnies' cavalry had overtaken us and had opened fire
on the boys up in the road. We caught up our clothing and trappings and
ran along beside the river under the bank up to the ford not more than
half a mile and there dressed ourselves, then went and joined the regiment
which was nearing the ford. The attack did not amount to anything. We soon
crossed the river and went into camp.

The thing that interested us most while at the ford, was the attacks by
the Confederate cavalry on our cavalry pickets that were stationed in the
wood on the farther side of a very large field, on the south side of the
river. The Johnnies attacked and drove in our pickets two or three times.
To see the two forces manoeuvre on that field was interesting; if the
enemy came too near the ford a battery of artillery, stationed on high
ground near us on the north side of the river, would open fire on the
Johnnies and send them scurrying back into the wood again. We remained at
th