e two armies, Confederate and Federal, exceeded 15,000 in number. The
surrounding country had been devastated by war until it was practically
a desert. The railroad bridges and tracks, extending from the Rapidan in
Orange County to Fairfax, a distance of fifty miles, had been destroyed,
so that it would require several weeks before the Confederates could
reach the hospitals in Richmond and Charlottesville, and then in
box-cars, over rough, improvised roads. Those of the Federal army were
cut off in like manner from their hospitals in the North. In addition to
all this, the surgeons and ambulances and their corps continued with
their respective commands, to meet emergencies of like nature, to be
repeated before the September moon had begun to wane.

CHAPTER XV

BATTLE OF CHANTILLY--LEESBURG--CROSSING THE POTOMAC

After such prolonged marching and such a victory as the second Manassas
we hoped for a rest so well earned; at any rate, we imagined that there
was no enemy near inclined to give battle; but on Monday, September 1,
we were again on the march, which continued far into the night, it being
near daylight when we went into park. The latter part of the way I rode
on a caisson, seated by a companion, and so entirely overcome with sleep
as to be unable to keep my eyes open five seconds at a time, nodding
from side to side over the wheels. My companion would rouse me and tell
me of my danger, but shame, danger, and all were of no avail till,
waking for the fortieth time, I found my hat was gone. I jumped down,
went back a short distance, and found my old drab fur, of Lexington
make, flat in the road, having been trampled over by several teams and
gunwheels.

After a halt of a few hours we were again on the move, and soon found
ourselves in Fairfax County. About noon we passed by "Chantilly," the
home of my messmate, Wash. Stuart, whom we had left desperately wounded
at Winchester. The place, a beautiful country residence, was deserted
now. Stuart, though, was somewhere in the neighborhood, a paroled
prisoner, and on his return to us the following winter told us of the
efforts he had made to find us near "The Plains" with a feast of wines,
etc., for our refreshment. Two or three miles from Chantilly short and
frequent halts and cautious advances warned us that there were breakers
ahead. Then the pop, pop, pop! of a skirmish-line along the edge of a
wood in our front brought back again those nervous pulsations i