uld catch all the rest of them before they got back home.
Banks's main force was at Winchester, and thither we directed our
course.

Newtown was the next village, and there we had another skirmish, our
artillery being at one end of the town and the enemy's at the opposite.
In this encounter two members of our battery were wounded. There was
great rejoicing among the people to see us back again and to be once
more free from Northern soldiers. As the troops were passing through
Newtown a very portly old lady came running out on her porch, and,
spreading her arms wide, called out, "All of you run here and kiss me!"

Night soon set in, and a long, weary night it was; the most trying I
ever passed, in war or out of it. From dark till daylight we did not
advance more than four miles. Step by step we moved along, halting for
five minutes; then on a few steps and halt again. About ten o'clock we
passed by a house rather below the roadside, on the porch of which lay
several dead Yankees, a light shining on their ghastly faces.
Occasionally we were startled by the sharp report of a rifle, followed
in quick succession by others; then all as quiet as the grave.
Sometimes, when a longer halt was made, we would endeavor to steal a few
moments' sleep, for want of which it was hard to stand up. By the time a
blanket was unrolled, the column was astir again, and so it continued
throughout the long, dreary hours of the night.

At last morning broke clear and beautiful, finding us about two miles
from Winchester. After moving on for perhaps half a mile, we filed to
the left. All indications were that a battle was imminent, Banks
evidently intending to make one more effort. The sun was up, and never
shone on a prettier country nor a lovelier May morning. Along our route
was a brigade of Louisiana troops under the command of Gen. Dick Taylor,
of Ewell's division. They were in line of battle in a ravine, and as we
were passing by them several shells came screaming close over our heads
and burst just beyond. I heard a colonel chiding his men for dodging,
one of whom called out, in reply, "Colonel, lead us up to where we can
get at them and then we won't dodge!" We passed on, bearing to the right
and in the direction from which the shells came. General Jackson ordered
us to take position on the hill just in front. The ground was covered
with clover, and as we reached the crest we were met by a volley of
musketry from a line of infantry behin