depart they exclaimed, "The chariots of
Israel and the horsemen thereof!"

The South felt that in the loss of Stonewall Jackson they were parting
with the "better half" of their army.

The North had the men, the money and the munition of war, but the South
had Lee and Stonewall Jackson. And in having them they felt that they
were more than a match for the North. Now that Jackson was gone the
question was, What will Gen. Lee do?

To go back to the valley, I was indebted to my friend Faunt Neal for the
loan of a horse, he being fortunate enough to have two.

After the battle of Chancellorsville almost the entire force in the
valley passed over the Blue Ridge and joined Lee's army on the
Rappahannock. Of course, this included my command.

Lee's army still occupied the south bank of the Rappahannock, near the
late battlefield, while just opposite, on the north bank, was the Union
army waiting to see what the next move would be. I believe I have
mentioned the fact that Gen. J.E.B. Stuart commanded Lee's entire
cavalry force, about 10,000 men with several batteries of artillery.
This force was encamped higher up the river, in Culpeper county, in and
around Brandy Station, and might be called the left wing of Lee's army,
although separated from it by several miles.

Just opposite Stuart's cavalry and on the north bank of the river was
the entire cavalry force of the Union army, supported by a corps of
infantry.

CHAPTER VI.

_From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg_

"It was the wild midnight--
The storm was on the sky;
The lightning gave its light,
And the thunder echoed by."

After resting awhile and mourning the loss of our great soldier, Lee's
army began to move. The question was (not only on our side of the river,
but on the other), "What is Gen. Lee up to now?"

The Northern commander determined to investigate, and early in the
morning of the ninth of June, 1863, a portion of the Union army began to
cross the Rappahannock at every ford for miles, up and down the river.

I was on picket at one of the fords, and was relieved at 3 o'clock in
the morning, another soldier taking my place.

I went up through the field into the woods where our reserves (some 20
men) were in camp. It was from this squadron that pickets were sent out
and posted along the river.

I hitched my horse, and wrapped in a blanket, lay down to sleep. But I
was soon rudely awakened by the watchman, who shouted that t