hannock. There
was one item of interest which I neglected to mention in its proper
place, and that was an address which Gen. Lee issued to his soldiers
after his long march back from Gettysburg. It was printed on paper,
about the size of a half sheet of note paper. It began with these words:
"To the Soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia:" "Soldiers, we have
sinned." I cannot remember any more of the address, but those words
have lingered lovingly in my memory ever since. Each soldier was handed
one of these papers, and I am ashamed to say I did not keep my copy, and
do not know of anyone who did.

Shortly after this demonstration of the Union army, Gen. Lee made an
advance, but not directly in front. He moved his army toward the
northeast, and his efforts seemed to have been to make a flank movement
and get in the enemy's rear, just as had been done the year before when
Jackson got in the rear of Pope at Manassas. The cavalry remained to
watch the enemy's front, and prevent a move toward Richmond.

After Lee had gotten well on his march the cavalry crossed the river and
began to drive in the enemy's outposts and press them back toward
Culpeper, and then on through Culpeper to Brandy Station, where the
enemy made a stand.

A short distance beyond the station was a slight elevation running
across our front, completely hiding the movements of the enemy. As there
was no elevation anywhere that we might occupy and see beyond the ridge
in our front, all we could see was the large force occupying the crest
of the ridge. We were afraid to charge, for fear of running into their
whole army.

After a good deal of maneuvering and waiting we saw the long lines of
Union cavalry coming over the ridge and moving toward us in the line of
battle. Closer and closer they came, and when they got within 200 yards
of us, their leader ordered a charge, and it looked as if the whole
column was coming right into our ranks.

I have a vivid recollection of the scene. I noticed as they approached
that quite a number of them, perhaps every third man, was reining in his
horse, which meant, "I have gone as far as I mean to go." Of course,
what I saw my comrades saw, and we knew at once, by this action, they
were whipped; but the others came on, dashing right into our ranks,
firing as they came. The dust and smoke from the guns made it almost
impossible to distinguish friend from foe, but I noticed close to me a
large Union officer, riding a