battle of Ball's Bluff,
near Leesburg, in which battle the Eighth Virginia played a conspicuous
part. One of my brothers was in this battle, and several of my
schoolmates were killed and wounded.

Johnston's army a few days after the battle had increased to 40,000. He
moved forward and occupied a position near Centerville, and there he
wintered. Jackson, however, was detached and sent back to Winchester to
guard the valley, and became commander-in-chief of that section. The
forces that came down from Leesburg returned to their old position.

During the winter the soldiers were granted frequent furloughs, the
militia was disbanded, and I went back home.

But when the birds began heralding the coming of spring there was a call
from the Confederate Government not only for the return of all enlisted
men to their commands, but for every able-bodied white male citizen
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five to enlist.

I started out from Middleburg with Edwin Bailey and several Marylanders,
the latter having crossed the Potomac for the purpose of joining the
Confederate army. Bailey was already a member of the Eighth Virginia
Infantry, and was at home on furlough.

My destination was the Sixth Virginia Cavalry, which was then with
Stonewall Jackson in the valley of Virginia. This regiment was in
Robinson's brigade, Fitzhugh Lee's division, the whole cavalry force of
the army of Northern Virginia being commanded by Gen. J.E.B. Stuart. I
was on horseback; the others on foot.

It reminded me of the resurrection morn, except the trooping thousands
were coming from the top of the ground and not from under it. From
hamlet and villa, from the lordly mansion and mountain shack, from
across the Potomac, the boys and young men of the South were coming in
answer to the call. The Government at Washington had called for half a
million; the Government at Richmond had called for every able-bodied son
from eighteen to forty-five, and they were coming.

The nearest point at which I could reach the Confederate line was
Harrisonburg, Va. All the district between my home and Harrisonburg, and
on the line stretching from there south to the James river, and north
into West Virginia, had been abandoned to the enemy. Hence, it was
necessary for us to move with great caution, to avoid being intercepted
by the bluecoats. The little caravan moved up the pike that runs from
Alexandria across the Blue Ridge into the valley by the way of
Uppe