ating Rebel columns.

KILPATRICK ON THEIR TRAIL.

Kilpatrick, having assembled his immortalized division on the plain at
the foot of Round Top, on the morning of the fourth, discoursed to them
eloquently for a few moments on the interests of the times. He assured
his men that their noble deeds were not passing by unnoticed, nor would
be unrequited, and that they were already a part of a grand history. He
trusted that their future conduct would be a fair copy of the past. But
his pathetic and patriotic accents had scarcely died upon the ear of his
brave command, when the shrill bugle-blast brought eager men and grazing
horses in line of march. Orders had been received by Kilpatrick to
repair as swiftly as possible to the passes in the Catoctin Mountains,
to intercept the enemy now known to be flying southward at a rapid rate.

The command had gone but a short distance when rain began to fall in
torrents, as is usually the case after great battles, especially when
much artillery is used. But through mud, in places to the horses'
bodies; through brooks swollen enormously, and through the falling
floods, the troopers pressed forward to the accomplishment of their
task. About five o'clock P. M. Kilpatrick reached Emmitsburg, where he
was joined by portions of General Gregg's command, including the Harris
Light, which had been kept mostly in reserve during the conflicts of the
past few days. Thus reenforced, this intrepid leader marched directly
toward the Monterey Pass, arriving at the foot of this rocky defile in
the mountains in the midst of pitchy darkness.

As was anticipated, a heavy Rebel train was then trying to make its
escape through the gorge, guarded by Stuart's Cavalry, with light
artillery. This artillery was planted in a position to rake the narrow
road upon which Kilpatrick was advancing. But the darkness was so
intense that the guns could be of little use, except to make the night
terribly hideous with their bellowings, the echoes of which reverberated
in the mountain gorges in a most frightful manner. To add to the horrors
of the scene and position, the rain fell in floods, accompanied with
groaning thunders, while lightnings flashed from cloud to cloud over our
heads, and cleft the darkness only to leave friend and foe enveloped in
greater darkness in the intervals of light. By these flashes, however,
we gained a momentary glimpse of each other's position, and as we dashed
forward in the gloom, we were