riddled by shot and shell. The force under Kilpatrick consisted of
cavalry and two batteries of artillery. The Satellite is sunk, and the
Reliance so completely disabled as to be beyond hope of being repaired
by the Rebels."

On our return from Port Conway we passed through Falmouth, where we
halted a short time. It was pleasant to survey the scenes of former
labors and conflicts. Much alarm appears to have been created among the
Rebels by our gunboat disturbance. A large force of Rebel cavalry can be
distinctly seen approaching Fredericksburg on the Telegraph Road, and
more or less commotion prevails across the river. From Falmouth we
marched directly to Hartwood Church. On arriving here, Captain
Mitchell's battalion was ordered back to its old position on picket, to
relieve the infantry which took our places before the expedition to Port
Conway.

_September 5._--We continue on picket near United States Ford. This
morning the regiment was mustered in for pay by Major McIrvin, who is
temporarily in command, Colonel Davies having been placed in command of
a brigade.

At ten o'clock A. M. I received my commission of second lieutenant. It
was brought from the headquarters of the regiment by the bugler of
Company H. It dates back to the cavalry fight at Aldie, which occurred
on the seventeenth of June.

On this line of pickets we have continued uninterruptedly for a week. On
the seventh, Colonel Davies, with his assistant adjutant-general,
visited our post. It was very gratifying to Captain Mitchell and myself
to receive the colonel's compliments for promptness and vigilance in our
work, especially as he has the reputation of never bestowing praise
where it is not deserved.

I rode down to Lieutenant Temple's picket-reserve, at Richard's Ferry,
on the eighth. I found the lieutenant in excellent humor, but decidedly
opposed to picketing as a permanent occupation. We were, however,
consoled with the hope of relief ere long.

In the afternoon the brigade officer of the day called at the bivouac of
the "grand guard," and expressed himself as being highly pleased with
the disposition and management of the pickets. The enemy's pickets
confront ours at all the fords of the river, and appear in heavy force.

For some time past we have understood that General Lee's headquarters
are at Orange Court House, while his infantry occupies the south banks
and bluffs of the Rapidan. Stuart occupies Culpepper Court House, and
picke