Attacks and Stratagems.--The Bovine
Foe.--Picketing; how it is done.--Sufferings.--McClellan to the
Peninsula.--Virginia Weather and the People.--General Augur's Advance
to the Rappahannock.--Lieutenant Decker's Bravery and Death.--Night
Charge on Falmouth Heights.--Fredericksburg Surrenders.--How Citizens
regard us.--Guarding a Train to Thoroughfare Gap.--Fight and Captures
at Flipper's Orchard.--Shenandoah Valley.--The Fifth New York
Cavalry, First Ira Harris' Guard.--Death of Turner Ashby.--Strange
Cavalry Tactics.--Personal Bravery of Captain Hammond.--End of the
Peninsular Campaign.

The winter was one of preparation, not of operation. Why we were kept
"all quiet along the Potomac," until the announcement, reiterated
through the press, elicited only disdainful merriment among our friends,
was never satisfactorily explained. The month of December had been
beautiful, the roads in excellent condition, the army well supplied and
disciplined, so that nothing but hesitancy in our leaders stood in the
way of army movements. The North and West, which had supplied myriads of
men and millions of money, were becoming very impatient with such a
state of things. This feeling was intensified by the fact that it was
known that the enemy was tireless in his efforts to increase his army
and to fortify his strongholds, while he was also gaining the sympathy
of foreign powers, and, by means of blockade-running, was adding not a
little to his munitions of war. The army shared largely this general
discontent. "Why do we not advance?" was every where the interrogation
of eager officers and men.

However, we were not wholly unemployed; for while we waited for
reinforcements and cannon, as demanded by the general in command, and
for the leaves to fall from the trees to facilitate movements in a
country so thickly wooded as is Virginia, we were kept busy with the
camp curriculum, namely, the drill, the guard, the inspection, and
parade. General Lee's plantation, on Arlington Heights, and the
surrounding country, was thoroughly trodden by loyal feet, as men and
horses were acquiring the form and power of military life.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

But our quiet was to be broken by our grand advance, which commenced on
the 3d of March. The Harris Light broke camp at three o'clock in the
morning, and, with several regiments of cavalry, under the command of
Colonel W. W. Averill, led the advance, the H