had succumbed to the impure water
and miasmatic condition of the country. The rebel General J. E. B.
Stuart had astounded every body by a raid around our entire army,
cutting off communications, destroying stores, and capturing not a few
prisoners. On the second of July this jaded army found a resting place
at Harrison's Landing on the James River.

CHAPTER V.

POPE'S CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

1862.--Kilpatrick at Beaver Dam.--Captain John S. Mosby.--Return of the
Raiders.--Complimentary Orders.--The Harris Light at Anderson's
Turnout.--Rebel Account of the Scare.--General John P. Hatch, his
Misfortunes and Justification.--Reconnoissances.--Battle of Cedar
Mountain.--Hospital at Culpepper.--General Stuart in Close Quarters.
--His Adjutant-General Captured.--Death of Captain Charles Walters.
--Pope driven back and waiting for Reinforcements.--Kilpatrick's
Fight at Brandy Station.--Waterloo Bridge.--Bristoe Station.--
Manassas Junction.--Battle of Groveton.--Second Bull Run.--Chantilly
and Death of Kearny.--General Pope resigns.

Our prospects as a nation were any thing but promising about the fourth
of July, 1862. Our operations in the Shenandoah Valley had been very
expensive and fruitless. The Peninsular campaign, which promised so much
at its beginning, which had proceeded at so fearful a cost of treasure
and blood, was pronounced a failure at last, and the great armies,
depleted and worn, were well nigh discouraged. The celebration of the
anniversary of our national birthday was observed throughout the loyal
North in the midst of gloomy forebodings, and only the pure patriotism
of governors of States, and of the President of the United States, gave
the people any ground of hope for success. In the army changes of
leaders were occurring, which produced no little amount of jealousy
among the "stars," and upon which the opinion of the rank and file was
divided.

On the fourteenth of July, General John Pope, having been called from a
glorious career in the West, took command of the Army of Virginia, which
was a consolidation of the commands of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell.

Before General Pope left Washington, he ordered General Rufus King, who
was in command at Fredericksburg, to make a raid on the Virginia Central
Railroad, for the purpose of destroying it at as many points as
possible, and thus impede communications between Richmond and the
Valley. This work wa