meaning to give them battle. Thousands of the rebel troopers thunder down like an avalanche, but are met by our brave Michigan cavalry, who charge through their midst, and hundreds on both sides are left dangling in their saddles, while the horses dash wildly along, not knowing where to go, for their riders are in the arms of death. Forward to the charge again the contestants go, and a fearful hand to hand encounter now ensues. Neither party seems to give way, for both are determined to win the battle. The sight is awfully grand; the contestants' sabers flashing in the sun, the rattle of small arms and the roar of the field pieces of the flying artillery. This is the only cavalry fight we ever witnessed, and all are anxious to know how it will come out. Both sides seem to be about equal, and fight nobly. At last, after charging and recharging, the enemy gives way, and we, the spectators, make the welkin ring with cheers. The rebels are now on the retreat and our brave troopers follow up their advantage and drive them through the village of Culpepper. The rebel infantry are drawn up to receive our cavalry, who do not feel disposed to try a fight with them, and claim the old adage, to let well enough alone, retracing their steps and following in the rear of our army, ready to perform the same operation if Stewart's rebel cavalry wish to try another tussel. Nothing more disturbs our backward march except now and then a few rebel cavalrymen, who dash down some by roads and fire on our flankers, who are marching at intervals in the woods. We get our long trains back with us, and our whole army pull up on the Centerville heights, waiting for the rebels to come. They, however, do not seem to risk another battle in the Bull Run country, and retire after taking in the situation. CHAHTER XXXV. PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY ONCE MORE-BATTLE OF BRISTOW AT GRAND RAPIDS-HOME AGAIN. Once more the bugle sounds the fall in call, and we commence our chase after Lee. This advancing and retreating puts me in mind of childhood days, when we used to play the game of tag. We fall back from the enemy and make a stand; they follow up and feel of us. Then they fall back, and now it is our turn to feel of them. We tread on their heels so close at Bristow Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, that they turn on us and we have quite a fight with them; but during the following morning they are all gone from our front. Making our way to Brandy Station, we find that the rebels are busy as bees building winter quarters. As we are hunting for grounds. to camp on too, and the country around here suits us very well, but the rebel army being too close for comfort, and thinking that they can as well camp across the Rapidan so as to have that stream between both armies, we are desirous of their leaving their present quarters. But they don't feel disposed to go unless forced to. There could not be a better time or place than here to try once more. which is the best army, so our gallant Meade thinks he will give them a fair chance if they want to fight on fair ground. Our whole army is drawn up in splendid position and ready to forward at the word of command. Never was the army in better trim for battle since our gallant Little Mac. left us. The whole army looks like one vast machine-the skirmish line in front, then the solid lines of infantry with bayonets shining in the sun, next the artillery, the pride of our army, with shining guns, whose brazen throats are ready to belch forth their missles of death, next our brave cavalry, with their sabres drawn ready to slash and cut. The enemy are drawn up in line, and look as though they mean fight. They watch our every move. Will they fight, is the question. We shall soon see. Our bugles sound the forward call, and the whole grand Army of the Potomac move like one vast machine. Oh, what a sight! Who can describe it? I will not attempt it, but will each one of my readers imagine the spectacle of nearly one hundred thousand men in solid mass, all bearing and ready to use the missles of death, artillery, musketry, revolvers, sabres, swords, and every conceivable instrument used in modern warfare. Ha, the rebels don't mean to make a stand, but fly ignominiously across the Rapidan, leaving us to confiscate their unfinished quarters and turn them to our own use. Our division take up a position near the farm of John Minor Botts, and go into camp. We build comfortable quarters, and are going through the old routine of camp life. The sutlers come up. Gingerbread, cakes, and canned fruit of all kinds are in great demand. The sutlers and clerks are kept busy, and are reaping a rich harvest again. About this time, the last of the year, an order comes that those who will re-enlist for three years more shall receive a furlough of thirty days, and receive a government bounty of $402. In six months more our term of service expires. Have we not done our share for a while. After serving three years for our country cannot we go home sat isfied that we have done our share towards putting down Only three companies of our old Third re-enlist to hold our organization. So our regiment must lose its name. after the three years are up. The gallant Fifth re-enlist nearly to a man, and go home in a body retaining their organization and name. About the 27th of December we take farewell of our comrades who did not re-enlist, and march to the station, where we take the train for Washington, passing by old familiar places where we have marched, fought and camped-Manassas, Bristow's, Union Mills, Fairfax and Fall's Church, leaving them all behind for a while, and forgetting our wearied marches and hardfought battles. We arrive safe in Washington and take the train for Baltimore, and march over the same route we traversed two and one half years ago. What a change has taken place since then in the Monumental City. At that time the city was so full of treason that the very air stenched with foul secession, but now, a more patriotic city is not to be found in the union. Soldiers are treated with respect wherever they go, but when we first marched through we were in danger of our lives and had to be on our guard while in the city. We take the train för Harris : burg, and from there proceed to Pittsburg through the old Alleghaney Mountains. From there we travel very slow, for a fearful storm of snow is raging all over the north, causing us to lay over sometimes on account of its depth. I am sure most of my readers will remember the first of January, 1864, as the coldest day that the oldest inhabitant ever saw. I shall always remember it, for the marrow in my bones was almost frozen, and all wished ourselves back to our comfortable camp in old Virginia. But time flies by, and so did those few coldest days, and we find ourselves in the City of the Straits after a long and tedious journey. We are well received by the good people of Detroit, and take the sleepy night train for Grand Rapids. When we arrive in Lowell there are four trains laying over, for the track is blocked with snow in a cut a short distance beyond. Our conductor wants to lay over too, but we can't see it on a thirty days' furlough. Now we have built fortifications and breastworks, are as used to the shovel, and can handle it as well as the gun. So we tell the conductor to provide us with some of the former weapons and we will shovel him and his train through. Provided with the necessary implements, the locomotive snorts and blows. her whistle, and of we go for the snow bank. The engine comes to a sudden halt. We jump out and attack the snow bank, and after working hard we soon had the track so clear that the train passed over in safety. We jump aboard, the engine puffs along slowly up the grade, and gains the top all right. She goes faster and faster, and we come thundering down to the depot of the Valley City. Of course no one expects us, as all think we are snow-bound somewhere. It is well they think so, for greater will be their surprise and pleasure to see us. As we get off the cars the snow is almost blinding, the weather is fearfully |