a mile and a half west, or southwest of Strasburg. This was on the evening of the 21st. Here lines of battle were formed, and a stay was made of about two hours; after which the march was continued by the right flank, up a steep and winding hill-side, until midnight, when the regiment halted under arms until daylight, on the very top of a hill fully as high as Fisher's hill and sepa rated from it by Tumbling River. The enemy's strong hold was on the top of the opposite hill, directly across the stream. In the morning, breast works were commenced, part of the men building, while the rest remained in line of battle. Lively skirmishing was going on all day, and once or twice things were hastily put in readiness to meet an anticipated charge,-which, however, did not come. About three o'clock in the afternoon, orders were given to pitch tents, but while the men were at it, a general advance was ordered. The regiment had but just commenced to move directly forward, when the rebels, (who knew every inch of the ground, and could tell where our lines ought to be, whether visible or not,) began to drop shells into their new breast works, and upon the very spot where they had begun to pitch tents. The regiment moved down the steep hill, waded the stream, and moved up the rocky front of the rebel Gibraltar. How they ever got up there is a mystery,-for the ascent of that rocky declivity would now seem an impossibility to an unburdened traveler, even though there were no deadly enemy at the top. But up they went, clinging to rocks and bushes. The main rebel breast work, which they were so confident of holding, was about fifteen rods back from the top of the bluff, with brush piled in front of it. Just as the top was reached, the 8th Corps struck the enemy on the right, and their flight was very disordered and precipitate. The 2d Connecticut was the first regiment that reached and planted colors on the works from the direct front. After firing until the rebels were so far off that it was a waste of powder, the pursuit was resumed, and kept up all night; although but little progress was made, on account of the blockade of the road, both by the pursuing army, and the property abandoned by the enemy."

It was supposed that this defeat would satisfy the rebel government as to the prospects of success in the Shenandoah Valley, and the 6th Corps started for Petersburgh again, but were now ordered to "right about," and encamped along the northern bank of a tributary of the Shenandoah, called CEDAR CREEK. Here

they remained till the surprise and battle of Cedar Creek, which was, in many of its aspects, the most remarkable battle of the war, and in it the 2d C. II. A. was conspicuous, and among the brave men of that decisive day, none were more conspicuous than the men of Woodbury.

The battle was begun by the rebels, and was to us, in the first instance, a surprise and a defeat. Pollard, in his "History of the Lost Cause," says:

"The surprise was complete. The 8th Corps was unable to form a line of battle, and in five minutes was a herd of fugitives. Many of the men awoke only to find themselves prisoners. The 19th Corps were soon involved in the rout. The valorous Confederates pressed on, driving the whole Federal left and center, slaying many of the enemy in their camps, capturing eighteen pieces of artillery, fifteen hundred prisoners, small arms without number, wagons, camps, everything on the ground.

"The retreat of the army was now a general one, the 6th Corps doing what it could to cover it. At Middletown an attempt was made to form a line of battle; but the Confederates threatened a flank movement, got possession of the town, and put the enemy on what was supposed to be his final retreat to Winchester."

Greeley, in his " American Conflict," says:

"On our side, all was amazement and confusion; on theirs, thorough wakefullness and perfect comprehension. In fifteen minutes, the army of West Virginia was a flying mob; one battalion of its picket-line had lost 100 killed and wounded, and 700 prisoners. The enemy, knowing every foot of ground as familiarly as their own door-yards, never stopped to reconnoiter or consider, but rushed on with incredible celerity."

An extract from Adjutant Vaill's account of the part taken in this conflict, which was, in its results, the salvation of Washington, and perhaps the first turning-point in the war, follows:

"The 2d Connecticut had its full share of the varied fortunes of that wondrous day. The number of the regiment present cannot be exactly ascertained, but was probably about 700, officers and men. Our losses in this battle were greater, in proportion to the number engaged, than in any other fight, not even excepting Cold Harbor.

"On the day preceding this battle, by a recent law of Connec ticut, the soldiers had received commissioners to take their votes for President and Vice President of the United States, and had enjoyed what, under the circumstances, was a great luxury to them. The Commissioners, enamored of army life, expressed regret that they could not see a battle before they returned to Connecticut.

"Most of the regimert were up next morning long before Reveille, and many had begun to cook their coffee, on account of that ominous popping and cracking which had been going on for half an hour off to the right. They did not exactly suppose it meant anything, but they had learned wisdom, by many a sudden march on an empty stomach, and did not propose to be caught napping. The clatter on the right increased. The musket shots reverberated through the fog, and at last, 'Whang! ng-ng-ng went a piece of artillery. And then a smart cannonading, and more musketry. It began to be the wonder why no orders came. But suddenly every man secmed to lose interest in the right, and turned his inquiring eyes and ears to the left. Rapid volleys and a vague tumult told that there was trouble there. Fall in!' said Mackenzie. The Commissioners' looked wildly to the right, then toward the le't, then turned pale, and then advanced vigo rously toward the rear. Shoulder Arms! Battalion, left face! File left! March! Double Quick! March!' The brigade moved briskly on toward the east, crossing the track of other troops and batteries of artillery, which were hurriedly swinging into position, while ambulances, orderlies, staff officers, camp followers, pack horses, cavalrymen, sutlers' wagons, hospital wagons and six-mule teams of every description came tumbling and gal loping pell-mell toward the right and rear, and making off toward Winchester It was not a hundred rods from our own camp to the place where we went into position, on a road running north. General Wright, the temporary commander of the army, bareheaded, and with blood trickling from his beard, sat on his horse near by, as if bewildered, or in a brown study. The 65th New York was on our left, and then came the 2d Division. The 1st Brigade, (Penrose's,) was on the right of ours, and then came the 3d Division. The ground was cleared in front of the road, and sloped off some thirty rods, to a stream, on the opposite side of which it rose for about an equal distance, to a piece of woods, in which the advance rebel line had already taken position. Truly