upon this
strongly posted force, the gallant general and his brave fellows rushed
with shouts and oaths, and sabre thrusts, trampling down everything in
their way. Unable to withstand this impetuous and unexpected onset, the
rebels gave way, allowing the Union brigade to pass between their broken
ranks. Dead men and horses lay thickly scattered upon the ground when
the victorious brigade left the field to join the infantry at the river.

Thus, hotly pursued, General Meade determined to offer battle to the
pursuing army, making the Rappahannock his immediate base of operations.
Accordingly, early the following morning, a large portion of the
infantry and artillery was countermarched across the river, where,
within a mile of the stream, the line of battle was formed, and we
waited the onset of the enemy until past noon. Then, Buford's cavalry
having engaged the enemy in front, three corps, the Second, Fifth and
Sixth, commenced to advance in line of battle. It was a grand spectacle.
During two years of service we had not seen its like. Our line of battle
stretched across the vast plain, nearly three miles in length, straight
as the flight of an arrow. At each flank were several battalions _in
echelon_. In the rear of the center of each wing of the line, was a
heavy reserve in solid square, and, following in the rear of each
square, a large column, stretching back to the river and across the
pontoon bridges to the farther side of the stream.

Thus the line of battle moved forward across the plain, never for a
moment losing its perfect form. Brisk cannonading and musketry were kept
up by the cavalry in front, and the army earnestly hoped that General
Lee might accept our challenge to an open field fight, but the rebel
general was too wary to accept battle on such equal terms, and pushed on
toward Sulphur Springs, hoping to reach Centreville before us.

Our line of battle halted at dark, at Brandy Station. But there was no
time to be lost; resting there until eleven o'clock, we were ordered to
retrace our steps to the river; this time not in line of battle, but in
all haste. The night was dark, and the troops had already made long
marches; so when they reached and crossed the river at daylight, they
were fairly worn out. An hour for sleep and breakfast was allowed, the
railroad bridge was blown up, and again we were on a grand race
northward.

It was a great medley; baggage wagons, pontoons, ambulances, artillery
and tr