ad at his loss, still rejoices in his well-earned
and merited promotion. All the men of the company showed their respect
and admiration for him by falling into line upon the announcement of his
arrival in camp, and thus greeted the Christian soldier. It was a very
delightful and enjoyable occasion.

As a soldier, Colonel Buel stands among the bravest and the best. Always
attentive to the wants of his command, his men are always the last to be
out of supplies of rations or clothing. He generally exercised that
fatherly care over us which called forth in return a filial love. He is
dignified, and yet perfectly affable. As a commander, he is intrepid and
cool, and manages his troops with admirable skill. He possesses a
naturally well-balanced mind, thoroughly cultivated, and a heart always
full of Christian hopefulness and benevolence. We wish him great success
in his new field of labor and responsibility.

CHAPTER IX.

REBEL CHIEFS AND THEIR RAIDS.

1863.--Rebel Raids by Stuart, Imboden, and Fitz-Hugh Lee.--John S. Mosby,
Guerilla Chief.--His Character.--His Command.--Daring and Plunder.--
Aided by Citizens.--Condition of the Country Favorable for their
Depredations.--Our Picket Lines too Light.--Attacks on Pickets at
Herndon Station, Cub Run, and Frying-Pan Church.--Miss Laura
Ratcliffe, Mosby's Informant.--Mosby at Fairfax Court House.--
Capture of General Stoughton.--Fight at Chantilly.--Mosby lauded by
His Chiefs.--Mosby beaten at Warrenton Junction.--Severely whipped
at Greenwich, where he loses a Howitzer captured from Colonel Baker
at Ball's Bluff.

The Rebel cavalry has been very active all winter, as may be seen by the
many raids which they have made, beginning as far back as December
twenty-fifth, when their chief, J. E. B. Stuart, anxious to obtain
something suitable with which to celebrate the holidays, crossed the
Rappahannock, advanced on Dumfries, where it would seem that our boys,
freezing dumb (Dumfries), suffered the raider to capture not less than
twenty-five wagons, and at least two hundred prisoners. Moving boldly
northward, he struck the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, burning the
bridge across the Accotink Run, and from Burke's Station he swung around
Fairfax Court House, and returned, by long, circuitous route, into their
lines with their hard-earned spoils.

A lull of operations followed this bold holiday enterprise, until the
sixteenth of Februar