hmond from the west. Lieutenant Colonel
Davis, with the Twelfth Illinois, was despatched to the South Anna
River, in the neighborhood of Ashland Station, on the Fredericksburg and
Richmond Railroad, to destroy the important bridges in that vicinity.
General Buford was to march westward and do all the mischief he could.
But it was reserved to Kilpatrick to advance upon Richmond, enter the
Rebel capital, if possible, and lay waste the public property and
communications there.

_Sunday, May 3._--We marched steadily after leaving General Stoneman,
long into the night, halting only long enough for a little refreshment
and rest. At two o'clock this afternoon the command, which consists only
of about three hundred men, well mounted, was marched into a pine
thicket, where we were ordered to destroy or throw away all our extra
clothing and blankets, with every thing which we could possibly spare,
to lighten the burdens of our horses. This halt in the shade of the
pines was very refreshing both to men and beasts. The sun is very warm
and shelter is very agreeable.

Leaving the fragrant shade, we moved on until night. We are now within
fifteen miles of Richmond, where vigilance is the price, not only of
liberty, but of life. Sergeant Northrup, while on a scout to the front,
was fired upon by a guerilla undoubtedly, and wounded. Colonel
Kilpatrick and Major Henry E. Davies, Jr., slept on their arms in the
road with the men. Very little sleep was had through the night, but what
we did get was precious.

At two o'clock on the morning of the fourth we resumed our hazardous
journey toward the rebellious city. Had it not been for the intrepidity
of our leader, and the utmost confidence of the men in his ability to
accomplish whatever he undertook, it would have been impossible to
proceed. Fearing as we did the desolation and sorrows of "Libby Prison,"
ignorant of the forces we might soon encounter, and the ambuscades that
might be laid for us, we nevertheless pushed bravely on, because we were
bound to follow our chief, be the consequences what they might.

Soon after day-break we came down upon Hungary Station, on the
Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. Here we destroyed the telegraph
lines, tore up the track, and burned the depot. Near the station we ran
into the enemy's pickets, the first we have encountered since leaving
our main column. Only two of them were discovered, and they fled so
rapidly that it was useless for us to t