impenetrable bushes dripping with rain.

_May 6._--To-day we crossed the Mattapony, at Aylett's, burning the
ferry behind us. We then took the road to Tappahannock, a small village
on the Rappahannock. We had not proceeded far in this direction before
we met and captured another wagon-train, laden with ham and eggs and
other luxuries, which had been smuggled across the Rappahannock. This,
of course, was thoroughly confiscated, appropriated, and destroyed. A
consultation of officers was here instituted, and it was decided to try
to reach Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown, which we knew was in
possession of Union forces.

Not far from King and Queen Court House we captured and burned a depot
of ordnance and several wagons. We have been much annoyed by
bushwhackers on the way to-day. Their plan is to hide in the thick
bushes, and fire upon the rear of our column as we pass, in places where
it is not possible to pursue them without much loss of time, which is
too precious to be wasted thus. Several men and horses have been wounded
by these skulkers during the day. As night was settling down upon us, we
discovered a body of cavalry in our front, and quickly made preparations
to meet them. Kilpatrick deployed skirmishers and advanced in column of
squadrons. Our supposed enemies were also prepared for fight, and a
spirited conflict was anticipated. Several shots were exchanged, when
the contending parties discovered their mutual mistake. Our opponents
proved to be the Twelfth Illinois, which, after leaving the main column
at Thompson's Cross Roads, had swept down through the enemy's
communications about Ashland Station, destroyed several important
bridges and some stores, and was now, like ourselves, endeavoring to
reach Gloucester Point.

This rencounter was very pleasing. Our column was greatly increased and
encouraged. We needed this stimulus exceedingly, for we had been
marching all day through a cold drizzling rain, which had dampened our
ardor somewhat, and chilled our blood. Many of our horses had given out
by the way, and were killed to prevent their falling into the enemy's
hands. A few days of rest and care will so recruit such horses that they
become again serviceable. Their places were filled by those horses and
mules which were brought to us by the contrabands, which all along our
journey flocked to our standards, and by such other animals as were
captured by our flankers and advance guards. Exhausted as most