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s on the York River.--Religious Services; their Influence.--Raid to Mathias Court House.--Sickness and Recovery.--From Gloucester Point to Falmouth.--Exciting Details. --Correspondence of Mr. Young.--The Press.--With the Army of the Potomac again.--Cavalry Fight at Brandy Station.--Bold Charge of the First Maine Cavalry.--The Chivalry fairly Beaten.--Death of Colonel B. F. Davis, Eighth New York Cavalry.--Interesting Letter of a Rebel Chaplain.--Casualties.--What was Gained by the Reconnoissance.-- Pleasonton and Kilpatrick Promoted.--Rebels Raiding in Maryland. Long raids and general engagements or campaigns are usually followed by a few days of comparative rest. This is necessary both for animals and men. Vacancies which are generally made during such vicissitudes, in the staffs of commissioned and non-commissioned officers, have to be filled, and reorganization takes place. This was the experience of the Army of the Potomac after its Chancellorsville campaign, as well as our own after our return from Richmond. On the eighth of May, Kilpatrick's command left Gloucester Point in the morning, and, after crossing the York River, amid the cheers of General Keyes' command, we were provided with tents in an encampment within the fortifications of Fort Yorktown. Here was a fine opportunity for repose, which we were all in a condition to relish. Like the prince of poets, we could realize that Weariness Can snore upon the flint, when rusty sloth Finds the down-pillow hard. On the day following our arrival here, soldiers and citizens from the town were flocking into our camp in droves, from reveille till taps, eager to learn from us the particulars of our recent raid. Groups of attentive hearers could be seen in various parts of the grounds surrounding some of our talkative comrades who discoursed eloquently to them of the sufferings and fatigue, of the daring and danger, of the stratagem and endurance which attended the expedition. No little amount of yarn was spun, and not a little imagination was employed to paint the scenes as vividly as possible. _May 10._--A dress-parade was ordered at ten o'clock this morning, at which time a complimentary order to the regiment from the Secretary of War was read by the adjutant. The occasion was very interesting, and every man seemed to feel proud of himself, his deeds, and especially of his leader. In the aft
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