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