he people to "render the homage due to the Divine Majesty for the
wonderful things He has done in the nation's behalf, and to invoke the
influence of His Holy Spirit to subdue the anger which has produced, and
so long sustained, a needless and cruel rebellion." In the midst of
these rejoicings we end our chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.

KILPATRICK'S GUNBOAT EXPEDITION.

1863.--Escape of Lee into Virginia.--Reasons.--Cavalry Advance into the
Valley _via_ Harper's Ferry, and Fight.--Riot in New York and
other Northern Cities.--Again Across the Potomac on "Sacred Soil."
--Blackberries and Discipline.--Mails.--Battle of Manassas Gap.--
Mosby Again, and His Bands.--Author's Birthday.--Kilpatrick's Gunboat
Expedition on the Rappahannock.--Cavalry Captures Navy.--Complimented
by Superiors.--General Advance of the Army.--Third Cavalry Battle at
Brandy Station.--Stuart's Cavalry Worsted at Culpepper Court House.
--Sharp Artillery Practice at Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan.--Special
Duties and Special Dangers.--Good Living Along the Hazel and Robertson
Rivers.--Important Reconnoissance and Raid.--Hard Fighting and Narrow
Escape.--Needed Rest Received.--The Paymaster.--Rebel Plan of Attack
Foiled by a Citizen Informer.--Suspicious Activity on Our Front.

This sudden and masterly movement of the Rebels was a cutting surprise
to General Meade, and a source of mortification and chagrin to all.
Gloriously successful as we had been, it was evident that hesitation and
indecision had greatly detracted from our laurels. We had won a
world-renowned victory, but we had failed to reap all the legitimate
fruits which our situation placed within our reach.

General Lee had been terribly punished, but his escape was quite
marvellous. One writer says: "When his shattered columns commenced their
retreat from Gettysburg, few of his officers can have imagined that
they would ever reach Virginia with their artillery and most of their
trains." And though their trains were severely handled and greatly
injured, yet the old Rebel army of Northern Virginia, with nearly all
its artillery, made its exit from soil too sacred to freedom for a Rebel
victory. Their losses, however, had been immense, and they were only too
glad to escape in a manner very unlike the audacious way in which they
had advanced but a few weeks previous into the Northern States.

It now became the policy of our leader to follow the fug