reach Warrenton from the neighborhood of Culpepper Court-House in less than four days. “We were compelled to halt,” Lee writes of the delay at Culpepper; but of that at Warrenton he simply says, “Another halt was made.”  Whether these views have, or have not foundation, the reader must judge.  We shall aim, in a few pages, to conclude our account of this interesting campaign.

IV.

THE FIGHT AT BUCKLAND.

Lee rode forward to the field upon which General Hill had sustained his bloody repulse, and Hill—­depressed and mortified at the mishap—­endeavored to explain the contretemps and vindicate himself from censure.  Lee is said to have listened in silence, as they rode among the dead bodies, and to have at length replied, gravely and sadly:  “Well, well, general, bury these poor men, and let us say no more about it.”

He had issued orders that the troops should cease the pursuit, and riding on the next morning, with General Stuart, to the summit of a hill overlooking Broad Run, dismounted, and held a brief conversation with the commander of his cavalry, looking intently, as he spoke, in the direction of Manassas.  His demeanor was that of a person who is far from pleased with the course of events, and the word glum best describes his expression.  The safe retreat of General Meade, with the heavy blow struck by him in retiring, was indeed enough to account for this ill-humor.  The campaign was altogether a failure, since General Meade’s position at Centreville was unassailable; and, if he were only driven therefrom, he had but to retire to the defences at Washington.  Lee accordingly gave Stuart directions to follow up the enemy in the direction of Centreville, and, ordering the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to be torn up back to the Rappahannock, put his infantry in motion, and marched back toward Culpepper.

We shall now briefly follow the movements of the cavalry.  Stuart advanced to Manassas, following up the Federal rear, and hastening their retreat across Bull Run beyond.  He then left Fitz Lee’s division near Manassas in the Federal front, and moving, with Hampton’s division, to the left toward Groveton, passed the Little Catharpin, proceeded thence through the beautiful autumn forest toward Frying Pan, and there found and attacked, with his command dismounted and acting as sharp-shooters, the Second Corps of the Federal army.  This sudden appearance of Southern troops on the flank of Centreville, is said to have caused great excitement there, as it was not known that the force was not General Lee’s army.  The fact was soon apparent, however, that it was merely a cavalry attack.  The Federal infantry advanced, whereupon Stuart retired; and the adventurous Southern horsemen moved back in the direction of Warrenton.

They were not to rejoin Lee’s army, however, before a final conflict with the Federal cavalry; and the circumstances of this conflict were as dramatic and picturesque as the ruse de guerre of Young in Culpepper, and the midnight adventure of Stuart near Auburn.  The bold assault on the Second Corps seemed to have excited the ire of the Federal commander, and he promptly sent forward a considerable body of his cavalry, under General Kilpatrick, to pursue Stuart, and if possible come up with and defeat him.