About nine o’clock in the morning I was surprised to see to the rear of my left the Richmond road full of troops marching southward.  I crawled up as near to the road as I dared, and watched them.  There seemed to be but one regiment, which was a large one.  Three or four officers rode at the head of the regiment; one, who I supposed was the colonel, was a large, heavy-built man who sat his horse proudly[3].  The men marched at the route step; the regiment was in fine order.  In the centre were two flags:  one an ordinary Confederate battle-flag; the other an immense blue banner, emblazoned with the silver palmetto tree.  I could not tell the number of the regiment, although by this time I had my glass fixed on the flag.  The Carolinians passed on south and, I supposed, entered Ashland.

[3] Doubtless Colonel Hamilton, who on this day marched south from Hanover Junction with his regiment, the First South Carolina. [Ed.]

I still kept my place, observing the roads narrowly.  I remained in this position the rest of the 28th, but saw no other movement.  At nightfall I crept up nearer to the village and found a comfortable resting-place in an old haystack, east of the place.

The next morning I was slowly advancing toward the railroad, with the purpose of ascertaining whether Ashland was still occupied by the rebels, when I heard noises behind me, and, turning, I saw three Union soldiers on horseback coming toward me.  They saw me at the same time.  One of them shouted to me to surrender, and I threw up my hands.  They belonged to Company D of the Fifth U.S. cavalry.  I easily succeeded in proving to the lieutenant in command, who soon rode up at the head of the company, and whose name I learned was Watkins, that I was a Union scout.  The sight of General Morell’s glass had its effect.

I told the lieutenant that in my opinion there was no strong force in Ashland.  We were at this time almost in sight of the town.  The lieutenant mounted me behind a trooper; the company made a dash into the place; the rebels fled, leaving two of their pickets in our hands.  In the village were some stragglers who also were made prisoners.  We remained in Ashland for several hours, the cavalry securing much property.  There were a good many horses taken, one of which the lieutenant willingly allowed me to use.

The enemy’s infantry had retreated nearer Richmond, and, as all the country to the east of us was now in our hands, there was nothing to hinder my reaching General Morell’s camp that night.  The general told me that they had given me up for lost, and asked what had become of me after sending Jones back.  I gave an account of my work, and he was pleased to say that he approved of what I had done.  He told me that Jones had recovered the horse that I had abandoned.

As I approached Dr. Khayme’s tent, the Doctor was just entering it; the tent was dark.  I stood outside until he lighted a candle; then I called him by name.  He rushed out and embraced me.  In a few words I told him of my work, and why I had been away so long.