bane of the South’s civic government was that the Executive and his military advisors kept the commanders of armies too much under their own leading strings, and not allowing them enough latitude to be governed by circumstances—­to ride in on the flow tide of success when an opportunity offered.  But the greatest achievements, the greatest of victories, that history records are where Generals broke away from all precedent and took advantage of the success of the hour, that could not have been foreseen nor anticipated by those who were at a distance.  Be that as it may, Early had gone his length, and now, the last of July, was retreating up the Valley.

Kershaw, with his division, was ordered to join him, and on the 6th of August the troops embarked at Chester Station and were transported to Mitchel Station, on the Richmond and Mannassas Railroad, not far from Culpepper.  On the 12th the troops marched by Flint Hill, crossed the Blue Ridge, and camped near the ancient little hamlet of Front Royal.  The next day we were moved about one mile distant to a large spring, near the banks of the beautiful and now classic Shenandoah.  How strange to the troops of the far South to see this large river running in the opposite direction from all our accustomed ideas of the flow of rivers—­that water seeks its level and will therefore run South, or towards the coast.  But here the stream rises in the south and runs due north towards the Potomac.  After long and fatiguing marches, the soldiers here enjoyed a luxury long since denied them on account of their never ceasing activity.  The delight of a bath, and in the pure, clear waters of the Shenandoah, was a luxury indeed.  On the 17th of August the march was again resumed, and we reached Winchester, Va., on the next day.  Remaining two days near the old city which had become so dear to the hearts of all the old soldiers through the hospitality and kindness of her truly loyal people, and being the place, too, of much of our enjoyment and pleasure while camping near it two years before, we left on the 21st, going in the direction of Charleston.

On nearing the latter place we found the enemy in force, and had to push our way forward by heavy skirmishing.  When within two miles of Charlestown, we halted and went into camp, and threw our pickets beyond the town on the north.  On the 25th we moved through the city and took the Harper Ferry Road, two miles beyond.  Here we took up camp, and were in close proximity to the enemy, who lay in camp near us.  A heavy skirmish line was thrown out about half a mile in our front.  Lieutenant Colonel Maffett of the Third, but commanding the Seventh, was deployed in a large old field as support.  We were encamped in line of battle in a beautiful grove overlooking and in full view of our skirmishers.

The enemy seemed to display little activity.  Now and then a solitary horseman could be seen galloping away in the direction of his camp.